PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Boom Bam (ranked 6762 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Preston (ranked 4834 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Mike Preston was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Bam
vs
Preston

163 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Boom Bam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Preston!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bam tries to score a power double leg takedown but Preston sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bam somewhat.
A left lands for Preston.

It looks like Boom Bam has been cut.

Preston shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bam is trying to defend but Preston finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Preston sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bam defending well though.

Bam actively working from the bottom here.
Preston wants to pass to mount but Bam is defending the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Preston scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Bam is defending against the submission attempts here by Preston.
Bam is looking for a sweep. Preston is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Preston stands up and beckons Bam to join him on the feet.

Bam gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Preston to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Bam is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Preston defends well.

Bam has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Preston is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Bam.
Bam is looking to reverse the position.
Preston working the ground and pound.

Preston wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bam, who protects the arm well.
Bam is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Preston in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bam tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Preston wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Bam is working hard here to advance position.
Preston is chipping away with strikes.
Bam might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bam is trying to improve his position.
Preston slows the pace down.
Bam is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bam stops Preston from passing to mount.
Bam tries to bench press Preston off him but Preston keeps the position.
Preston wants to control but Bam is keeping him busy.
Bam is trying to improve his position.

That's four 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.
Bam is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ground and pound from Preston.

Bam looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bam is breathing heavily.
Preston looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Bam looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Preston controlling the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bam has hold of Preston's hands but Preston slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Preston dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Boom Bam's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bam gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Preston counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Preston controlling the action here for a moment.
Bam tries to score a body lock takedown but Preston shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Preston breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Boom Bam seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bam goes for a double leg but Preston avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Preston continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boom Bam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bam tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Preston defends well and Bam ends up having to push Preston into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Preston drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Bam defends it well.
Bam shoots in looking for a takedown. Preston tries to sprawl out of it but Bam keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Preston manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mike Preston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Preston throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bam shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Preston counters by moving into the clinch.

Preston has picked Bam up - he's going for a ride! Preston dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Bam looking for submissions off his back.
Preston perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Bam looking for submissions off his back.
Preston looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bam with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Bam is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Preston pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Preston stands up and beckons Bam to join him on the feet.

Preston scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Preston really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bam. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Preston cracks Bam with a big right hand but Bam just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Preston just content to control the position.
Bam tries to buck Preston off but Preston is having none of it.
Preston cracks Bam with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Preston is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Preston controlling from side mount.
Bam is looking to regain half guard here but Preston keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Preston staying calm.
Let's hope that Preston has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Preston tries to advance to mount but can't.
Bam is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Bam looking for a kimura from the bottom but Preston passes into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bam tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Preston wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Preston has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bam is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Preston off and has taken his back!
Preston is trying to stand back up.

Bam seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Preston's chin but Preston turns very nicely into Bam's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Preston.
Preston trying to control but Bam is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bam utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Preston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Boom Bam's cut.
That's time! Bam's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Bam goes for a double leg but Preston avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Preston continues to drive forward.
Bam misses with a takedown

and Preston counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Bam wants to stall.

Preston pulls guard effortlessly.
Bam won't allow Preston to sweep him here.

Preston looking for a guillotine here but Bam defends easily.

Bam drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Preston dives on top into guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bam escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Preston gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Bam had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Preston defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Preston controls from within his opponent's guard.
Preston forces his way into half guard.
Preston is pressing down on Bam's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bam is holding on for now.
Preston prevents Bam from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Preston slows the pace down in half guard.

Bam actively working from the bottom here.

Bam looking for submissions off his back.
Preston winds up and cracks Bam with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Bam is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Preston pulls his head out easily.
Bam wants to get back to full guard.

Preston postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Bam to stand up.
Bam shoots in for a takedown but Preston shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boom Bam. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Preston takes the fight into the clinch.

Preston manages to break the clinch.
Bam with a poor takedown

and Preston counters with a shoot takedown. Bam fights it but they end up in guard.
Preston's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Preston stands up and waves to Bam to follow him.
Preston leaves Bam with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Preston gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Preston dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Preston goes for a takedown attempt but Bam pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bam gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Preston counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Preston.

Preston is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Bam can't fight it off and eventually Preston manages to take the fight to the floor. Bam looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Preston is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Bam working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Preston doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Bam is tightening it up a little... Preston has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Preston reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Preston taps out! Nice BJJ there by Bam!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Boom Bam!