PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Monday Blues (ranked 1380 p4p, 145 weight class) and Brian Fantana (ranked 1518 p4p, 162 weight class). Blues comes to the cage accompanied by Chance The Rapper - Angels. Brian Fantana acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Blues
vs
Fantana

170 cm
29
140 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

165 cm
43
144 lbs
27 - 14 - 2

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Monday Blues!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 14 - 2, fighting out of New York, Brian Fantana!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Dillan Fox and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fantana has his takedown stuffed
and Blues counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Fantana dips to his left and cracks Blues with an uppercut!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Blues enables Fantana to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Blues manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Blues knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fantana on the ground.

Fantana got a little sloppy there for a moment and Blues has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fantana has managed to get both his arms back between Blues's legs - danger averted.
Fantana advances to half guard.
Fantana scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Blues is not content to let Fantana control the position.
Blues is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fantana wants to pass to mount but Blues is defending the position.
Blues wants to control but Fantana is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blues moves into full guard.
Fantana trying to control but Blues is working from the bottom.
Fantana trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fantana controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Blues controls Fantana momentarily but Fantana frees himself.

Blues had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fantana defends it easily.
Fantana trying to control the position from guard on top but Blues is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Blues is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fantana is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Blues holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fantana accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Blues keeping moving, preventing Fantana from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Fantana fails with a takedown attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fantana. Blues does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fantana misses the jab.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Blues uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fantana.
Fantana on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Blues. Blues obviously looking to wear him down.
A big left from Blues misses.
Fantana ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Blues digs a good hook to Fantana's body.
Monday Blues is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Blues dodges the punch combination from Fantana.
Blues misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Fantana.
Good shot there by Fantana.
Blues swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fantana misses with a few strikes there.
A quick step to the side and Blues tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blues stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Fantana misses with a few strikes there.
Fantana fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Blues checks it well.
Fantana throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A telegraphed right hand from Blues misses the target.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
No joy there for Fantana, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A quick step to the side and Blues tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fantana keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Blues moves into the clinch.
Blues tries a body shot but Fantana blocks it.
Blues misses with a body punch.
Fantana prevents a body shot from Blues.
Fantana misses with a punch on the inside.
Fantana wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fantana.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blues misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Blues.
Fantana gets through Blues's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Blues can't find room to land a body shot as Fantana controls the action.
Blues blocks an uppercut.
Fantana wants to break free but Blues has control.

