PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blake Phoenix (ranked 491 p4p, 338 weight class) and Aatreya Mahrishi (ranked 76 p4p, 55 weight class). Mahrishi is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: On the Precipe of Defeat. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Phoenix
vs
Mahrishi

189 cm
30
210
18 - 10 - 0

191 cm
32
205
21 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Brooklyn Apothecary

Brooklyn Apothecary
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Blake Phoenix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Aatreya Mahrishi!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phoenix uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mahrishi.
Mahrishi throws a sloppy head kick
and Phoenix counters with a straight right hand.
Phoenix cracks Mahrishi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Phoenix fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Mahrishi on the side of the head.
Phoenix scores with a hook.
Phoenix thows a left - swing and a miss!
Phoenix slips a straight right by Mahrishi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahrishi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Phoenix looks to throw the jab but Mahrishi is out of range.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Mahrishi has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Phoenix looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Phoenix staying out of range there.
Mahrishi closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A lazy body kick from Mahrishi
and Mahrishi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Phoenix ducks under a wild hook from Mahrishi.
Mahrishi lands with a right hand.

It looks like Blake Phoenix has been cut.
Mahrishi misses with a body shot
and Phoenix counters with a nice uppercut.
Mahrishi throws a head kick that misses
and Mahrishi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Good exchange - Phoenix coming out on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahrishi lands with a cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mahrishi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Phoenix throws a shot from downtown. Mahrishi moves away and avoids it.
Mahrishi throws a sloppy head kick
and Phoenix counters with a nice uppercut.
A shot to the body from Mahrishi misses
and Mahrishi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mahrishi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mahrishi throws a hook but Phoenix avoids it easily.
Phoenix jabs Mahrishi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Mahrishi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Mahrishi misses its intended target.
Phoenix takes a swing at Mahrishi's ribcage but misses.
Mahrishi looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Mahrishi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Phoenix throws a shot from downtown. Mahrishi moves away and avoids it.
Phoenix on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Mahrishi tries to clinch up but Phoenix circles away and keeps his distance.
Mahrishi throws a hook but Phoenix avoids it easily.
Mahrishi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahrishi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Phoenix's head.
Phoenix walks into a jab.

Blake Phoenix's cut is getting worse.
The fighters circling - Mahrishi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Phoenix swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Phoenix is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Mahrishi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Mahrishi misses the shot to the body.
Mahrishi misses with a left hand
and Mahrishi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Phoenix misses with a hook. Mahrishi ducked under it nicely.
Mahrishi is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Phoenix with a body shot.
Mahrishi misses with a hook
and Phoenix counters with a straight right hand.
Mahrishi jabs Phoenix right on the nose. Phoenix blinks but takes it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Blake Phoenix will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Blake Phoenix's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mahrishi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mahrishi throws a lazy head kick
and Phoenix counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mahrishi missing with a left hand there. Phoenix was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A head kick by Mahrishi misses
and Phoenix connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A punch lands to the side of Mahrishi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix slips a jab and a cross from Mahrishi.
Phoenix throws a body shot but no joy.
Mahrishi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Mahrishi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mahrishi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Mahrishi tries to clinch but Phoenix is having none of it.
Blake Phoenix is winning the standup battle so far.
Mahrishi slips a jab from Phoenix.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mahrishi! But no joy.
Phoenix keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Phoenix swings for the body but Mahrishi moves out of range.
Mahrishi throws out a counter right but Phoenix avoids it with no problem.
Phoenix throws a hook but Mahrishi blocks it.
Mahrishi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Phoenix.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix scores with a body shot.

Mahrishi clinches up with Phoenix and pushes him back against the cage.
Phoenix misses with some punches.
Mahrishi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mahrishi tries to throw a body punch but Phoenix avoids it by throwing Mahrishi back against the cage.
Mahrishi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Phoenixs head.
Good body shot from Mahrishi.
Mahrishi trying to stall but Phoenix improves his position.
Mahrishi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Phoenix's elbow.

Mahrishi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mahrishi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big right from Phoenix misses.
Mahrishi is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Mahrishi misses with an uppercut. Phoenix saw that one coming.
Phoenix throwing a counter right hand but Mahrishi manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahrishi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Phoenix fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mahrishi manages to avoid it.
Mahrishi raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Mahrishi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Phoenix scores with a nice right hand.
Mahrishi looks to land a right hand but Phoenix moved out of range.
Phoenix is looking to counter punch.
Phoenix works Mahrishi's body with a nice hook.
Mahrishi stuns Phoenix with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Phoenix lands a slapping body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahrishi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Phoenix sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mahrishi misses with a left hand
and Phoenix connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Phoenix misses with a hook. Mahrishi ducked under it nicely.
Mahrishi throws a body kick that misses
and Phoenix counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mahrishi throws a hook but Phoenix avoids it easily.
Phoenix takes one to the chin there.

Blake Phoenix's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Phoenix swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mahrishi.
Mahrishi misses with a double jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Phoenix dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Blake Phoenix's cut.
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!

Phoenix dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mahrishi motions for Phoenix to come forward. Mahrishi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Phoenix blocks a head kick by Mahrishi.
Phoenix is looking to counter punch.
Mahrishi misses with a wild combination.
Phoenix appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Jab by Phoenix.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Phoenix appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Mahrishi avoids the body shot from Phoenix.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Mahrishi to counter with a crisp jab.
Mahrishi throws a head kick that misses.
Phoenix is looking to counter punch.
Mahrishi has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Mahrishi throws a lazy uppercut
and Phoenix counters with a straight right hand.
Mahrishi throws a lazy uppercut
and Phoenix counters with a stiff right hand.
Mahrishi throws a sloppy head kick and Phoenix moves out of range easily.
Nice jab there from Mahrishi.
Phoenix throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mahrishi misses with an uppercut
enabling Phoenix to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix looks to land a right hand but Mahrishi moved out of range.
Mahrishi throws a right hand that misses
and Phoenix counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mahrishi lands with a cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mahrishi blocks a jab.
Mahrishi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A jab from Mahrishi misses.
The fighters circling - Phoenix throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mahrishi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mahrishi moves in looking to clinch but Phoenix pushes him off.
A little feinted left hand from Phoenix on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A head kick by Mahrishi misses
and Phoenix counters with a nice uppercut.
Phoenix throws a hook but Mahrishi avoids it easily.
A big left from Phoenix misses.
It seemed like Mahrishi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mahrishi misses with an uppercut
enabling Phoenix to counter with a crisp jab.
Mahrishi throws a sloppy head kick
and Phoenix cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mahrishi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mahrishi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Phoenix.
It looked like Phoenix was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Mahrishi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Phoenix misses.
A nice side step and Mahrishi releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Phoenix lands with a good body shot.
Phoenix walks into a left hand.

Jeez, Blake Phoenix's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Mahrishi fails to land with a series of punches.
Phoenix swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Mahrishi tries a head kick but it misses.
Phoenix lands a jab to the head.
Aatreya Mahrishi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head kick misses from Mahrishi.
Phoenix scores with a hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake Phoenix showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Phoenix, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake Phoenix!
Blake Phoenix seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.