PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mark Downer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Jesse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Downer had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 147.5lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Bobby Jesse will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Downer
vs
Jesse

189 cm
22
152 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
153 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers standup

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mark Downer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bobby Jesse!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jesse tries to clinch there but Downer circles away.
Downer looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Jesse lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Jesse avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Downer stuffs the takedown.
Jesse tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jesse shoots for a double leg takedown but Downer sprawls well. He's pushed Jesse's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Downer looks to land a combination but Jesse avoids it well.
Downer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jesse wants to clinch

and Downer counters by moving into the clinch.
Jesse tries to break the clinch but Downer is controlling the position.
Jesse has Downer pushed against the cage.
Jesse is working for takedown but Downer is calmly controlling the position for now.
Mark Downer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Jesse.
Jesse jumps guard but Downer stands there with Jesse around his waist. Jesse gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jesse tries to stall but Downer uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downer wants to get back to striking at distance but Jesse won't allow it.
Jesse fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Jesse slowing the pace effectively.
Jesse tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Downer smiles and moves away.
Jesse fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bobby Jesse seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jesse moves out of range as Downer throws a body kick.
Downer scores with a kick to the midsection.
Jesse gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Downer counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Jesse takes the fight into the clinch.
Jesse displaying some good clinch control by pressing Downer up against the cage.
Jesse fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downer is pressed up against the cage. Jesse has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Downer down to the mat. Downer avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jesse bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Downer's head backwards.
Jesse wants to clinch

and Downer holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Downer prevents the takedown attempt.

Downer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jesse shoots and misses
and Downer counters with a series of strikes. Jesse will be more careful next time no doubt.
Jesse with a lazy takedown attempt

and Downer holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Jesse works on Downer's body with a couple of short punches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Downer wants to get back to striking at distance but Jesse won't allow it.
Jesse tries to pull guard but Downer won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jesse breaks from the clinch.
Jesse lands a nice looking body kick.
Jesse shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Downer counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Downer.

Jesse breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jesse avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jesse misses with a takedown

and Downer holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Jesse content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Jesse wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Downer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jesse.

Jesse pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Downer circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jesse shoots in for a takedown but Downer shows good takedown defense.
Downer tries to clinch but Jesse is having none of it.
Downer has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Jesse will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A head kick by Downer misses
and Jesse counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Downer thinking.
Jesse lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Jesse lands with a good body shot.
Jesse doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Downer counters by moving into the clinch.
Jesse tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Downer just stands there and leans against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Jesse.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Downer dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Jesse lands a head kick. Downer smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Jesse clinches up with Downer and pushes him back against the cage.
Downer has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Downer misses with an elbow over the top.
Downer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jesse's elbow.
Jesse tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Downer gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jesse.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downer tries a body shot but Jesse blocks it.

Jesse pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Downer really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Jesse showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Downer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jesse closes the distance but Downer moves to the side

and Downer moves into the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Jesse breaks from the clinch.
Jesse tries to clinch up but Downer circles away and keeps his distance.
Downer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jesse moves away.
Downer displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jesse.
Mark Downer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Jesse.
Downer tries to clinch up
and Jesse counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Jesse throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Downer's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jesse.
Jesse tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Jesse looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Downer is refusing to be controlled, as Jesse sits in half guard.

Jesse is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Downer sees it coming and defends easily.

Downer has one foot on Jesse's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jesse closes the distance and clinches up with Downer, looking for a takedown. Jesse pushes Downer against the cage but Downer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jesse fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Downer.
Downer misses the body punch
and Jesse counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Jesse tries to clinch

and Downer holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Downer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jesse wants to clinch but Downer slips to the side

and Downer counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Downer.
Jesse is trying to drag Downer to the mat but Downer just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Downer keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Jesse's efforts to push away.
Downer tries to break free but Jesse pushes him back against the cage.
Jesse scores with a shot to the side of Downer's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jesse escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jesse moves in looking to clinch but Downer pushes him off.
Jesse throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Jesse feints and as Downer raises his hands in defense, Jesse changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Downer has Jesse pulled in close to control his posture.
Jesse forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Downer pushes Jesse off and gets back to his feet.
Jesse misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Jesse showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Jesse throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Downer's waist but Downer gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jesse off to one side.
Jesse moves out of range of the strikes.
Jesse will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jesse fails with a takedown attempt.
Mark Downer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Jesse.
Jesse shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Downer counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jesse can't get the takedown.
Downer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Jesse backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jesse tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Downer just stands there and leans against the cage.

Downer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Downer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jesse misses with a takedown attempt
and Downer counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Downer closes the distance and pushes Jesse back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Downer breaks from the clinch.
Jesse looks to clinch

and Downer counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jesse tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jesse fails to pull guard.

Jesse pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Downer leaves Jesse with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jesse swats away the attempt to clinch by Downer.
Jesse gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Downer moves into the clinch.
Downer is trying to maintain a safe position but Jesse gets an underhook and turns Downer into the cage.
Jesse tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Downer dodges an elbow strike from Jesse.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Downer is pressed up against the cage. Jesse has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Downer down to the mat. Downer avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Downer takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Jesse goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Downer - that will leave a mark!
Mark Downer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jesse gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Downer makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Jesse feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jesse looking to control.
Downer showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Downer wants to stand but Jesse has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Downer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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.
Downer wants to control from the top but Jesse keeps moving.
Jesse looking to hit a scissor sweep but Downer is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Downer wants to control from the top but Jesse keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jesse with a poor takedown

and Downer counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Downer working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Jesse wants a takedown.
Downer lands a body shot.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Downer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Downer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight for Mark Downer!
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Mark Downer!
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight for Mark Downer!

Mark Downer wins by unanimous decision!