PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jack Phillips (ranked 897 p4p, 1589 weight class) and Attilio De Fiore (ranked 139 p4p, 235 weight class). Attilio De Fiore acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Phillips
vs
De Fiore

183 cm
22
185
7 - 2 - 0

193 cm
22
185
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
Carnage Clothing

Conviction

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jack Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Attilio De Fiore!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phillips shoots in and drives through. De Fiore sprawls well.
Phillips shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and De Fiore counters with a nice uppercut.

Phillips throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. De Fiore was covering up waiting for the punch and Phillips finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Phillips wants to control from the top but De Fiore keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips is looking to advance position but De Fiore has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Phillips tries to hold on but De Fiore pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Phillips tries to hold on but De Fiore pushes him away.
Phillips stops De Fiore from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
De Fiore controlling his opponent.
Phillips tries to hold on but De Fiore pushes him away.
Phillips is in all sorts of trouble here.
Phillips reaches up to try and control the position but De Fiore seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Phillips rolls and tries to escape and now De Fiore has his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips tries to break free.
De Fiore is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
You can see the frustration on Phillips's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Phillips is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Cloud9, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
De Fiore is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Phillips tries to break free.
Phillips is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
De Fiore has the hooks in. Phillips is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Phillips manages to reverse the position and now he's in De Fiore's guard. Nice work there by Phillips.
Phillips being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
De Fiore keeping moving, preventing Phillips from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Phillips engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Phillips forces his way into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Attilio De Fiore will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

De Fiore misses with a looping right.
Phillips avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Phillips slips a straight right by De Fiore.
De Fiore misses with a hook.
Phillips shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. De Fiore defends it nicely.
De Fiore throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
De Fiore stuffs the takedown attempt from Phillips. Phillips gets slowly back to his feet.
Jack Phillips seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips moves away from the strike by De Fiore.
A big left from De Fiore misses.
Phillips goes for a double leg but De Fiore avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as De Fiore continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Fiore throws a punch but it's blocked by Phillips.
Phillips drops down looking for an ankle pick but De Fiore pulls his leg out and moves away.
Phillips tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but De Fiore swivels and escapes.
Phillips is trying hard to land a takedown here. De Fiore sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
De Fiore loads up on a big right hand but Phillips slips the punch.

Phillips looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Phillips pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. De Fiore is keeping the position for now.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as De Fiore holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips 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.

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

Phillips looking for a guillotine here but De Fiore defends easily.
De Fiore must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
De Fiore preventing the sweep.
De Fiore has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Phillips is pressing down on De Fiore's thigh, looking to free his foot. De Fiore is holding on for now.

Phillips is looking for submissions but instead, De Fiore has regained full guard.
Phillips works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Fiore is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Phillips trying to mount his opponent but De Fiore defends it.
De Fiore is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Phillips is just content to waste time from the top position. De Fiore takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
De Fiore can't keep his opponent in guard - Phillips advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Attilio De Fiore will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Phillips changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. De Fiore tries to avoid it but Phillips manages to keep hold of a leg and drag De Fiore to the ground. De Fiore escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Phillips feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Phillips not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Phillips can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as De Fiore controls the pace.

Phillips looking for subs off his back but De Fiore has passed one foot through into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Phillips is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but De Fiore pulls his head out easily.
De Fiore is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Phillips actively working from the bottom here.
Jack Phillips overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
De Fiore passes to side control.

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.
De Fiore controlling the position.
Phillips is looking for a sweep.
Phillips manages to get back to half guard.
De Fiore not doing much here.
Phillips is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of De Fiore's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take De Fiore's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phillips working for the choke.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phillips trying to control momentarily.
De Fiore is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Phillips off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Phillips working for the choke.
De Fiore is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
De Fiore looking to control the position.
Jack Phillips has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.

Phillips working for a choke but De Fiore reverses nicely into Phillips 's guard.

Phillips working for a triangle but De Fiore defends it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Phillips escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. De Fiore gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jack Phillips.
I think De Fiore 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Attilio De Fiore!