PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bret Hart (ranked 5018 p4p, 4217 weight class) and Todd Phillips (ranked 556 p4p, 514 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hart
vs
Phillips

184 cm
19
170
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
168
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Conquer

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bret Hart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Todd Phillips!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Paul Gruel and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hart closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Hart wants to work for an arm triangle but Phillips is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Hart is trying to work for a kimura but Phillips is defending well.
Hart lands strikes from half guard.
Phillips is trying to get back to full guard.

Hart is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Phillips sees it coming and defends easily.
Phillips is trying to stand up here but Hart is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hart throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Hart looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Hart is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips is looking to control Hart's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Phillips avoid being mounted?

Hart is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Hart is looking for a kimura here.

Hart is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Phillips sees it coming and defends easily.

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.

Hart is working for a kimura but Phillips is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Phillips trying to control but Hart postures up.
Hart throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Hart wants to work for an arm triangle but Phillips is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Phillips is looking for a sweep. Hart is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hart seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Phillips!
Phillips blocking the ground and pound.

Hart jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Phillips is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Phillips and Hart has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Hart thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Hart tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Phillips defending against the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hart tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hart has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Hart wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Phillips, who protects the arm well.
Phillips tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hart wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Hart tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The strikes coming from Hart are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bret Hart dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hart looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Phillips is fending him off so far but Hart persists. Nope, Phillips circles away and we're back to standing.
Phillips swinging wildly here.
Phillips misses with a low kick.
Hart takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hart shoots in for a takedown but Phillips shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Phillips! But no joy.

Hart looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Phillips is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hart won't allow Phillips to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hart landing some decent shots from guard.
Hart trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Phillips looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hart accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hart with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hart 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.
Hart pushing down on Phillips's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hart is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Phillips can do to turn this around?

Hart is looking for a kimura but Phillips is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hart to get the leverage.
Bret Hart overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hart is trying to work for a kimura but Phillips is defending well.
Phillips works his way to full guard. Good work.
Our spies down at at Gumburcules Gym inform us that Phillips has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Hart thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Hart postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Phillips is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hart, into his guard.

Hart is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips won't allow Hart to sweep him here.

Hart had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Phillips defends it easily.

Hart is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Phillips trying to control but Hart is working from the bottom.
Phillips throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips wants to stand and escape but instead Hart has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Phillips is trying to keep Hart in close.
Hart throws an elbow that misses. Phillips uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hart's guard. Nice move by Phillips!

Phillips engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Hart had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Phillips defends it easily.

Hart working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Phillips doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Hart is tightening it up a little... Phillips has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Phillips reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Phillips taps out! Nice BJJ there by Hart!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Bret Hart!
A relieved looking Bret Hart thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
In defeat, Todd Phillips stepped up to the mic, saying 'Life is a series of ups and downs. The downs help us grow. I'm looking forward to growing. '.