PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bubba Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Joe
vs
Anderson

205 cm
22
255 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

184 cm
20
233 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bubba Joe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antonio Anderson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Anderson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Joe tries to clinch up but Anderson circles away and keeps his distance.
Joe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Joe wants to clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Anderson checks a leg kick.
Joe moves in looking to clinch but Anderson pushes him off.
Anderson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Joe tries to clinch but Anderson moves out of range.
Anderson swats away the attempt to clinch by Joe.
Anderson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Joe moves in looking to clinch but Anderson pushes him off.
Anderson keeps the fight on the outside.
Joe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Anderson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Anderson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Anderson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Anderson misses with a double jab.
Joe moves in looking to clinch but Anderson pushes him off.
Anderson takes a swing at Joe's ribcage but misses.

Anderson shoots in and bounces Joe off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Joe wants to get back to his feet but Anderson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Anderson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Joe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Anderson is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anderson thows a big elbow that misses.
Joe wants to get back to his feet but Anderson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Anderson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Anderson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Joe doesn't manage to clinch there - Anderson circles away.

Anderson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Anderson looks gassed!
Ground and pound from Anderson.
Anderson prevents Joe from standing back up.
Joe is trying to get back to full guard.
Anderson trying to control from half guard but Joe is working away.
Joe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Anderson thows a huge punch but Joe dodges it nicely.
Joe looks like he's trying to stand up.
Joe is trying to control but can't.
Joe moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Anderson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Anderson keeps the fight on the outside.
Joe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Joe tries to clinch up but Anderson circles away and keeps his distance.
Joe tries to close the distance and clinch but Anderson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Joe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Anderson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Joe fails to land with a series of punches.
Joe clinches but Anderson breaks the clinch
and Anderson counters with a left and a right that stings Joe.
Joe clinches but Anderson breaks the clinch

and Anderson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Anderson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Joe tries to get to full guard but Anderson has control of the leg.

Joe makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Anderson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Joe moves into the clinch successfully.
Anderson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Joe tries to land a knee to the head but Anderson blocks with his arms.
Joe with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Joe misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Anderson.
Joe using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Anderson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Anderson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Joe.
Joe tries a knee to the head but Anderson blocks it.
Anderson tries for a takedown. No joy.

Anderson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Anderson throws and elbow that misses. Joe uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Anderson's guard. Nice move by Joe!
Anderson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anderson working a defensive guard but Joe passes into half guard.
Anderson is breathing heavily.
Anderson trying to control here.
Joe lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson is trying to control but Joe passes into side control!

Joe decides to stand back up.
Joe closes the distance but Anderson moves to the side

and Anderson counters with a takedown into side control.
Joe wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Joe tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Anderson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Anderson throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Joe works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Joe wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson with the ground and pound but Joe uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Joe is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Joe postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Anderson to stand up.
Joe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Joe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Joe moves in looking to clinch but Anderson pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe doesn't manage to clinch there - Anderson circles away.
Joe tries to clinch up but Anderson circles away and keeps his distance.
Joe tries to close the distance and clinch but Anderson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Joe gets a clinch.
Anderson prevents Joe from breaking the clinch.
Anderson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Joe gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bubba Joe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Anderson.
Joe looking to throw knees to the head but Anderson is blocking nicely.
Joe wants to stall.
Anderson jumps guard but Joe stands there with Anderson around his waist. Anderson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Joe using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Anderson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Anderson can't get the takedown.
A head punch on the inside from Anderson fails to land.
Joe throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Anderson blocks it with crossed arms.
Anderson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Anderson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Joe prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Joe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Anderson being controlled against the cage.
Joe tries to land a knee to the head but Anderson blocks with his arms.
Joe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Anderson decides to pull guard.
Joe will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Anderson looking for a sweep. Not yet Anderson, not yet.
Joe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Antonio Anderson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Joe drops back looking for a leg! Anderson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Anderson manages to kick Joe off! Joe jumps back into Anderson's guard.
Anderson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Joe puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bubba Joe will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Joe moves into the clinch successfully.
Anderson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Joe misses with a knee strike.
Joe tries to stall but Anderson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Anderson breaks from the clinch.
Joe tries to close the distance and clinch but Anderson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Joe tries to close the distance and clinch but Anderson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Joe moves out of range as Anderson strikes.

Anderson rushes Joe and presses him up against the cage.

Anderson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Joe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Joe tries to kick Anderson off but Anderson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Anderson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Joe manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Joe tries to clinch up

and Anderson counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Joe's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Anderson throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Joe works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Joe regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Anderson.
Anderson throws a strike but Joe rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Anderson keeping moving, preventing Joe from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.

Joe gets to his feet. Anderson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Joe tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Anderson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Joe tries to clinch

and Anderson counters by clinching up.
Anderson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Joe gets underhooks to prevent Anderson's takedown attempt.
Bubba Joe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Anderson.
Joe misses with a knee to the head.
Joe throws an elbow but it misses.
Joe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Anderson goes for a takedown attempt but Joe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Anderson swats away the attempt to clinch by Joe.
Joe clinches but Anderson breaks the clinch

and Anderson moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe prevents the takedown attempt.
Joe tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Joe misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Anderson.
Joe with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Joe misses with a knee strike.
Joe is pressed up against the cage. Anderson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Joe down to the mat. Joe avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Joe tries to close the distance and clinch but Anderson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bubba Joe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Joe tries to clinch but Anderson moves away
and Anderson counters with a one-two to the body.
Joe tries to clinch but Anderson moves away

so Anderson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Joe is looking to stand up but Anderson isn't so interested in that idea.

Anderson stands up and waves to Joe to follow him.
Joe displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Anderson throws out the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Joe is looking to clinch.
Joe tries to close the distance and clinch but Anderson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Anderson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Joe connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bubba Joe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joe tries to clinch up.
Joe doesn't manage to clinch there - Anderson circles away.
Anderson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Joe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Joe wants to clinch up but Anderson keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Joe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Anderson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Joe closes the distance but Anderson moves to the side

and Anderson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Anderson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Anderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Anderson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Anderson!