PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leon Phoenix (ranked 4775 p4p, 0 weight class) and RaeKwon BlaZe (ranked 4768 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Phoenix
vs
BlaZe

177 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
24
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leon Phoenix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, RaeKwon BlaZe!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Steve Montenegro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Phoenix pushes BlaZe up against the cage in a clinch.
A short left from Phoenix.
BlaZe looking to stall.
Phoenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Phoenix lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Phoenix jumps guard but BlaZe stands there with Phoenix around his waist. Phoenix gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
BlaZe tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Phoenix just stands there and leans against the cage.

BlaZe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Phoenix has closed the distance and engaged BlaZe in a clinch.

Phoenix jumps guard.

BlaZe stands up and waves to Phoenix to follow him.

Phoenix rushes BlaZe and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BlaZe's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Phoenix is stalling here.
Phoenix manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Phoenix lands a left hand.
Phoenix lands with a short shot to the head.
A short uppercut from Phoenix.
A shot in the inside from Phoenix.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix fails to pull guard.
Phoenix tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. BlaZe smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Phoenix. That's going to take a lot out of him.
BlaZe misses with a series of wild punches.
BlaZe lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Leon Phoenix has been cut.
BlaZe lands with an overhand left.
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!

Phoenix clinches up against the cage.
BlaZe is trying to break free.
Phoenix fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Phoenix pulls guard successfully.
BlaZe slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
BlaZe prevents Phoenix from standing back up.
BlaZe wants to take a breather but Phoenix is having none of it.
BlaZe stops Phoenix from getting back to his feet.
Phoenix wants to get back to full guard.

BlaZe escapes and gets back to his feet.
BlaZe looks to land a body kick but Phoenix moved away.
Phoenix circles away from the clinch attempt.
Phoenix changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nice sprawl there from BlaZe as Phoenix shoots in.
BlaZe throws a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BlaZe scores with a nice strike.

Phoenix closes the distance and clinches.
Good body shot from Phoenix.
A short left from Phoenix.
BlaZe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on BlaZe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Phoenix pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Phoenix tries to pull guard but BlaZe holds him up against the cage and eventually Phoenix drops back down to his feet.
Phoenix using the Thai plumb to throw knees but BlaZe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Phoenix dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Leon Phoenix's cut.
That's time! Phoenix's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Phoenix has taken the fight to the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on BlaZe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
BlaZe letting Phoenix take a breather here.
Still in the clinch, Phoenix scores with a nice short uppercut.
Phoenix jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as BlaZe walks away with a smile on his face. Phoenix gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Phoenix rushes BlaZe and presses him up against the cage.
Phoenix lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. BlaZe smiles and moves away.
Phoenix shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts BlaZe as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Phoenix. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BlaZe lands a nice hook to Phoenix's body. Phoenix takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
BlaZe will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Phoenix shoots and misses

and BlaZe counters with a crisp one two that drops Phoenix! BlaZe thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Phoenix to his feet! Phoenix is in big trouble!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Phoenix pushes BlaZe up against the cage in a clinch.
Phoenix lands a hook that snaps the head of BlaZe backwards.
A short right from Phoenix on the inside.
BlaZe tries to break free but Phoenix pushes him back against the cage.
Phoenix tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. BlaZe just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Phoenix tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. BlaZe just stands there and leans against the cage.
Phoenix lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A short body shot lands from Phoenix as the two fighters clinch.
Phoenix tries a knee to the head but BlaZe blocks it.
A bit of stalling here from Phoenix.
Leon Phoenix has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Phoenix lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Phoenix lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Phoenix throws a knee to the head but misses.
BlaZe tries to break free but Phoenix pushes him back against the cage.
Phoenix is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that BlaZe can do to turn this around?
BlaZe is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Phoenix to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Phoenix tries to pull guard but BlaZe holds him up against the cage and eventually Phoenix drops back down to his feet.
Phoenix can't find room to land a body shot as BlaZe controls the action.
Phoenix misses with a knee to the head.
Phoenix tries to pull guard but BlaZe won't allow it.
Phoenix tries to land knees in the clinch but BlaZe avoids the damage to the body.
BlaZe wants to get back to striking at distance but Phoenix won't allow it.
BlaZe blocks an uppercut.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Phoenix jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as BlaZe walks away with a smile on his face. Phoenix gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
BlaZe misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BlaZe thows a leg kick but Phoenix checks it

and Phoenix counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Phoenix slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
BlaZe seems keen to control Phoenix's posture.
Phoenix stops BlaZe from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Phoenix dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Leon Phoenix's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Phoenix takes the fight into the clinch.
BlaZe wants to break free but Phoenix has control.
Phoenix keeps control of BlaZe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Phoenix presses BlaZe against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Phoenix lands a shoulder strike.
Phoenix really is a fat lump.
Phoenix is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables BlaZe to keep the fight standing.
Phoenix gets through BlaZe's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. BlaZe just stands there and leans against the cage.
A short left from Phoenix.
Phoenix tries for a takedown but BlaZe manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Phoenix. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Phoenix.
Phoenix goes for a takedown attempt but BlaZe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Phoenix moves into the clinch.
BlaZe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Phoenix tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. BlaZe just stands there and leans against the cage.
Phoenix lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Phoenix misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Phoenix is trying to pull guard but BlaZe turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
BlaZe is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. BlaZe smiles and moves away.

Phoenix clinches up against the cage.
Phoenix scores with a shoulder strike.
BlaZe wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Phoenix working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Phoenix lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Phoenix lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix keeps the fight in the clinch, despite BlaZe's efforts to push away.
BlaZe blocks an uppercut.
BlaZe is trying to force a seperation but Phoenix has the dominant position.
Phoenix holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Phoenix lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of BlaZe backwards.
Phoenix lands a hook that snaps the head of BlaZe backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Phoenix misses with a knee strike.
Phoenix fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
BlaZe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Phoenix misses with a hook from the clinch.
BlaZe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Phoenix tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Phoenix is trying to pull guard but BlaZe has him pressed against the cage.
BlaZe blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Phoenix is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables BlaZe to keep the fight standing.
A short right from Phoenix.
RaeKwon BlaZe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leon Phoenix is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Phoenix scores with a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leon Phoenix showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Phoenix, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leon Phoenix!