PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xander Philips (ranked 25687 p4p, 4006 weight class) and Nate Robertson (ranked 0 p4p, 379 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Philips
vs
Robertson

180 cm
18
160
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
160
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Xander Philips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nate Robertson!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Paul Tew and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Philips scores with a body shot.
Philips shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Robertson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Philips shoots for a double leg takedown but Robertson sprawls well. He's pushed Philips's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Xander Philips seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Robertson shoots in for a double leg but Philips sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Philips shoots in and drives through. Robertson sprawls well.
Robertson shoots in but Philips avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Philips shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Robertson as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xander Philips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Philips tries to clinch there but Robertson circles away.
Philips dives in for a single leg takedown but Robertson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Robertson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Philips drags the fight down to the ground.
Robertson stops Philips from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Robertson stands up and waves to Philips to follow him.
Philips pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Philips throws a leg kick but Robertson checks it.
Robertson swats away the attempt to clinch by Philips.
Philips is trying hard to land a takedown here. Robertson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Philips misses with a takedown attempt - Robertson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Robertson darts in trying to clinch
and Philips counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Philips looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Robertson moves in looking to clinch but Philips pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Philips looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Philips throws a right hand that Robertson ducks under and follows up with a left that Robertson also avoids with ease.
Philips is breathing heavily.
Philips will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Philips tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Robertson defends well and Philips ends up having to push Robertson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Robertson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Philips tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Robertson's elbow.
Robertson looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Robertson lands a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Robertson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Robertson tries to clinch up but Philips circles away and keeps his distance.

Philips gets caught napping as Robertson dives in and scores a takedown. Philips manages to retain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robertson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Philips is keeping the position for now.
Robertson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Philips keeping moving, preventing Robertson from controlling successfully.
Robertson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Robertson wants to control but Philips is keeping him busy.
Robertson slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Robertson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Robertson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Philips sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Robertson somewhat.
Robertson goes for a double leg but Philips avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Philips continues to drive forward.
Robertson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Philips.
Robertson steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

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

Philips kicks off Robertson and gets to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nate Robertson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Philips lands a two punch combo.
Robertson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Philips moves away from the strike by Robertson.
Philips lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Robertson backs up against the cage.

Philips clinches up with Robertson and pushes him back against the cage.
Philips blocks an elbow strike.
Robertson is trying to pull guard but Philips has him pressed against the cage.
Robertson jumps guard but Philips turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Philips prevents a takedown attempt there.
Xander Philips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate Robertson.
Robertson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Philips smiles and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Philips.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Philips goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Robertson darts in trying to clinch
and Philips counters with a three punch combo that has Robertson backing up. Robertson nods at Philips to acknowledge the strikes.
Robertson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Philips pinned against the cage. Philips gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Philips is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Robertson can do to turn this around?
Robertson is breathing heavily.
Robertson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Philips circles away.
Philips throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
No luck for Philips with that takedown attempt.

Robertson scores with a takedown into Philips's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Robertson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Robertson wants to control but Philips is keeping him busy.
Philips controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Philips is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Robertson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Robertson tries to clinch but Philips moves away
and Philips counters with a two punch combo.
Philips pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Robertson feints a counter leg kick.
No luck for Philips with that takedown attempt.
Philips swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Philips tries to clinch there but Robertson circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Robertson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Philips to the ground. Robertson is now in Philips's guard.
Robertson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Robertson advances to half guard.
Philips blocking the ground and pound attempt from Robertson.
Robertson is trying to control. Philips wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Robertson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Robertson stops Philips from getting back to his feet.
Robertson trying to control the action but Philips is working from the bottom.

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

Philips gets caught flat footed, as Robertson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Philips 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!

Philips avoids the body shot from Robertson.

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

Philips makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Robertson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Philips moves away.
Robertson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Philips shoots in for a double leg but Robertson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Xander Philips is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck for Philips with that takedown attempt.
Danga de danga de dang - Philips scores with a four punch combination!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Philips misses with the combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Robertson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robertson with a poor takedown
and Philips counters with a three punch combo that has Robertson backing up. Robertson nods at Philips to acknowledge the strikes.
Philips throws a combination. Robertson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Philips fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xander Philips. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Robertson feints and as Philips raises his hands in defense, Robertson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Philips is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Robertson presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Philips manages to pull guard.
Philips is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Robertson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nate Robertson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Robertson passes Philips's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Robertson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Philips does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Robertson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Philips has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Robertson is on him like a limpet, forcing Philips back against the cage.

Philips has hold of one of Robertson's legs. Robertson is fighting the takedown attempt but Philips gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robertson is trying to control the position but Philips postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Robertson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Robertson wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Philips manages to pass to side control.
Robertson wants to control but Philips is keeping busy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are battling for position here. Robertson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Robertson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Philips is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xander Philips showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Philips 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xander Philips!
Xander Philips was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.