PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mighty Rat (ranked 3717 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Swagger (ranked 5859 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Rat
vs
Swagger

168 cm
25
141 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
142 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mighty Rat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Swagger!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Steve Montenegro and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rat fails with the takedown
and Swagger counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mighty Rat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Swagger looks to throw the jab but Rat is out of range.
Rat keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Swagger.
Rat attempts a counter takedown but Swagger avoids it well and moves away.
Rat gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Swagger cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rat tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Swagger swivels and escapes.
Swagger swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mighty Rat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rat tries for a takedown but Swagger sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Swagger now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Rat misses with a takedown attempt
and Swagger counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rat misses with a takedown
and Swagger cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rat gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Swagger counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Swagger throws a hook but Rat blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rat tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Swagger defends well and Rat ends up having to push Swagger into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Swagger doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Swagger jabs at Rat's body.
Rat with a poor takedown
and Rat takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rat with a lazy takedown attempt
and Swagger counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rat is breathing heavily.
Rat doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Swagger counters with a nice uppercut.
Swagger throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rat shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Swagger cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Swagger works the jab nicely.
Swagger is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Rat had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Rat doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Swagger counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Swagger fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Swagger digs a good body shot into Rat's ribs.
Swagger scores with a jab. Rat acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rat misses with a takedown
and Swagger counters with a left to the body.
Rat ducks right into an uppercut from Swagger.
Rat fails with the takedown
enabling Swagger to counter with a crisp jab.
Swagger cracks Rat with a right hand to the side of the head.
Swagger connects with a single shot there.
Swagger scores with a body shot.
Rat has his takedown stuffed
and Swagger counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Swagger both land. Nice combination.
Rat takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Swagger scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Nice uppercut lands for Swagger. That snapped Rat's head back.
A jab from Swagger does it's job there.

Rat shoots in and bounces Swagger off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Swagger pulls Rat in to control the position.
Swagger really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rat. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rat loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rat throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Swagger works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Swagger has his hands on Rat's head, controlling the position.
Rat trying to control the position from guard on top but Swagger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rat is working Swagger over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Swagger can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rat throwing strikes but missing.

Rat drops back looking for a leg! Swagger is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Swagger manages to kick Rat off! Rat jumps back into Swagger's guard.
Rat connects with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Swagger dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rat dives in for a single leg takedown but Swagger sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rat with a lazy takedown attempt
and Swagger counters with a nice uppercut.
Rat fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Swagger doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mighty Rat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rat keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Swagger.
Mighty Rat is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Swagger scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Rat with a poor takedown
and Swagger counters with a stiff right hand.
Rat with a poor takedown
and Swagger counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Swagger's corner calls for a 1-2. Swagger obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab from Swagger.
Rat misses with a takedown
letting Swagger counter with a right hand.
Rat darts in looking for a takedown but Swagger gets double underhooks and turns Rat into the cage.
Swagger appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rat walks into a straight right hand from Swagger.
Swagger scores with a body shot.
Rat with a poor takedown
and Swagger counters with a nice uppercut.
Rat takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Swagger lands a nice hook to Rat's body. Rat takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Swagger digs a good body shot into Rat's ribs.
Swagger punishes Rat's body with a nice straight punch.
Rat with a lazy takedown attempt
and Swagger cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Swagger throws a jab but it's blocked by Rat.
Swagger changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Swagger has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Swagger lands with a cross.
Rat fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Swagger cracks Rat with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Swagger lands with a good body shot.
Swagger cracks Rat with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Swagger stuffs the takedown attempt from Rat. Rat gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnny Swagger is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Swagger scores with a hook.
Rat misses with a takedown
letting Swagger counter with a right hand.
A swing and a miss from Swagger.
Rat attempts a counter takedown but Swagger avoids it well and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swagger lands a right hook to the body.
Rat defending well as Swagger loads up on a big left hand.
Rat drops down looking for a counter takedown but Swagger sprawls and moves away.
Swagger scores with a body shot.
Swagger with a jab.
Swagger with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Swagger works the jab nicely.
Swagger lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Swagger throws a nice looking combination but Rat bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rat tries to score a power double leg takedown but Swagger sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rat somewhat.
Swagger doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Swagger cracks a nice hook into Rat's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rat takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rat tries for a takedown but Swagger circles away easily
and Swagger counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Swagger lands a glancing blow to the side of Rat's head.
Rat ducks under a wild hook from Swagger.
Rat has his takedown stuffed
and Swagger counters with a straight right hand.
A shot to the liver by Swagger. Beautiful body shot.
Rat shoots and misses
and Swagger counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Swagger scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Swagger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Swagger comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rat fails with the takedown
and Swagger counters with a stiff right hand.
Swagger scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Swagger throws a shot to the body.
Rat shoots and misses
and Swagger counters with a stiff right hand.
Rat fails to land the takedown.
Swagger is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mighty Rat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swagger scores with a decent looking hook.
Swagger swinging wildly here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swagger dips to his left and cracks Rat with an uppercut!
Swagger scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Rat tries for a takedown but Swagger sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Swagger works Rat's body with a nice hook.
Rat with a lazy takedown attempt
and Swagger counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice body punch from Swagger.
The crowd cheers as Swagger lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rat doesn't seem phased though.
Rat shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Swagger counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Swagger fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rat takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mighty Rat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Rat 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rat takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Swagger comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Swagger misses with a hook.
Rat with a lazy takedown attempt
and Swagger counters with a nice uppercut.
Rat takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Swagger scores with a hook.
Swagger listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Swagger scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Swagger throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rat on the side of the head.
Rat gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Swagger.
Rat looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swagger misses with a series of wild punches.
Swagger works the jab nicely.
Rat misses with a takedown attempt
and Swagger counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rat has his takedown stuffed
enabling Swagger to counter with a crisp jab.
Swagger lands with an uppercut that bounces Rat off the cage and back into range.
Swagger scores with a jab to the body.
Johnny Swagger seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rat moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Swagger throws a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swagger with a hook.
Rat misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Swagger to counter with a crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Swagger lands with a nice combination. Rat backs away looking to recover.
Swagger connects with a body shot.
Rat fails with the takedown
and Swagger counters with a nice body shot.
Johnny Swagger is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Swagger lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Swagger lunges at Rat with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rat's hand.
Rat has his takedown stuffed
and Swagger counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Swagger digs a good body shot into Rat's ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Swagger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Swagger winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 25:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 25:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Swagger!