PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between The Next Big Thing (ranked 24719 p4p, 0 weight class) and Micheal Page (ranked 4941 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for The Next Big Thing has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Next Big Thing
vs
Page

190 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

195 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, The Next Big Thing!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Micheal Page!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Richard Clark and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Big Thing throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Page shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Big Thing sprawls well. Big Thing wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Page gets slowly back to his feet.
Big Thing defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Page.

Page darts in and clinches Big Thing up against the cage.
Page has Big Thing pressed against the cage, preventing Big Thing from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Page tries for a takedown. No joy.
The Next Big Thing has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Micheal Page.
Big Thing is trying to break the clinch but Page is controlling him.

Page gets control of Big Thing's arms and successfully pulls guard. Page will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Big Thing has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Page looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Page pushes Big Thing off and gets back to his feet.
Big Thing rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Page moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Big Thing swinging wildly here.
Big Thing slaps away a takedown attempt from Page, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Page slips a jab and a cross from Big Thing.
The Next Big Thing is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Big Thing is breathing heavily.
Page throws a series of strikes that have Big Thing backpedaling.
Big Thing fails to land with a series of punches.
Page goes for a double leg but Big Thing avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Big Thing continues to drive forward.
Big Thing throws a sloppy head kick and Page moves out of range easily.
An inside leg kick from Big Thing misses.

Page rushes Big Thing and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Big Thing is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Page drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Page is working for takedown but Big Thing is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Page successfully pulls guard.

Page has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Big Thing can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Big Thing wants to stand but Page is controlling his posture from full guard.

Page looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Page manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Big Thing manages to get himself to full guard.

Page throws an elbow that misses. Big Thing uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Page's guard. Nice move by Big Thing!

Page pulls Big Thing in close to his closed guard and prevents Big Thing from doing any damage or advancing position.

Page looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Page pulls Big Thing in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Page is on top in guard.

Page in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Big Thing avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Page passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Page is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Big Thing's shoulder. That is not cool.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micheal Page dominated that round.
That's time! Big Thing's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Page throws a leg kick that misses.
Page shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Big Thing as he avoids it easily.
The Next Big Thing is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Page.
Big Thing throws a combination that misses
and Page makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Big Thing throws a series of punches but Page avoids them all with ease.
Big Thing throws a right and a left that Page avoids nicely.
Page connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Big Thing's hands.
Page misses with a takedown attempt - Big Thing sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The Next Big Thing has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Micheal Page.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Big Thing misses with a double jab.
Page feints the counter takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Page showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Big Thing.
The Next Big Thing is winning the standup battle so far.
Page shoots in but no luck this time.

Page gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Page ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Page no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Page looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Page lands an upkick as Big Thing stands over him.

Page looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Big Thing knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Page on the ground.
Page looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Page working for a triangle but Big Thing defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Page controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Page is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Page fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Page fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Big Thing looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Page moves into range and clinches up with Big Thing.

Page pulls guard successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Big Thing wanted to stand there but Page had control of the position.
Page trying to control the position here.

Page wriggles free and stands up.
Big Thing will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Page appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Big Thing throws a series of punches but Page moves out of range.

Page closes the distance and clinches.
Page taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Page holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Page is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Big Thing wants to break free but Page has control.
Big Thing tries to break free but Page pushes him back against the cage.
Page drops down looking for an ankle pick but Big Thing pulls his leg out and moves away.
Big Thing throws a nice looking combination but Page bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Page! But no joy.
A combination from Big Thing does no damage.
Page changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Page lands a jab to the nose.
Big Thing lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Page shoots in for a double leg but Big Thing sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Page shoots in for a takedown but Big Thing shows good takedown defense.
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 The Next Big Thing will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Page takes a kick to the side of the head.
Big Thing throws a series of punches but Page moves out of range.
Page throws a push kick but Big Thing slaps the foot to one side.
Big Thing fails to land with a series of punches.
Page misses with a series of wild punches.
Big Thing throws a right hand that Page ducks under and follows up with a left that Page also avoids with ease.

Page moves into the clinch.

Page's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Page clinches up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Page stalling in the clinch.
Big Thing wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Page has Big Thing pressed against the cage, preventing Big Thing from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Big Thing is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Page pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Page throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Big Thing fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Big Thing dodges the punch combination from Page.
Page stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Page changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Big Thing tries to avoid it but Page manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Big Thing to the ground. Big Thing escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Big Thing misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Page fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
No luck for Page with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Big Thing as Page shoots in.
The Next Big Thing has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Micheal Page.
Big Thing throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Page.
Page is looking for the big counter here.
Big Thing throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Page looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Big Thing is fending him off so far but Page persists. Nope, Big Thing circles away and we're back to standing.
Big Thing misses with a combination

and Page counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Page.
Page tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Big Thing smiles and moves away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice uppercut there from Big Thing.
Big Thing lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Page circles away quickly and effectively.
Page darts in looking for a takedown but Big Thing gets double underhooks and turns Page into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Big Thing will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A combination from Big Thing does no damage.

Page clinches up with Big Thing and pushes him back against the cage.
Big Thing working hard to break the clinch.
Page has Big Thing pushed against the cage.

Page manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Page has his hands on Big Thing's head, controlling the position.

Page had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Big Thing defends it easily.
Micheal Page has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Page pulls Big Thing in close to prevent any damage.
Big Thing wants to stand and escape but instead Page has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Page stays in close to Big Thing's body and controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Micheal Page.
I think Page 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 Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Micheal Page!