PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Israel Potter (ranked 24821 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Max (ranked 4167 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Max looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Potter
vs
Max

204 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

225 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Israel Potter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Max!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Steven Brown and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Max takes the fight into the clinch.
Max looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Potter pulls guard.
Max in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Max trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Max working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Max drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Potter manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Max has Potter in his guard.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Potter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Max preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Max wants to sweep but no luck.
Max is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Max looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Potter has picked Max up and slammed him! Max can't keep hold of the triangle and Potter manages to pass to side control!
Potter misses with the ground and pound.
Max has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Potter works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Potter tries for a kimura but Max is defending well.
Max looks to move to half guard but instead Potter has passed into mount! Damn!
Potter thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potter throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Max is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Potter wants to finish this one by submission but Max is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Potter.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Max avoids a series of strikes thrown by Potter.
Potter throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Potter goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Max is on top in guard.
Max slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Max throwing strikes from guard but Potter blocks nicely.
Potter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Max throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Potter looking for a sweep. Not yet Potter, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Potter trying to control the position.
Max is looking to work some ground and pound but Potter has wrist control.

Potter throws his legs up looking for a submission but Max uses it to pass to side control.
Max postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Potter being controlled for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Israel Potter dominated that round.
That's time! Potter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Max clinches up against the cage.

Max's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Max closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Potter struggling a bit here.
Israel Potter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Max wants to lay and pray for a moment but Potter keeps working.
Max is breathing heavily.
Max working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Max working the ground and pound but Potter is defending the strikes.
Potter is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Max is controlling him well.
Max misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Potter tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Potter breaks Max's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potter trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Max looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Potter throws a big elbow that misses.
Potter postures up.
Potter has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Potter throws a big elbow that misses.

Max is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Potter is aware though and is defending well.
Potter is looking to work some ground and pound but Max has wrist control.
Potter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Potter closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Max to the mat! Max manages to get full guard.
Max is trying to keep Potter in close.
Potter throws a strike but Max rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Max throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Max in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Max sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Potter's guard.
Max controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Max throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Max is looking for a kimura here.
Max thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Potter's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Max showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Potter scores with a takedown into Max's guard.
Potter is in close to Max's body, working some short punches and elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Potter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Max preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Max controlling Potter's posture.
Max is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Max takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Max is keen to just control but Potter is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potter is trying to get back to full guard.
Max trying to pass the guard but Potter defending well.
Max wants to lay and pray for a moment but Potter keeps working.
Max tries to stand but can't do so whilst Potter controls his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Potter is looking to control Max's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Potter avoid being mounted?

Potter is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Max pulls his head out easily.
Max looks to land a strike but Potter avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Max throwing strikes from guard but Potter blocks nicely.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Potter closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Max regains full guard. Nicely done.
Max is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Potter is looking to work some ground and pound but Max has wrist control.
Max working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Potter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Max is trying to improve his position.
Potter throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Max works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Max moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Potter throws a strike but Max rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michael Max.
I think Max 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Israel Potter!