PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Phil Neal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Avila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Neal
vs
Avila

188 cm
25
152 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

177 cm
26
156 lbs
12 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Phil Neal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Tommy Avila!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Anthony Taglia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Avila as Neal shoots in.
A nice inside leg kick there by Avila. That's going to slow Neal down.
Avila keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Neal.
Avila avoids the head kick by Neal.
Avila tries a head kick but it misses.
Avila lands a nice leg kick that just misses Neal's sensitive parts.

Neal shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Avila manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Avila escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Neal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Avila lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Neal!
Avila lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Neal hang on?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neal tries to hold on but Avila pushes him away.
Avila trying to control but Neal is having none of it.
Neal is desperately trying to improve his position but Avila has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Neal avoids a series of strikes thrown by Avila.
Avila looking to control but Neal is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Avila fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Avila has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Neal is in a horrible position here. Avila smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Avila throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neal tries to lock up and control but Avila gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Avila throws some wild stikes that Neal manages to avoid easily.
Neal is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neal gets back to half guard.
Avila sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Neal defending well though.
Neal is looking to improve his position.
Neal pushes Avila off but Avila dives into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Avila dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Avila scoring well with a low kick there.
Avila slips under a jab.
Avila throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A low kick from Avila misses

and Neal counters with a single leg into guard. Avila didn't expect that.
Neal throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neal lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Neal landing some decent shots from guard.
Neal tries to free his leg and advance position but Avila is retaining full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Neal throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Avila not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Neal has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Avila managing to control the position.
Neal advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neal not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Neal is looking to take a break and control but Avila is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Avila is looking to control Neal's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Avila avoid being mounted?
Avila gets full guard.
Avila has control of Neal's left arm, preventing Neal from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neal wants to control from the top but Avila keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Avila misses with a low kick.
Avila keeps Neal at a distance using the push kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Neal.
Nice takedown defense from Avila. No joy for Neal on that attempt.
Avila throws a quick inside leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Neal. Beautiful body shot.
A left lands for Avila.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Neal fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Avila sprawls well initially but Neal persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Neal wants to control but Avila is keeping him busy.
Neal throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Avila wants to improve his position but Neal is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neal is just content to waste time from the top position. Avila takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Neal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Avila works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Avila is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Avila trying to mount his opponent but Neal defends it.
Neal is trying to control but Avila passes into side control!
Neal really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Avila stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Avila lands a nice leg kick that just misses Neal's sensitive parts.
A slapping leg kick lands for Avila.
Avila wants to slow Neal down by chopping away at his legs.
Avila buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Crunch! Avila slams his shin into Neal's torso.
Neal will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tommy Avila seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Neal with a lazy takedown attempt
and Avila connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phil Neal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Neal has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Avila.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Phil Neal will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Neal takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Neal moves out of range of the body kick from Avila.
Neal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Avila swivels and escapes.
A good leg kick by Avila.
Avila throws a low kick, looking for Neal's leg but Neal calmly moves out of range.
Avila connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Neal shoots in for a takedown but Avila shows good takedown defense.
Avila moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Avila getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Avila turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Avila lands with a kick to the ribs.
Avila turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Avila throws a head kick that misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Avila, right into the meat.
Avila throws a push kick but Neal slaps the foot to one side.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Avila throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Neal tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Avila is in Neal's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neal keeping full guard, as Avila tries to pass.
Neal wants to stand up but Avila is controlling him.

Neal looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Avila has picked Neal up and slammed him! Neal can't keep hold of the triangle and Avila manages to pass to side control!
Neal is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avila grinds an elbow into Neal's temple.
Neal is trying to control Avila's posture but Avila avoids it.
Neal is looking to regain half guard here but Avila keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avila advances to full mount.
Avila looking to control but Neal is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Neal is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Tommy Avila has got the better of the ground game so far.
Neal is squirming around, avoiding Avila's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neal is looking to get to half guard.
Avila thowing shots but they're missing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Avila lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Avila comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Avila 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Avila!