PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Corwin Anstey (ranked 2021 p4p, 1686 weight class) and Joshi Dell (ranked 261 p4p, 226 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Anstey
vs
Dell

183 cm
25
187
17 - 12 - 0

179 cm
31
169
12 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Corwin Anstey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joshi Dell!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Anstey moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dell misses with a hook.
A punch combination from Anstey misses.
Dell ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Anstey feints and as Dell raises his hands in defense, Anstey changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dell trying to control the position.
Anstey is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anstey prevents Dell from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dell being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anstey seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Dell for as long as he can get away with.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Dell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Anstey is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dell.
Anstey keeps the fight on the outside.
Anstey drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dell sprawls and moves away.
Dell cracks Anstey with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nice defenses there by Anstey.
Dell throws a hook but Anstey blocks it.
Dell scores with a nice strike.
Anstey looks for the body kick but Dell saw that one coming.

Anstey closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Dell quickly recovers to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anstey slows the pace down in half guard.
Anstey sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dell defending well though.
Anstey seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Dell felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Anstey not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dell tries to roll over but Anstey keeps him under control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Anstey thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dell is looking to control Anstey's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dell avoid being mounted?

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
We've been told by Anstey's head coaches at Sparks gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Dell feints and then cracks Anstey's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Anstey down.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Anstey decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dell is trying to maintain the position but Anstey is very close to passing his half guard.
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 Corwin Anstey will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dell displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Anstey throws out the jab.

Dell looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Anstey pulls Dell in to control the position.
Corwin Anstey overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Anstey can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dell controls the pace.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dell wants to pass the guard but Anstey is keeping the position.
Dell is looking to advance position but Anstey has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dell bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Dell wants to pass the guard but Anstey is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dell looking to sit in guard and control but Anstey gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Anstey trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Anstey cracks Dell with a solid left hand.
Dell keeping full guard, as Anstey tries to pass.
Dell is looking to stand up but Anstey isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anstey got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dell has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Anstey has managed to get both his arms back between Dell's legs - danger averted.
Dell trying to control the position here.
Anstey postures up and lands a big shot to Dell's brow.
Anstey is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Dell keeping moving, preventing Anstey from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Anstey controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dell loads up on a big right hand but Anstey slips the punch.

Anstey closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Corwin Anstey will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Anstey looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Dell swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Anstey misses with an attempted mid kick.
Dell misses with a right hand

and Anstey counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Anstey.
Dell wants to sweep but no luck.
Anstey is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Dell controls Anstey momentarily but Anstey frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anstey preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anstey controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Anstey works over Dell with some ground and pound from guard.
Anstey 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.
Anstey trying to control but Dell is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dell is trying hard to land a takedown here. Anstey sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Anstey went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Dell throws a left and a right that both miss
and Anstey counters with a one-two to the body.
Anstey cracks Dell with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dell wants to clinch but Anstey slips to the side

and Anstey counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Anstey.
Dell controls Anstey momentarily but Anstey frees himself.
Anstey throwing strikes but missing.
Dell keeping full guard, as Anstey tries to pass.
Dell wants to improve his position but instead Anstey has moved into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anstey slows the pace down in half guard.
Anstey continues to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dell swings for the body but Anstey moves out of range.
Anstey appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Anstey walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Joshi Dell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Anstey goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Dell misses the jab.
Joshi Dell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dell looks to throw the jab but Anstey is out of range.
Dell scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Anstey shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anstey controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Corwin Anstey is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dell wants to sweep here but Anstey controlling him for the moment.
Anstey sitting in guard here, content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Corwin Anstey showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Anstey, 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 William Peck scores the fight 29:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Corwin Anstey!
A relieved looking Corwin Anstey thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.