PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Robyn Phaneuf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Allen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Phaneuf
vs
Allen

189 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Robyn Phaneuf!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Allen!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Allen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Allen misses with a leg kick.
Phaneuf shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Allen pinned against the cage. Allen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Phaneuf has taken the fight to the clinch.
Phaneuf blocks an elbow strike from Allen.
Allen blocks an elbow strike.
Phaneuf tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Phaneuf using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Allen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Phaneuf tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Phaneuf connects with a nasty looking knee right to Allen's face.
Phaneuf tries a knee to the head but Allen blocks it.
Allen managing to block the knees to the body from Phaneuf.
Phaneuf tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Allen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Phaneuf tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Allen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Phaneuf avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Phaneuf with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Allen has had enough of the clinch but Phaneuf keeps him there for the moment.
Allen is trying to break free.
Phaneuf connects with a nasty looking knee right to Allen's face.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Allen as Phaneuf tries to tie him up.
Phaneuf connects with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phaneuf using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Allen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Phaneuf is breathing heavily.
Phaneuf stops a takedown attempt from Allen.
Phaneuf tries a knee to the head but Allen blocks it.
Allen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Phaneuf tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Allen has had enough of the clinch but Phaneuf keeps him there for the moment.
Allen is trying to break the clinch but Phaneuf has him pressed against the ropes.
Phaneuf misses with a knee to the head.
Allen is trying to break free.
Allen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Phaneuf gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Robyn Phaneuf has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Allen.
Allen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Phaneuf avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Phaneuf tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Phaneuf crunches a lovely knee into Allen's ribcage.
Allen wants to break free but Phaneuf has control.

Allen jumps into guard, dragging Phaneuf to the mat.
Allen working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Allen throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Allen keeping moving, preventing Phaneuf from controlling successfully.
Allen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Allen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Allen trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Allen seems keen to control Phaneuf's posture.
Allen with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Phaneuf can't handle though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Phaneuf tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Allen closes the distance and clinches.
Phaneuf lands a nice elbow.
Phaneuf misses with a knee to the head.
Allen can't break the clinch.
Phaneuf with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phaneuf wants to stall.
Phaneuf lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Phaneuf misses with a knee strike.
Allen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Phaneuf has him pressed against the ropes.
Allen avoids a wild elbow strike from Phaneuf.
Phaneuf trying to land knees to the body.
Phaneuf with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Allen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Phaneuf has him pressed against the ropes.
Allen wants to break free but Phaneuf has control.
Phaneuf looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Phaneuf misses with a knee strike.
Phaneuf tries to land a knee to the head but Allen blocks with his arms.

Allen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Allen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Phaneuf, pushing him back against the ropes.
Phaneuf gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Allen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Allen is working for takedown but Phaneuf is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Phaneuf tries a knee to the head but Allen blocks it.
Allen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Phaneuf with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A nice left hand lands by Allen.
Phaneuf tries to land a knee to the head but Allen blocks with his arms.
Allen is looking to break free of the clinch but Phaneuf has double underhooks.
Allen tries to break the clinch but Phaneuf is controlling the position.
Allen wants to break free but Phaneuf has control.
Phaneuf throws an elbow that misses.
Phaneuf tries to land a knee to the head but Allen blocks with his arms.

Allen manages to break the clinch.
Phaneuf looks to clinch

and Allen moves into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Phaneuf.
Phaneuf keeps control of Allen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Phaneuf looking to stall.

Allen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Allen throws a leg kick which misses Phaneuf's front leg but catches the back leg as Phaneuf tries to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Allen will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Allen tries to bum rush Phaneuf with a series of wild strikes but Phaneuf uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No joy there for Allen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Phaneuf tries to clinch but Allen moves away
and Allen counters with a one-two to the body.
Allen fails to land with a series of punches.
Allen swinging wilding here.
Phaneuf fails with an attempt to clinch.
Allen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Phaneuf keeps the fight on the outside.
Robyn Phaneuf is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Phaneuf takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
John Allen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phaneuf wants to clinch.
Phaneuf tries to close the distance and clinch up but Allen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phaneuf tries to clinch but Allen is having none of it.
Allen looks to land a combination but Phaneuf avoids it well.
Phaneuf closes the distance looking to clinch
and Allen counters with a three punch combo that has Phaneuf backing up. Phaneuf nods at Allen to acknowledge the strikes.
Phaneuf tries to clinch up but Allen circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phaneuf slips a jab and a cross from Allen.
Allen fails to land with a series of punches.
Phaneuf tries to clinch up.

Allen drives through and clinches with Phaneuf against the ropes.
Phaneuf throws an elbow but it misses.
Phaneuf tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Phaneuf connects with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Phaneuf misses with a knee to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Phaneuf with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Phaneuf tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Phaneuf looking to stall.

