PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joey Sass (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Davis has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sass
vs
Davis

192 cm
30
211 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

189 cm
27
208 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS - AJFC ↑ DOUBLE 160Q *

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joey Sass!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Phil Davis!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, David Schapiro and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sass moves out of range of the strikes.
Sass fails to land with a series of punches.
Sloppy strikes from Sass. Those never looked like landing.
Sass waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Davis.
Sass lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sass tries to bum rush Davis with a series of wild strikes but Davis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sass looks to score with a jab to the body but Davis is just out of range.
Sass throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sass misses with a double jab.
Sass moves forwards but Davis connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Davis lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sass at a distance.
Joey Sass seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sass looks for the body kick but Davis saw that one coming.
Davis connects with a body shot that sends Sass's belly button to the back.
A big left from Davis misses.
The fighters circling - Sass throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
No joy there for Sass, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A right-left combo lands from Sass.

It looks like Phil Davis has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sass misses with a combination
letting Davis counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sass lands a left and a right that send Davis crashing to the mat, dazed. Sass thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Davis is rocked!
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!
Sass throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Davis.
Davis is still on wobbly legs! Can Sass finish him?
A punch combination from Sass misses.
Sass throws a right hand that Davis ducks under and follows up with a left that Davis also avoids with ease.
A big left from Davis misses.
Davis sizes up Sass with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Davis seems to have recovered his senses.
Sass misses the shot to the body.
Davis thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sass misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A telegraphed right hand from Davis misses the target.
Davis scores with a shot to the body.
Sass throws a nice looking combination but Davis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sass is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Davis.
Sloppy strikes from Sass. Those never looked like landing.
Davis swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sass throws a shot from downtown. Davis moves away and avoids it.
Davis moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sass throws a nice looking combination but Davis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Davis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sass.
Sass tries to bum rush Davis with a series of wild strikes but Davis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sass throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Davis.
Davis ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sass avoids the body shot from Davis.
Some wild striking there from Sass.
Sass throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Davis looks gassed!
Sass misses with a series of wild punches.
Sass throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sass moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sass misses with the combination.
Davis throws a hook but Sass blocks it.
Sass throws a series of punches but Davis avoids them all with ease.
Davis thows a left - swing and a miss!
The fighters circle momentarily. Sass darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sass with a nice cross.
Davis scores with a three punch combo!
Sass shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Davis eats them both and turns towards Sass to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Davis throws out a loose jab but Sass uses good head movement to avoid it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Davis.
Sass takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sass misses with an uppercut. Davis saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Davis's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sass connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Davis scrambles back to his feet.

That has opened up Phil Davis's cut even more.
A decent looking cross lands there for Sass.
Sass lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Davis circles away quickly and effectively.
Sass takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sass with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Davis to score with a decent uppercut.
Davis misses with an uppercut. Sass saw that one coming.
Sass takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Davis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Davis looks to score with a jab to the body but Sass is just out of range.
No joy there for Sass, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sass takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A looping hook to the body misses from Davis. Sass does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sass throws a series of punches but Davis moves out of range.
Sass slips a jab from Davis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Sass dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Phil Davis's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Left hook, right uppercut from Sass.
A punch combination from Sass misses.
Sass will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sass throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sass misses with a two punch combination.
Davis lands with an uppercut that bounces Sass off the cage and back into range.
Sass lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sass swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sass misses with the combination.
Davis just misses with a punch to the body.
The fighters circling - Davis throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sass takes a body punch but keeps moving.
No joy there for Sass, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sass is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Davis is breathing heavily.
Sass thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sass misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Davis.
Joey Sass is winning the standup battle so far.
Sass throws a right and a left that Davis avoids nicely.
Sass moves out of range of the strikes.
Davis avoids the body shot from Sass.
Sass throws out a leg kick but Davis moves out of range and Sass only half commits.
Davis cracks Sass with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Davis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sass takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sass works Davis's body with a nice hook.
Sass misses the jab.
Davis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sass.
Sass takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sass takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sass misses with a series of wild punches.
Davis moves out of range as Sass throws a body kick.
A jab from Davis misses.
Sass looks to land a right hand but Davis moved out of range.
Davis jabs Sass right on the nose. Sass blinks but takes it well.
Davis swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sass.
The crowd cheers as Davis lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sass doesn't seem phased though.
Davis lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sass fails to land with a series of punches.
Sass lands a glancing blow to the side of Davis's head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Sass.
Sass misses with a low kick.
Sass waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Davis.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sass.
Sass looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sass throws a looping overhand right but Davis ducks down to avoid it.
Sass throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sass throws a right and a left that both miss.
Davis lands with a shot to the body.
Davis scores with a body shot.
Davis cracks Sass with a right hand to the side of the head.
Sass uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Davis.
Sass lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Davis circles away quickly and effectively.
Sass throws a hook but Davis avoids it easily.
Sass misses with the combination.
Sass has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sass tries to bum rush Davis with a series of wild strikes but Davis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Davis lands a right hook to the body.
Joey Sass is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Davis throws out a loose jab but Sass uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sass throws a right hand that Davis ducks under and follows up with a left that Davis also avoids with ease.
Sass throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sass throws out a loose jab but Davis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sass misses with a two punch combination.
Sass walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
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!
Sass throws a body punch but Davis moves out of range.
Sass looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Davis scores with a decent looking hook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice shot by Davis.
Sloppy strikes from Sass. Those never looked like landing.
Sass misses with a wild combination.
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 Joey Sass will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Phil Davis's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

The crowd cheers as Davis lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sass doesn't seem phased though.
A left and a right from Davis both land. Nice combination.
Sass lands a two punch combo.
Davis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sass misses with a few strikes there.
Sass misses with a double jab
and Davis counters with a straight right hand.
Sass misses with a wild combination.
Sass misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sass throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Davis counters with a two punch combo.
Sass looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Davis moves into range and connects with a jab.
Davis scores with a shot to the body.
Davis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Davis finds it's target.
Sass looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sass ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Davis moves away.
Davis throws out a loose jab but Sass uses good head movement to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Sass.
Davis with a jab.
Sass throws a nice looking combination but Davis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sass throws a combination that misses
and Davis makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sass takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Sass throws an overhand right that lands on Davis's shoulder, as Davis tries to avoid the shot.
Davis fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sass on the side of the head.
Davis lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Sass throws a right hand that Davis ducks under and follows up with a left that Davis also avoids with ease.
Phil Davis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sass misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Davis digs a good hook to Sass's body.
Sass throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Davis counters with a straight right hand.
Davis scores with a nice right hand.
Davis lands an overhand right.
Sass pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Davis lands the left hand.
Davis takes a swing at Sass's ribcage but misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sass pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Davis scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sass in his tracks.
Sass takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sass swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Davis scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sass in his tracks.
Davis looks to land a combination but Sass avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sass throws a right and a left that Davis avoids nicely.
Sass fails to land with a series of punches.
Sass lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Davis circles away quickly and effectively.
Sass misses with a straight right.
Sloppy strikes from Sass. Those never looked like landing.
Davis walks into a jab.
Davis jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sass thows a left - swing and a miss!
Davis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sass.
Davis slips a jab and a cross from Sass.
Davis connects with a right hand. Sass shakes it off.
Davis scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sass takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Davis gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Sass fails to land with a series of punches.
Davis has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Davis ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Davis swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sass takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sass doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Davis missing with a left hand there. Sass was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Davis is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sass.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Good work by Davis as he checks the leg kick.
Davis lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Sass throws a series of punches but Davis avoids them all with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phil Davis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sass 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Sass!
Joey Sass very nearly forgot to thank 5th Round Clothing amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.