PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jack Phillips (ranked 633 p4p, 597 weight class) and Bruce Kiwi (ranked 97 p4p, 87 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Kiwi's choice of entrance music: Reaper. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Phillips
vs
Kiwi

183 cm
24
185
9 - 3 - 0

185 cm
24
186
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jack Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bruce Kiwi!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phillips shoots in and drives through. Kiwi sprawls well.
Kiwi throws a wild body kick that Phillips sees coming a mile off.
Phillips fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Phillips has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Cloud9 in the buildup to the fight.
Phillips shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kiwi sprawls well. Kiwi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Phillips gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kiwi misses with a left hand
and Phillips counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kiwi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Phillips seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Jack Phillips seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kiwi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kiwi darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kiwi throws out a powerful jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kiwi. Phillips does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kiwi lands a jab.
Phillips displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kiwi throws out the jab.
Phillips shoots in for a double leg but Kiwi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Phillips looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kiwi is fending him off so far but Phillips persists. Nope, Kiwi circles away and we're back to standing.
Kiwi has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips tries for a takedown but Kiwi circles away easily
and Phillips takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Phillips keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Phillips misses with a takedown attempt
and Kiwi counters with a straight right hand.
Phillips changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kiwi tries to avoid it but Phillips manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kiwi to the ground. Kiwi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Phillips uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kiwi.
Phillips was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Phillips closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kiwi circles away.
Kiwi throws out a counter right but Phillips avoids it with no problem.
Phillips misses with a takedown
and Kiwi counters with a left to the body.
Phillips goes for a double leg but Kiwi avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kiwi continues to drive forward.
Phillips has Kiwi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kiwi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A short uppercut from Kiwi.

Kiwi manages to break the clinch.
Phillips with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kiwi counters with a thumping low kick.

Kiwi rushes Phillips and presses him up against the cage.
Phillips tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kiwi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Phillips stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kiwi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kiwi misses with the head strike.

Kiwi breaks the clinch.
Phillips shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Phillips takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kiwi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kiwi throws a hook to the side of Phillips's head but Phillips sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kiwi throws a hook to the side of Phillips's head but Phillips sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Phillips tries to counter by clinching up but Kiwi breaks away and moves out of range.
Phillips walks into a stiff left hand from Kiwi.
Phillips closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kiwi circles away.
Phillips tries for a takedown but Kiwi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kiwi! But no joy.
Phillips tries to move into range but Kiwi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kiwi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Phillips tries to keep at a distance but Kiwi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Phillips scores with a shoulder strike.

Kiwi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kiwi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Phillips counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Kiwi.
Sloppy strikes from Kiwi. Those never looked like landing.
Kiwi throws a big shot that misses.

Kiwi gets caught napping as Phillips dives in and scores a takedown. Kiwi manages to retain guard.

Kiwi pushes Phillips off and gets back to his feet.
Phillips shoots in looking for a takedown but Kiwi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Phillips's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Phillips fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kiwi doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Phillips needs to keep his hands up - Kiwi had a free shot at his head there.
Kiwi is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Phillips had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kiwi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kiwi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Phillips.
Kiwi wants to counter the offense by Phillips and move into the clinch position.
Horrible takedown attempt by Phillips or perhaps it was just good defense by Kiwi, which made it look bad.
Kiwi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiwi just misses with a punch to the body.
Kiwi misses with the combination.
Kiwi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Phillips shoots in and drives through. Kiwi sprawls well.
Phillips uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kiwi.
Kiwi looks to score with a jab to the body but Phillips is just out of range.
Kiwi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Phillips.
Phillips ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
No joy there for Kiwi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Phillips shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Kiwi counter with a right hand.
Kiwi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Phillips's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Kiwi dominated that round.
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.

Kiwi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kiwi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Phillips.

Phillips feints and as Kiwi raises his hands in defense, Phillips changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kiwi wants to stand up but Phillips is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kiwi is trying to control the position but Phillips postures up.
Kiwi keeping moving, preventing Phillips from controlling successfully.
Kiwi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Phillips.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Phillips looking to sit in guard and control but Kiwi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kiwi throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiwi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kiwi wants to control from the top but Phillips keeps moving.

