PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Al Swearengen (ranked 2315 p4p, 264 weight class) and Henry Armstrong (ranked 3138 p4p, 353 weight class). Al Swearengen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Swearengen
vs
Armstrong

182 cm
26
162 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

165 cm
28
160 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Al Swearengen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Henry Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, David Schapiro and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Armstrong throws a series of punches but Swearengen moves out of range.
Armstrong throws a solid leg kick but Swearengen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Armstrong.
Swearengen just misses with a punch to the body.
Armstrong slips a straight right by Swearengen.
Swearengen lands with a straight right. Armstrong didn't see that one coming.
Armstrong steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Swearengen.
Armstrong misses with the body kick

and Swearengen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Swearengen.
Swearengen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Armstrong wants to stand and escape but Swearengen is having none of it.

Swearengen drops back looking for a leg! Armstrong is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Armstrong manages to kick Swearengen off! Swearengen jumps back into Armstrong's guard.
Swearengen trying to control but Armstrong is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swearengen prevents Armstrong from getting back to his feet.
Swearengen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Armstrong really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Swearengen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swearengen looking to pass the guard.
Armstrong is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Armstrong is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Armstrong lands with a shot to the body.
Henry Armstrong is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Armstrong throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Armstrong misses with a straight left.
Armstrong throws a shot from downtown. Swearengen moves away and avoids it.
Swearengen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Armstrong displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Swearengen throws out the jab.

Swearengen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Swearengen stops Armstrong from standing up.
Swearengen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong wants to get back to his feet but Swearengen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Swearengen trying to control the position from guard on top but Armstrong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swearengen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Armstrong is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Swearengen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Armstrong is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Armstrong swinging wildly here.
No joy there for Armstrong, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've been told by Swearengen's head coaches at RWB GYM that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Henry Armstrong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Swearengen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Armstrong.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Armstrong throws a shot from downtown. Swearengen moves away and avoids it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Swearengen. Armstrong does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Swearengen finds it's way round the side to connect with Armstrong's head.
A punch combination from Swearengen misses.
Armstrong swinging wildly here.
Armstrong chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Swearengen misses the jab.
Swearengen throws an overhand right that lands on Armstrong's shoulder, as Armstrong tries to avoid the shot.
Swearengen dodges the punch combination from Armstrong.

Swearengen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Armstrong's half guard.
Swearengen passes to full mount!
Swearengen wants to take Armstrong's back here but Armstrong is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
You get the feeling that Armstrong really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Armstrong defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Swearengen.

Swearengen looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Swearengen scoring with strikes but Armstrong is staying in there.
Armstrong wants to get back to his feet.
Swearengen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Armstrong wants to try and get back to his feet.
Swearengen lands a big elbow.
Armstrong is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Swearengen controlling the position easily from mount.
Swearengen fails to move to back control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Swearengen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Armstrong gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Armstrong slips under a jab.
Swearengen misses with a hook.
Armstrong throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Armstrong misses with the combination.
Armstrong cracks Swearengen with an open hand slap.
Armstrong misses with a body kick.
Armstrong thows a left - swing and a miss!

Swearengen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Armstrong is staying active underneath Swearengen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Armstrong is looking to escape.
Armstrong is not content to let Swearengen control the position.
Armstrong pushes Swearengen off looking to stand but Swearengen dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swearengen works his foot free and advances to mount.
Swearengen won't let Armstrong get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Swearengen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Armstrong tries to buck Swearengen off but he can't manage it.

Swearengen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Swearengen unloading with bombs!
Swearengen controlling from mount.
Al Swearengen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Armstrong is trying to stand.

Swearengen working for a guillotine from mount but Armstrong is in no mood to give up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swearengen works his way to his opponent's back.
Armstrong is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Swearengen throwing sloppy strikes.

Armstrong is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Armstrong trying to get back to his feet but Swearengen is in full control for now.

Swearengen is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Armstrong has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Armstrong wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
What can Armstrong do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Swearengen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Armstrong can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is trying to stand back up.

Swearengen has his opponent's back but Armstrong is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Swearengen.
Armstrong misses with a leg kick

and Swearengen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Armstrong's guard.
Swearengen wants to control from the top but Armstrong keeps moving.
Swearengen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Armstrong swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Armstrong wriggles free and stands up.
Swearengen tests Armstrong's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Swearengen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swearengen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Swearengen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Armstrong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Swearengen lands an overhand right.
Armstrong jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Armstrong will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Armstrong throws a hook but Swearengen avoids it easily.
Armstrong fails to land with a series of punches.
Swearengen defending well as Armstrong loads up on a big left hand.
Armstrong misses with a wild combination.
Henry Armstrong seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Swearengen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Armstrong to the ground. Swearengen is now in Armstrong's guard.
Swearengen trying to control but Armstrong is working from the bottom.
Swearengen passes Armstrong's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Swearengen lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Swearengen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

The fighters circle momentarily. Swearengen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Swearengen is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Nice body punch from Swearengen.
Armstrong is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Swearengen.
Armstrong misses with a series of wild punches.
Armstrong getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Swearengen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Swearengen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A swing and a miss from Swearengen.
Swearengen goes for a double leg but Armstrong avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Armstrong continues to drive forward.
Swearengen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Armstrong.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Swearengen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Armstrong napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Armstrong is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Swearengen wants to control but Armstrong is keeping him busy.
Armstrong is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swearengen lands a decent elbow from side control.
Swearengen works to advance to full mount. Armstrong defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Swearengen fails to advance to Armstrong's back.
Swearengen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Swearengen mounts Armstrong! Really nice guard pass there!
You get the feeling that Armstrong really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Swearengen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Swearengen jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Armstrong manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Armstrong is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Swearengen is controlling him well.

Swearengen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Swearengen has hold of Armstrong's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Armstrong tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Swearengen cranks the arm and Armstrong screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Armstrong, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Al Swearengen!
During a confident post fight interview, Al Swearengen thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.