PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Everard Philips (ranked 3968 p4p, 21823 weight class) and Troy Scramstad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Everard Philips has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Philips
vs
Scramstad

185 cm
25
188
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
185
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Everard Philips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Troy Scramstad!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Scramstad shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Philips as he jumps to the side.

Philips closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Philips's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Philips looking for a takedown.
Philips tries to land knees in the clinch but Scramstad avoids the damage to the body.
Philips tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Philips breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Scramstad 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.

Scramstad closes the distance and pushes Philips back into the cage.
Philips has Scramstad pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Scramstad manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Everard Philips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Scramstad can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scramstad gets underhooks to prevent Philips's takedown attempt.
Philips has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Scramstad is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Scramstad jumps guard but Philips stands there with Scramstad around his waist. Scramstad gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Philips tries to work over Scramstad's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Scramstad prevents a takedown attempt there.
Scramstad tries to break the clinch but Philips is controlling the position.

Philips breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Scramstad tries a head kick but it misses.
Scramstad fails to land the takedown.
Scramstad darts in looking for a takedown but Philips gets double underhooks and turns Scramstad into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Philips has Scramstad up against the cage in a clinch.
Scramstad looking for a takedown.

Philips breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Philips misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Scramstad fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Scramstad lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Philips circles away quickly and effectively.
Scramstad throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Philips's waist but Philips gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Scramstad off to one side.

Philips clinches.
Philips avoiding damage as Scramstad throws knees to the body.
Philips stops a takedown attempt from Scramstad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Come on Philips - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Scramstad is trying to force a seperation but Philips has the dominant position.
Scramstad gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Philips.
Scramstad is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Philips to keep the fight standing.
Philips lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Scramstad looks winded!

Philips breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Scramstad 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.
Philips misses with a series of wild punches.
Scramstad stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Scramstad wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scramstad takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Philips leaves Scramstad with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Philips half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Philips keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Philips went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Philips fails to land the takedown.
Scramstad is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

Philips darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Scramstad is looking for a sweep. Philips is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Everard Philips dominated that round.
That's time! Philips's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Philips stuffs the takedown.
Philips tries to score a power double leg takedown but Scramstad sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Philips somewhat.
Philips throws a right and a left that both miss.
Philips tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Philips shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Scramstad pinned against the cage. Scramstad gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Scramstad changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scramstad tries to score a power double leg takedown but Philips sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Scramstad somewhat.
Philips is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Scramstad can do to turn this around?
Philips showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Scramstad.
Everard Philips is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scramstad misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Everard Philips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Troy Scramstad.
Scramstad tries for a takedown but Philips circles away easily
and Philips counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Philips misses with a right hand
and Scramstad counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Scramstad fails with an attempt to clinch.

Philips lands a big head kick that sends Scramstad tumbling to the mat! Philips takes a step backwards and waves Scramstad back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Scramstad is rocked!

Philips forces Scramstad back against the cage and clinches.
Scramstad is still on wobbly legs! Can Philips finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Philips pulls guard effortlessly.
Scramstad seems to have recovered his senses.
Philips working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Scramstad.
Philips controls Scramstad momentarily but Scramstad frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Philips wants to sweep here but Scramstad controlling him for the moment.
Scramstad being controlled here momentarily.
Scramstad looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Scramstad trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Philips on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Philips tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scramstad stopping the sweep attempt from Philips.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Philips managing to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Scramstad tries to close the distance and clinch but Philips swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Scramstad swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Philips counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Scramstad tries to pull guard but Philips won't allow it.

Philips ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Philips no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Philips wants to sweep but no luck.
Philips is wriggling around but Scramstad manages to pass to half guard.
Philips is looking to control Scramstad's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Philips avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Philips is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Scramstad trying to control the action but Philips is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Scramstad prevents Philips from improving his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Everard Philips dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Philips misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Scramstad with the counter takedown but Philips avoids it easily.
Philips lands a jab to the head.
Philips moves out of range as Scramstad throws a body kick.
Scramstad tries to close the distance and clinch but Philips swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Philips displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Scramstad.
Everard Philips is winning the standup battle so far.
Philips fails with a takedown attempt.
Scramstad feints a counter leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scramstad misses with a takedown attempt - Philips sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Philips moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Philips breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Scramstad tries to score a power double leg takedown but Philips sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Scramstad somewhat.
Everard Philips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Troy Scramstad.
Scramstad tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Philips manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Scramstad defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Philips.
Philips misses with a series of wild punches.
No luck for Scramstad with that takedown attempt.

Philips drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Philips knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Scramstad on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Philips trying to control the action but Scramstad is working from the bottom.
Scramstad struggling a bit here.
Philips wants to lay and pray for a moment but Scramstad keeps working.
Scramstad tries to bench press Philips off him but Philips keeps the position.
Philips trying to control the action but Scramstad is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scramstad manages to get back to half guard.

Philips is trying to work for a kimura but Scramstad is defending well.
Scramstad is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Philips seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Scramstad does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Scramstad moves into full 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.
Scramstad trying to control the position.
Philips looking to sit in guard and control but Scramstad gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Philips preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Scramstad wants to control from the top but Philips keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Philips trying to control the position.
Troy Scramstad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Everard Philips is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Everard 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Everard Philips!