Allen wants the takedown. Phaneuf is fighting it off but Allen persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Phaneuf's guard against the ropes.
Allen with a nice head shot there.
Phaneuf keeping moving, preventing Allen from controlling successfully.
Allen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Allen trying to control but Phaneuf is working from the bottom.

Phaneuf is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Allen trying to control the position from guard on top but Phaneuf is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Allen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Allen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Allen swinging wilding here.
A nice combination there by Allen.
Allen misses with a series of wild punches.
Allen tries to bum rush Phaneuf with a series of wild strikes but Phaneuf uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Allen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Allen looks to land a combination but Phaneuf avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Allen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Phaneuf tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Allen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Phaneuf tries to clinch but Allen is having none of it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Allen misses with a series of wild punches.

Phaneuf drives through and clinches with Allen against the ropes.
Allen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Phaneuf is trying to stall.
Phaneuf prevents Allen from breaking the clinch.
Phaneuf missing with knees to the body.
Phaneuf tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Phaneuf with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Allen avoiding damage as Phaneuf throws knees to the body.
Allen blocks an elbow strike from Phaneuf.
Phaneuf looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Phaneuf lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Allen is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Phaneuf misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Allen.
Phaneuf keeps control of Allen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Allen breaks the clinch.
Allen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Allen throws a nice looking combination but Phaneuf bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Allen misses with the combination.
Allen circles away from the clinch attempt

and Allen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Phaneuf connects with a nasty looking knee right to Allen's face.
Phaneuf lands a knee to the head.
Phaneuf using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Allen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Allen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Phaneuf misses with a knee to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Allen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
John Allen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Allen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Phaneuf shoots in looking for a takedown. Allen tries to sprawl out of it but Phaneuf keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Allen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Allen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Allen 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!

Allen looks to land a combination but Phaneuf avoids it well.
Allen throws a series of punches but Phaneuf moves out of range.
Allen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Phaneuf closes the distance looking to clinch
and Allen counters with a three punch combo that has Phaneuf backing up. Phaneuf nods at Allen to acknowledge the strikes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Allen is trying to break free.
Phaneuf throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Phaneuf is pressed up against the ropes. Allen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Phaneuf down to the mat. Phaneuf avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Allen tries to clinch up but Phaneuf circles away and keeps his distance.
Allen swinging wilding here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phaneuf tries to close the distance and clinch up but Allen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Phaneuf closes the distance but Allen moves to the side

and Allen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Allen.
Phaneuf throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Allen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Phaneuf tries to land knees in the clinch but Allen avoids the damage to the body.
Phaneuf tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Allen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Phaneuf is keeping busy.
Allen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Phaneuf misses with a knee to the head.
Phaneuf taking a breather.
Phaneuf prevents Allen from breaking the clinch.
Allen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Phaneuf misses with a knee strike.
Phaneuf tries to land a knee to the head but Allen blocks with his arms.
Allen has had enough of the clinch but Phaneuf keeps him there for the moment.

Allen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Allen moves into the clinch successfully.
Allen avoids a wild elbow strike from Phaneuf.
Phaneuf tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Allen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Phaneuf darts in trying to clinch

and Allen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Phaneuf misses with a knee strike.
Allen is trying to break free.
Phaneuf throws an elbow but it misses.
Allen avoiding damage as Phaneuf throws knees to the body.
Phaneuf tries to stall but Allen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Allen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Left hook, right uppercut from Allen.
Allen throws a leg kick but Phaneuf moved away.

Phaneuf tries to keep at a distance but Allen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Phaneuf misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Allen.
Allen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Phaneuf creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Phaneuf throws a punch but it's blocked by Allen.

Allen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Allen throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Phaneuf's head.
Phaneuf wants to clinch up but Allen keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Allen closes the distance and clinches.
Phaneuf landing knees to the head.
Phaneuf creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Allen's defenses.
Allen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Allen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Allen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Phaneuf moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Phaneuf avoids a punch combination nicely.
Allen lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Phaneuf fails with an attempt to clinch.
Phaneuf moves in looking to clinch but Allen pushes him off.
Good shot there by Allen.
Phaneuf closes the distance looking to clinch

and Allen counters by clinching up.
Nice elbow from Phaneuf.

Allen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Allen works over Phaneuf's head and body with a nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Allen.
Phaneuf tries to close the distance and clinch up but Allen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Allen keeps the fight on the outside.
Allen throws a right and a left that Phaneuf avoids nicely.
Phaneuf is looking to clinch but Allen is avoiding it.
Phaneuf avoids a punch combination nicely.

Allen clinches up against the ropes.
Phaneuf landing knees to the head.
Allen blocks an elbow strike.
Phaneuf throws an elbow but it misses.
Phaneuf scores a nice knee to the body.
Robyn Phaneuf has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A knee to the head by Phaneuf.
Phaneuf with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Allen breaks the clinch.
Allen misses with the combination.
Allen misses with a two punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Allen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Allen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Allen!