PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Player Three (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasco Duncan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vasco Duncan is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Three
vs
Duncan

180 cm
23
200 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
205 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Player Three!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vasco Duncan!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Eliza Hachem and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duncan with a lazy takedown attempt

and Three counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Three.

Three breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Duncan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Three tries to avoid it but Duncan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Three to the ground. Three escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Three.

Three drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Duncan wants to sweep here but Three controlling him for the moment.
Three sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Three looking to sit in guard and control but Duncan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Three has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Duncan off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Duncan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Three is staying active underneath Duncan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Duncan is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Three is looking to escape.
Duncan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Three keeping control of the position.
Three is looking to control Duncan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Three avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Duncan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Three's waist but Three gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Duncan off to one side.
Player Three has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vasco Duncan.

Duncan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Duncan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Three keeps working.
Three holding on.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Three manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Three is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Three wants to get back to his feet.
Three slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Three looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Three pushes Duncan off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Three shoots in looking for a takedown but Duncan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Three's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Three misses with a takedown

and Duncan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Duncan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Duncan tries to free his leg and advance position but Three is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Duncan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Three keeping moving, preventing Duncan from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Duncan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Three works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Three bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Duncan's guard.
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 Player Three will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Three scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Duncan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Three is controlling the pace.
Three trying to control from Duncan's half guard. Duncan has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Three postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Duncan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Three doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Three manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Duncan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duncan is trying to keep Three in close.
Three loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Three throwing strikes but missing.
Three throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Three with a nice head shot there.
Three trying to control the position from guard on top but Duncan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Duncan is trying to control the position but Three postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Three throwing strikes but missing.
Three showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Three scoring with some ground and pound.
Player Three overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Three landing with the ground and pound.
Three preventing the sweep.
Duncan is breathing heavily.
Three throws a big elbow that misses.
Three sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Duncan's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Three is nestled in close to Duncan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Three winds up and cracks Duncan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Duncan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Three.

Three decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Duncan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Three drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Duncan wants to get back to his feet.
Three happy to just control the position for now.
Duncan tries to bench press Three off him but Three keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Three scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Duncan to see if he's OK.
Three is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Duncan will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Three working the head with strikes.
Three in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Duncan sneaks back into half guard.

Three stands up from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Duncan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Three.
Three fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Player Three dominated that second round.
That's time! Three's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Three tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Duncan was well out of range. Poor timing from Three.
Three has a takedown stuffed.
Three tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Three with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Duncan to score with a decent uppercut.

Duncan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Three preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Three is trying to get back to full guard.
Three tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duncan thows a huge punch but Three dodges it nicely.
Duncan takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Three desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Three trying to control from the bottom.
Three keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Three is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Three manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Three wants to sweep here but Duncan controlling him for the moment.
Duncan throwing strikes but missing.
Duncan postures up in Three's guard and throws a big left but Three blocks it.
Duncan tries to free his leg and advance position but Three is retaining full guard.
Duncan working some strikes from top position.
Duncan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Three bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Duncan's guard.
Duncan has momentary wrist control but Three slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duncan wants to sweep but no luck.
Three is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Duncan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Three trying to control but Duncan is working from the bottom.
Three lands a couple of digs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Three accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Three stands up and waves to Duncan to follow him.
Duncan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Three sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Duncan somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Three shoots in for a double leg but Duncan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Three closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Duncan's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Duncan tries to strike from the bottom.
Player Three is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Three sitting in guard, not really doing much.

And that's the end of the fight!
Player Three showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Three, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Player Three!
After winning the bout, Player Three thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.