Phillips throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

Phillips looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kiwi passes into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Phillips manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kiwi's best efforts.
Kiwi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kiwi controlling the action here.
Kiwi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Phillips is looking to improve his position.

Phillips actively working from the bottom here.
Kiwi tries to pass to full mount but Phillips defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Kiwi seems content to control.

Kiwi escapes and gets back to his feet.
Phillips shoots for a double leg takedown but Kiwi sprawls well. He's pushed Phillips's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Crunch! Kiwi slams his shin into Phillips's torso.
Kiwi 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.
Kiwi slaps away a takedown attempt from Phillips, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Phillips tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Phillips shoots for a double leg takedown but Kiwi sprawls well. He's pushed Phillips's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phillips tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kiwi swivels and escapes.
Phillips fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kiwi avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips with a poor takedown
letting Kiwi counter with a right hand.
Phillips uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kiwi.
Phillips fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kiwi misses with a wild body shot.
Kiwi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Phillips was well out of range. Poor timing from Kiwi.
Kiwi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kiwi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A head kick from Kiwi lands but Phillips takes it in his stride.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Phillips shoots in but Kiwi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kiwi lands a nice hook to Phillips's body. Phillips takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nice body punch from Kiwi.
Phillips ducks under a wild hook from Kiwi.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Kiwi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kiwi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kiwi throws a head kick that misses.
A swing and a miss from Kiwi.
Kiwi lands an overhand right.
Kiwi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Phillips at a distance.
Phillips checks a low kick from Kiwi.
Phillips ducks under a wild hook from Kiwi.
Phillips misses with a takedown
and Kiwi counters with a good low kick that Phillips was not able to check.
Bruce Kiwi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Phillips is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Phillips shoots in for a double leg but Kiwi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kiwi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Phillips dives in and grabs Kiwi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kiwi pushes down on Phillips's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kiwi cracks Phillips with a good jab.
Phillips gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kiwi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Kiwi.
Phillips tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kiwi defends well and Phillips ends up having to push Kiwi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Kiwi.
Phillips can't find room to land a body shot as Kiwi controls the action.
Kiwi scores with a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kiwi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Kiwi.
Kiwi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kiwi is pressed up against the cage. Phillips has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kiwi down to the mat. Kiwi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kiwi cracks Phillips with a good jab.
Kiwi throws a body shot but no joy.
Kiwi lands with a straight right. Phillips didn't see that one coming.
Kiwi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Phillips closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kiwi circles away.
Kiwi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kiwi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Phillips.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips takes one to the side of the head.
Phillips staying out of range there.
Phillips shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kiwi pinned against the cage. Kiwi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice straight punches there by Kiwi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kiwi.
Phillips looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kiwi misses with a wild combination.
Kiwi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips fails with a takedown attempt.
Kiwi throws a hook to the side of Phillips's head but Phillips sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A swing and a miss from Kiwi.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Phillips is defended easily by Kiwi.
Kiwi is looking for the big counter here.
Phillips doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kiwi moves into the clinch.
Bruce Kiwi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Phillips blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kiwi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Phillips backwards.
Phillips blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kiwi lands with a light punch inside.
Kiwi throws a punch but it's blocked by Phillips.
Kiwi misses with a punch on the inside.
Phillips looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Kiwi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jack Phillips has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiwi misses with a body shot.
Kiwi misses with a straight right.
Kiwi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Phillips has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kiwi misses with a hook. Phillips ducked under it nicely.
Kiwi throws a hook to the side of Phillips's head but Phillips sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kiwi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kiwi misses with a wild body shot.
Phillips has a takedown stuffed.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kiwi throws a body shot but no joy.
Bruce Kiwi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Kiwi moves into range and clinches up with Phillips.
A hook to the body from Kiwi.
Phillips wants a takedown but no success here.
Phillips can't find room to land a body shot as Kiwi controls the action.
Phillips blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Kiwi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kiwi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 26:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Kiwi!
During a confident post fight interview, Bruce Kiwi thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.