Fantana escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fantana. Blues does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blues throws a body shot but no joy.
Fantana swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Fantana throws a hook but Blues avoids it easily.
Fantana scores with a sloppy right hand. Blues should have avoided that one.
Some wild striking there from Fantana.
Blues jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fantana tries to clinch but Blues moves out of range.
Fantana misses with a hook.
Blues lands with an uppercut that bounces Fantana off the cage and back into range.
Blues swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fantana misses with a double jab.
Fantana scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Fantana dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Blues looks to score with a jab to the body but Fantana is just out of range.
Fantana throws a big shot that misses.
Fantana jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fantana cracks Blues with a good jab.
Blues looks to score with a jab to the body but Fantana is just out of range.
Fantana thows a left - swing and a miss!
Blues throwing a counter right hand but Fantana manages to avoid it.
Fantana takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Fantana scores with a three punch combo!
Fantana throws a nice looking combination but Blues bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Blues throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Fantana drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Blues is looking to stand back up but Fantana counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Blues.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Blues looking for submissions off his back.
Fantana has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fantana is trying to control the action in half guard but Blues is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
My spies in Ramirez School Of Excellence inform me that Fantana has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blues looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Fantana trying to control from half guard but Blues is working away.
Fantana working over Blues with some ground and pound. Blues looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Blues is trying to control but can't.
Fantana working over Blues with some ground and pound. Blues looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Blues is looking to improve his position.
Fantana has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fantana trying to pass the guard but Blues defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantana looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Fantana working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantana wants to control but Blues is keeping him busy.
Blues is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Fantana's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Fantana's back!
Fantana wants to control his opponent's hands but Blues gets his hands free.
Fantana tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Blues wants to stand but Fantana is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Blues wants to take Fantana's back but he can't do it this time.
Blues is looking to take Fantana's back but instead Fantana gets back to half guard. Nice work.
Fantana wants to improve his position but Blues is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blues is taking a breather. Fantana says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Fantana wants to improve his position but Blues is controlling well.
Blues stalling.
Blues tries to pass to full mount but Fantana defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Fantana tries to get to full guard but Blues has control of the leg.
Blues tries to stand and escape but Fantana is controlling the position.
Fantana wants to improve his position but Blues is controlling well.
Blues tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Fantana.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blues misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Blues.
Blues swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Blues misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fantana.
Blues lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fantana circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Fantana showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Fantana looks to score with a jab to the body but Blues is just out of range.
Blues throws a shot to the body.
Blues throws a head kick but Fantana moves out of range.
Fantana uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Blues.
Fantana showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blues.
Fantana just misses with a punch to the body.
Blues ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fantana moves away.
Fantana punishes Blues's body with a nice straight punch.
Fantana misses with a series of wild punches.
Brian Fantana seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Blues throws a nice outside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blues scores with a sloppy right hand. Fantana should have avoided that one.
Blues showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fantana.
Blues appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Blues slips a jab and a cross from Fantana.
Blues misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fantana.
Blues scores with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fantana keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Blues throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Fantana stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Fantana goes for a double leg but Blues avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Blues continues to drive forward.
Fantana lands a nice shot to the body.
Blues lands a jab to Fantana's midsection.

Blues clinches.
Fantana blocks a body shot from Blues.

Blues's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Blues fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fantana manages to avoid it.
Blues connects with a jab.
Fantana throws a series of punches but Blues moves out of range.
Blues throws a jab when Fantana was well out of range.
Blues is looking to wear down Fantana with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Blues slips under a jab.
Fantana thuds a left hand into Blues's body.
Fantana lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blues swings for the body but Fantana moves out of range.
Fantana throws out a powerful jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantana shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Blues as he avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Blues. Fantana does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blues lands a jab to the head.

Blues has Fantana up against the cage in a clinch.
Blues throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fantanas head.
Fantana looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Fantana lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Blues tries a body shot but Fantana blocks it.
Blues tries a body shot but Fantana blocks it.
Fantana wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Blues breaks the clinch.
Blues throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fantana. Blues does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blues misses the shot to the body.
Blues keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Fantana throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Fantana shoots in and drives through. Blues sprawls well.
It looked like Blues was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Fantana.
Monday Blues has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Monday Blues has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Fantana.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blues lands a two punch combo.
Blues is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Fantana.
Blues throws a body shot but no joy.
Blues throws a hook to the side of Fantana's head but Fantana sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fantana fails to land with a series of punches.
An attempted straight right counter from Blues misses the target.
Fantana misses with a low kick.
Blues lands with an overhand left.
Blues takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Brian Fantana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantana scores with a body shot.
Blues throws a body shot but no joy.
Fantana throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Blues throws a leg kick but Fantana moved away.
Good work by Fantana as he checks the leg kick.
Fantana just misses with a punch to the body.
Fantana misses with a series of wild punches.
An attempted straight right counter from Blues misses the target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fantana wants to slow Blues down by chopping away at his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantana just misses with a punch to the body.
Blues throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Blues with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fantana misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Blues.
It looked like Blues was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Fantana.
Jab, jab by Fantana - just one landing.
Fantana shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Blues as he jumps to the side.
Blues scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Fantana doesn't seem bothered though.
Brian Fantana is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Blues jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Fantana drives through with a takedown into Blues's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Blues looking for a guillotine here but Fantana defends easily.
Fantana wants to control from the top but Blues keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Monday Blues showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fantana 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Fantana!
Brian Fantana thanked the fans post fight for their support.