PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rousso Phobe (ranked 5585 p4p, 2272 weight class) and Chad Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chad Armstrong will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Phobe
vs
Armstrong

173 cm
22
142
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
144
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Vegan Gains

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rousso Phobe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chad Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Armstrong throws a jab when Phobe was well out of range.
Phobe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Phobe shoots in but no luck this time.
Armstrong now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Phobe seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Horrible takedown attempt by Phobe or perhaps it was just good defense by Armstrong, which made it look bad.
Armstrong doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rousso Phobe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phobe tries to clinch but Armstrong is having none of it.
Phobe shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Armstrong pinned against the cage. Armstrong gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Phobe scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong is trying to stand back up but Phobe is controlling him
Armstrong avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Phobe.
Armstrong wants to control but Phobe is keeping busy.
Phobe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Armstrong really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Phobe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Phobe controlling the action here.
Phobe wants to pass to mount but Armstrong is defending the position.
Phobe seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Phobe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Armstrong's head.
Phobe has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Phobe sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phobe is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Armstrong is surviving well by controlling Phobe's body position as best he can.
Phobe looking to control and managing it successfully.
Phobe connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Phobe looking to control and managing it successfully.
The referee warns Armstrong that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Phobe looking for a guillotine from mount but Armstrong is having none of it.
Armstrong is trying to stand up.

Phobe looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Phobe stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Phobe.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Phobe dives in for a single leg takedown but Armstrong sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Armstrong throws a counter combo.
Phobe jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Armstrong walks away with a smile on his face. Phobe gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rousso Phobe dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Phobe tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Armstrong defends well and Phobe ends up having to push Armstrong into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Armstrong is looking for the big counter here.
Phobe jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Armstrong walks away with a smile on his face. Phobe gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A combination from Armstrong does no damage.
Phobe shoots in looking for a takedown. Armstrong tries to sprawl out of it but Phobe keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Armstrong manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rousso Phobe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phobe shoots in for a takedown but Armstrong shows good takedown defense.
Rousso Phobe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Phobe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Armstrong now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong works Phobe's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phobe shoots in for a takedown but Armstrong shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Armstrong wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Phobe avoids a punch combination nicely.
Phobe darts in looking for a takedown but Armstrong gets double underhooks and turns Phobe into the cage.
Armstrong slowing the pace effectively.
Phobe is trying to pull guard but Armstrong turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Armstrong is trying to stall.
Armstrong tries to land knees in the clinch but Phobe avoids the damage to the body.
Phobe tries to pull guard but Armstrong holds him up against the cage and eventually Phobe drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong gets underhooks to prevent Phobe's takedown attempt.

Phobe decides to pull guard.
Armstrong won't allow Phobe to sweep him here.
Phobe has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Phobe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Phobe looking for a sweep. Not yet Phobe, not yet.
Armstrong trying to control the position from guard on top but Phobe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Phobe on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Phobe tries to get out of the position.
Phobe bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Armstrong's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong wants to stand up but Phobe is controlling him.
Phobe wants to pass the guard but Armstrong is keeping the position.
Armstrong seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Phobe stands up from Armstrong's guard - Phobe perhaps looking for a knockout.
Phobe dives in for a single leg takedown but Armstrong sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Armstrong missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Armstrong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Phobe shoots for a double leg takedown but Armstrong sprawls well. He's pushed Phobe's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Phobe drives through with a takedown into Armstrong's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phobe forces his way into half guard.
Phobe is looking to stall here but Armstrong recovers full guard.
Phobe looking to pass the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Armstrong wants to stand up but Phobe is controlling him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Armstrong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Armstrong leaves Phobe with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Phobe tries to score a power double leg takedown but Armstrong sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Phobe somewhat.
Phobe will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Armstrong is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rousso Phobe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phobe drops his hands momentarily and Armstrong takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Phobe eats them both and turns towards Armstrong to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Phobe is rocked!
Armstrong stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Armstrong wants it to stay on the feet.
Oh Phobe is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
No luck for Phobe with that takedown attempt.
Phobe seems to have got his legs back now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Phobe shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Armstrong is trying to defend but Phobe finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Phobe is looking to take a break and control but Armstrong is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Phobe performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Phobe seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Armstrong does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Phobe lands a nice short elbow.
Phobe is looking to advance position but Armstrong won't allow it.
Ground and pound from Phobe.
Phobe is trying to control. Armstrong wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Phobe is really struggling to control Armstrong but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Phobe is working for a kimura but Armstrong is defending it quite comfortably.
Rousso Phobe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Phobe not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
We've been informed that Armstrong has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Phobe shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Armstrong counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Armstrong connects with a right hand. Phobe shakes it off.
Nice takedown defense from Armstrong. No joy for Phobe on that attempt.
Phobe misses with a takedown
and Armstrong counters with a straight right hand.

Phobe drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Armstrong bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chad Armstrong seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Armstrong stuffs the takedown attempt from Phobe. Phobe gets slowly back to his feet.
Armstrong lands a nice looking body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Armstrong comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Armstrong 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Armstrong!
Chad Armstrong really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Vegan Gains logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.