PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Egill Skallagrimsson (ranked 6285 p4p, 497 weight class) and Russell Phillips (ranked 6560 p4p, 504 weight class). Russell Phillips will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Skallagrimsson
vs
Phillips

175 cm
18
164 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
159 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

UnderGround Clothing Co.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Egill Skallagrimsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Russell Phillips!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skallagrimsson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Phillips pinned against the cage. Phillips gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Skallagrimsson clinches.
Phillips misses with a punch to the body.
Skallagrimsson blocking some punches.
Phillips tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Phillips digs a right hand underneath Skallagrimsson's ribcage. Skallagrimsson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips working aggressively here.

Skallagrimsson successfully pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skallagrimsson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips is looking to stand up but Skallagrimsson won't let him.
Skallagrimsson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Skallagrimsson seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Phillips trying to stand up but can't free himself from Skallagrimsson's guard.

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

That's two 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.
Skallagrimsson is looking to clinch but Phillips is avoiding it.
Skallagrimsson shoots in looking for a takedown but Phillips manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Skallagrimsson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Phillips leaves Skallagrimsson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Phillips let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Egill Skallagrimsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phillips slaps away a takedown attempt from Skallagrimsson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Skallagrimsson tries to clinch up.

Skallagrimsson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Phillips misses with a punch to the body.
Phillips's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Phillips.
Skallagrimsson jumps guard but Phillips stands there with Skallagrimsson around his waist. Skallagrimsson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Skallagrimsson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Phillips lands a body shot in the clinch.
Skallagrimsson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Phillips struggles to land a body shot inside as Skallagrimsson controls his hands.
A shot in the inside from Phillips.
Phillips is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Phillips working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Phillips lands an uppercut.
Phillips looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Phillips tries to work over Skallagrimsson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Skallagrimsson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Phillips uses from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skallagrimsson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Skallagrimsson is working hard here to advance position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Skallagrimsson holds on and takes a little breather.
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.
Skallagrimsson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Skallagrimsson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Phillips dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Phillips fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Skallagrimsson manages to avoid it.
Skallagrimsson dives in for a single leg takedown but Phillips sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Phillips! But no joy.
Skallagrimsson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Phillips swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Phillips looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Skallagrimsson misses with a takedown attempt
and Phillips counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Skallagrimsson staying out of range there.
Phillips fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Skallagrimsson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Skallagrimsson fails with a takedown attempt.
A little jabbing left from Phillips on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Egill Skallagrimsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skallagrimsson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Phillips counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Phillips jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skallagrimsson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Skallagrimsson closes the distance and pushes Phillips back into the cage.
Phillips lands with a right to the head.

Skallagrimsson decides to pull guard.
Phillips tries to stand but Skallagrimsson is controlling from the bottom.
Skallagrimsson has his hands on Phillips's head, controlling the position.
Phillips wanted to stand there but Skallagrimsson had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skallagrimsson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Skallagrimsson stops Phillips from standing up.
Skallagrimsson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Skallagrimsson looking to pass the guard.
Skallagrimsson advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skallagrimsson controlling the position from side mount.
Further stalling from Skallagrimsson.
Phillips is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Skallagrimsson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Phillips as he jumps to the side.
Skallagrimsson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Phillips makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Phillips cracks a nice hook into Skallagrimsson's ribs.
Phillips looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Skallagrimsson misses with a takedown attempt
and Skallagrimsson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Skallagrimsson misses with a takedown attempt - Phillips sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Phillips showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Phillips works Skallagrimsson's body with a nice hook.
Skallagrimsson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Russell Phillips seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Phillips ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Phillips misses with the combination.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Phillips!
Phillips has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skallagrimsson goes for a double leg but Phillips avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Phillips continues to drive forward.
Phillips scores with a nice head shot.
Skallagrimsson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Phillips fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Skallagrimsson manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips scores with a hook.
Skallagrimsson dives in for a single leg takedown but Phillips sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Egill Skallagrimsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skallagrimsson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Phillips misses with a double jab.
Phillips comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Skallagrimsson moves out of range as Phillips strikes.
Skallagrimsson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Phillips manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Phillips swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Skallagrimsson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Phillips is fending him off so far but Skallagrimsson persists. Nope, Phillips circles away and we're back to standing.
Phillips misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips circles away from the clinch attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Phillips. Skallagrimsson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Skallagrimsson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Phillips let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Skallagrimsson throws a head kick that misses.
Skallagrimsson throws a sloppy head kick and Phillips moves out of range easily.
Skallagrimsson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Phillips.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Skallagrimsson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Skallagrimsson misses with a takedown attempt
and Phillips counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Egill Skallagrimsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phillips throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Russell Phillips is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Skallagrimsson tries to move into range but Phillips moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Phillips circles away from the clinch attempt
and Phillips counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Skallagrimsson was well out of range. Poor timing from Phillips.
Skallagrimsson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Phillips counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Skallagrimsson misses with an uppercut.
Phillips lands a lovely overhand right.
Phillips swinging wildly here.
Skallagrimsson goes for a double leg but Phillips avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Phillips continues to drive forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Skallagrimsson.
Jab from Phillips.
Phillips misses with a wild body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Phillips as Skallagrimsson shoots in.
A little jabbing left from Phillips on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Skallagrimsson throws a sloppy head kick and Phillips moves out of range easily.
Phillips looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Phillips scores with a body shot.
Egill Skallagrimsson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Skallagrimsson clinches up against the cage.
Skallagrimsson wants a takedown but no success here.
Phillips scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Phillips goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Phillips lands a left hand.
Egill Skallagrimsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Russell Phillips is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Skallagrimsson can't find room to land a body shot as Phillips controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russell Phillips comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Phillips winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russell Phillips!
Russell Phillips decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.