PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gord Downey (ranked 1748 p4p, 1561 weight class) and Rodney Derek (ranked 152 p4p, 139 weight class). Rodney Derek will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Downey
vs
Derek

178 cm
27
145
5 - 7 - 1

190 cm
27
145
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Gord Downey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rodney Derek!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Michael Johnstone and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Derek misses with the body kick

and Downey decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Derek's guard.
Downey chips away with some ground and pound.
Downey is pushing down on Derek's leg trying to pass to half guard. Derek is fighting to maintain full guard but Downey has managed to sneak the leg through.
Derek wants to improve his position but Downey is controlling well.
Downey seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Derek on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Downey lands a nice short elbow.
Downey definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Downey looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Derek with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Derek is rocked!
Downey working over Derek with some ground and pound. Derek looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Derek is still in real trouble! Can Downey finish him?
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Derek can do anything to dispel that myth.
Derek is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Downey scores with a couple of nice shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Downey drops an elbow to the side of Derek's head.
Downey looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Downey is keen to just control but Derek is a slippery customer.
Downey is nestled in close to Derek, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Downey lands a nice short elbow.
Downey wants to take a breather but Derek is having none of it.
Derek is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Downey scores with a couple of nice shots.
Derek is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Derek seems to have recovered his senses.
Downey slips a nice elbow through Derek's hands, connecting with Derek's forehead.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Downey connects with a nice short shot to Derek's temple.
Derek is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Downey's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Downey's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Downey covering up well and avoiding damage.
Downey might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Derek is trying to stick to Downey's back but Downey is turning into Derek. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Derek's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Downey.
Downey postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Downey is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Downey's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Downey stopping the sweep attempt from Derek.
Derek really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Downey. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Derek being controlled here, momentarily.
Derek is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Downey is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Downey scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Downey with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Derek has momentary wrist control but Downey slips an elbow through the middle.
Downey keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Derek's head.
Downey is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Downey trying to control the position from guard on top but Derek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Downey scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Derek wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Downey manages to pass to side control.
Downey winds up and cracks Derek with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Downey landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Derek wants to sweep but Downey has passed to side control!
Derek is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Downey 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.
A big shot lands for Downey! That's hurt Derek! Will he recover? Downey fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gord Downey!