PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pope Callixtus (ranked 583 p4p, 855 weight class) and Landin Durham (ranked 50 p4p, 72 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Callixtus
vs
Durham

167 cm
26
140
7 - 3 - 0

150 cm
26
130
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pope Callixtus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Landin Durham!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Callixtus gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
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.
Durham preventing the sweep.

Callixtus is looking for a triangle but Durham pushes his legs off easily.
Durham trying to control the position from guard on top but Callixtus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Callixtus looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durham trying to control the position from guard on top but Callixtus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Callixtus working for submissions but it's allowed Durham to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durham tries to pass the half guard into mount. Callixtus knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Callixtus definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Callixtus is trying to control but can't.
Durham looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Durham prevents Callixtus from improving his position.
Durham is trying to control. Callixtus wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Durham is looking for a kimura but Callixtus is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Durham to get the leverage.
Callixtus gets back to full guard.
Durham looking to pass the guard.
Callixtus tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Durham shoots in for a takedown but Callixtus shows good takedown defense.
Durham fails to land the takedown.
Callixtus throws a jab but it's blocked by Durham.
Callixtus throws a jab but it's blocked by Durham.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Callixtus.

Callixtus decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Callixtus controlling the action here.
Durham wants to control but Callixtus is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Still in half guard, Callixtus seems content to control.

Durham is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Callixtus pulls his head out easily.
Callixtus uses his free foot to push down on Durham's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Durham.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Callixtus controlling the position easily from mount.

Callixtus moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Durham has worked his arm free - good work by Durham!
Durham is trying to control Callixtus's posture but Callixtus avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Durham is looking for a sweep.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pope Callixtus 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.

Callixtus fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Durham to the ground. Callixtus is now in Durham's guard.
Callixtus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Callixtus will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Durham looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Callixtus passes into side control.
Durham can't do much from the bottom here.
Durham stops Callixtus from passing to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Callixtus gets to mount! Durham was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durham is in all sorts of trouble here.
Callixtus controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Durham can't escape the position.
Callixtus sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Durham wants to hold on but Callixtus pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Durham keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Callixtus controlling from mount.
Callixtus looking to control but Durham is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Callixtus swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Durham is now in Callixtus's guard. A big mistake from Callixtus there, giving up the dominant position!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callixtus has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Pope Callixtus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Callixtus wants to sweep but no luck.
Durham trying to control but Callixtus is working from the bottom.
Durham advances position into side control!

That's four 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.
Callixtus is trying to improve his position.

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

Durham goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Callixtus rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Durham's guard! Nice work there by Callixtus!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Callixtus looking to sit in guard and control but Durham gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pope Callixtus dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Durham. Callixtus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Callixtus half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Landin Durham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Callixtus shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Durham is trying to defend but Callixtus finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Durham trying to control from the bottom.

Durham with the active half guard here but Callixtus passes nicely into side control.
Durham trying to remain calm as Callixtus controls from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Callixtus wants to control but Durham is keeping him busy.
Callixtus is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Durham can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Callixtus is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Durham is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Durham can't do much from the bottom here.
Callixtus advances to mount.
Callixtus looking to control but Durham is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Durham tries to hold on but Callixtus pushes him away.
Callixtus trying to control but Durham is having none of it.
Durham is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callixtus controlling from mount.
Callixtus avoids the attempt from Durham to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Callixtus controlling from mount.
Callixtus wants to control the pace but Durham is squirming around nicely.
Durham throwing hammer fists to the chest of Callixtus. What's that going to do exactly?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Callixtus swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Durham is now in Callixtus's guard. A big mistake from Callixtus there, giving up the dominant position!

And that's the end of the fight!
Pope Callixtus showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Callixtus has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

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