PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cecil Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Punk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Phillips
vs
Punk

181 cm
24
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes comics

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cecil Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Punk!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Phillips fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Punk, pushing him back against the cage.
Punk drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Phillips tries to circle away but Punk has him pinned against the cage.
Phillips is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Punk to keep the fight standing.
Phillips is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Punk pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Phillips has had enough of the clinch but Punk keeps him there for the moment.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Punk.

Phillips has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Punk uses from the top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Punk postures up in Phillips's guard and throws a big left but Phillips blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phillips wants to get back to his feet but Punk is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punk trying to control but Phillips is working from the bottom.
Phillips will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Punk preventing the sweep.
Phillips trying to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Punk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Phillips is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Phillips utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Phillips is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Punk is aware though and is defending well.

Phillips looking for a guillotine here but Punk defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punk is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phillips keeping moving, preventing Punk from controlling successfully.
Punk wants to pass the guard but Phillips is keeping the position.
Punk trying to control the position from guard on top but Phillips is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paulo Punk has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Phillips shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Punk counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cecil Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phillips is trying to get back to full guard.

Punk is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Phillips has managed to free his arm - good work.
Punk throwing shots but Phillips is blocking nicely.

Punk seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Phillips has recovered full guard.
Punk with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punk wants to control from the top but Phillips keeps moving.
Punk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Phillips works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Punk sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Phillips's guard.
Punk missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Phillips keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Phillips is not content to let Punk control the position.
Punk content to control rather than advance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Punk dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Phillips closes the distance and clinches up with Punk, looking for a takedown. Phillips pushes Punk against the cage but Punk circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Punk tries to keep at a distance but Phillips has taken the fight into the clinch.

Phillips gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Phillips wants to control but Punk is keeping him busy.
Phillips trying to pass the guard but Punk defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Phillips throwing shots but Punk is blocking nicely.
Punk trying to control here.

We're going to have a standup here because Cecil Phillips wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Phillips shoots in but Punk avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Phillips misses with a wild combination.
Phillips fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cecil Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips dives in for a single leg takedown but Punk sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Phillips taking a breather.
Punk goes for a takedown in the clinch but Phillips prevents it.
Punk drops down looking for an ankle pick but Phillips pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cecil Phillips seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Phillips does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips throws a right and a left that both miss.
Punk uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Phillips.
Punk on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Phillips shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Punk defends it nicely.
Phillips dives in and grabs Punk's left leg, looking for a takedown. Punk pushes down on Phillips's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips shoots in for a double leg but Punk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cecil Phillips is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Phillips tries for a takedown but Punk sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Phillips has a takedown stuffed.
Phillips misses with a few strikes there.

Phillips closes the distance and clinches.
Punk wants to take the fight to the mat but Phillips manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Punk is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Phillips tries to pull guard but Punk won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cecil Phillips dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

No luck for Phillips with that takedown attempt.

Phillips instigates a clinch.
Punk can't get the takedown.
Phillips has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Phillips tries to work over Punk's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Punk wants a takedown.

Phillips has picked Punk up - he's going for a ride! Phillips dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Punk is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Phillips pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Punk looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Phillips is looking to take a break and control but Punk is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two 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.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Punk looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Punk makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Phillips.
Phillips shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Punk sprawls well. Punk wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Phillips gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cecil Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Phillips moves into the clinch successfully.
Phillips wants a takedown.
Phillips is trying to pull guard but Punk turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Phillips throws an elbow but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punk drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Phillips gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Phillips wants a takedown but no success here.
Phillips stops a takedown attempt from Punk.
Phillips has a couple of punches blocked by Punk.

Punk turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Punk manages to end up in side control.
Punk working the ground and pound but Phillips is defending the strikes.

Punk tries for a kimura but Phillips is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Punk throws a strike aimed at the side of Phillips's head but Phillips avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Paulo Punk.
I think Punk has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Cecil Phillips!