PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gab Rat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Potter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rat
vs
Potter

170 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gab Rat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Justin Potter!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rat closes the distance but Potter moves to the side

and Potter counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Potter.
Rat is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Potter to keep the fight standing.
Rat has Potter pressed against the cage, preventing Potter from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rat tries for a takedown but Potter manages to get underhooks.
Rat jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Potter walks away with a smile on his face. Rat gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gab Rat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rat throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Potter's waist but Potter gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rat off to one side.
Rat turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Rat shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Potter is trying to defend but Rat finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Potter desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Potter actively working from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rat decides to stand up.
Potter closes the distance and clinches up with Rat, looking for a takedown. Potter pushes Rat against the cage but Rat circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rat shoots in looking for a takedown but Potter manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rat's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Potter keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Potter takes the fight into the clinch.
Rat drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Potter gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A frustrated look appears on Potter's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potter looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rat.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Potter.

Potter jumps guard and drags Rat to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Potter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Potter throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Potter looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rat trying to control the position from guard on top but Potter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Potter is adopting a defensive guard.
Rat stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Potter swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rat preventing the sweep.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Gab Rat just wasn't active enough.
Potter moves in looking to clinch but Rat pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rat fails with a takedown attempt.
Rat is breathing heavily.
Rat looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rat shoots in but no luck this time.
Potter misses with a takedown attempt - Rat sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Potter has closed the distance and engaged Rat in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Potter avoiding damage.
Rat avoiding damage as Potter throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gab Rat will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Potter drives through and clinches with Rat against the cage.

Rat pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rat shoots in for a double leg but Potter sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Potter fails with a takedown attempt.
Potter throws a right and a left that Rat avoids nicely.
Rat closes this distance looking for a takedown but Potter circles away.
Potter displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gab Rat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rat tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rat shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rat fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Potter avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Potter shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potter lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rat throws a sloppy body shot

and Potter counters by moving into the clinch.
Rat tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Potter just stands there and leans against the cage.
Potter has Rat pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rat manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Potter is working for takedown but Rat is calmly controlling the position for now.
Potter trying to land knees to the body.

Potter pulls Rat into guard.
Potter pulls Rat in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potter wants to get back to his feet but Rat is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Potter trying to control the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Justin Potter hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Potter blocks a head kick by Rat.
Potter closes the distance and clinches up with Rat, looking for a takedown. Potter pushes Rat against the cage but Rat circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gab Rat is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rat tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Potter swivels and escapes.
Rat looks for a takedown but Potter sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potter shoots in but no luck this time.
Rat is trying hard to land a takedown here. Potter sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A right-left combo lands from Potter.
Rat with a poor takedown
and Potter connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rat misses with a low kick.

Rat tries to keep at a distance but Potter has taken the fight into the clinch.

Potter pulls guard effortlessly.

Potter throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potter is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Potter keeping moving, preventing Rat from controlling successfully.

Potter is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Potter trying to keep a closed guard but Rat is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Potter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rat fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Potter avoids it really well and circles away.
Rat tries to clinch up.

Potter pushes Rat up against the cage in a clinch.
Rat avoids a wild elbow strike from Potter.
Potter stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Rat breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Horrible takedown by Rat or perhaps it was just good defense by Potter which made him look bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rat moves in looking to clinch but Potter pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rat wants to clinch but Potter slips to the side
and Potter counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Potter closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rat circles away.

Potter rushes Rat and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Potter pulls guard effortlessly.
Rat won't allow Potter to sweep him here.
Rat has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Potter is proving hard to escape from.

Rat is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Potter is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Potter has escaped and now he's on top!
Potter tries to free his leg and advance position but Rat is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potter throws a big right hand that misses.
Potter controlling from the top position.

Rat had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Potter defends it easily.

Potter stands up and waves to Rat to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Potter has taken the fight to the clinch.

Potter pulls guard successfully.
Potter keeping moving, preventing Rat from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Potter is on top in guard.
Rat preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rat has his foot on Potter's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Potter works his way back into a safe position though.
Potter is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rat is trying to control the position but Potter postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rat working a defensive guard but Potter passes into half guard.
Well, if Potter is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Potter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Potter has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Potter!