PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ferdinando Branca (ranked 3958 p4p, 4383 weight class) and Rory Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rory Phillips will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Branca
vs
Phillips

175 cm
25
190
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
180
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ferdinando Branca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rory Phillips!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Alyssa Summers and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phillips tries a head kick but it misses.
Phillips looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Branca fails with a takedown attempt.
Phillips tries to clinch up but Branca circles away and keeps his distance.

Branca looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Branca seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Branca lands a couple of digs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips wants to sweep but no luck.
Branca lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Branca is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Branca works over Phillips with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branca scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Branca controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Branca's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Branca postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Branca distracts Phillips with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Phillips is rocked!
Branca chips away with some ground and pound.
Phillips is still in real trouble! Can Branca finish him?
Branca not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Branca looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Branca loads up on a big left hand. Phillips felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Branca looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Phillips can't hide his disappointment, as Branca celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ferdinando Branca!