PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dark Side (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kick Punch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kick Punch struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 147.6lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Dark Side is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Side
vs
Punch

167 cm
22
144 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

180 cm
24
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Dark Side!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kick Punch!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Side ducks under a wild hook from Punch.

Side drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Side slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Side staying calm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Punch pushes Side away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Side gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Punch trying to remain calm as Side controls from the top position.
Side seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Punch for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dark Side just wasn't active enough.
Punch looks for the body kick but Side saw that one coming.
Side has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Punch finds it's way round the side to connect with Side's head.
Side lands a really nice looking cross but Punch seems unphased.

Side gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Punch.
Punch throws a punch but it's blocked by Side.
Punch misses with a short punch on the inside.
Punch has a couple of punches blocked by Side.
Side tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Side misses with some punches.
Punch lands a shot to the body.
Side lands a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Punch.
Punch misses with the head strike.
Punch throws a punch but it's blocked by Side.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Side misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Side.
Side lands a shoulder strike.
Side lands a right hand.
Side misses with a hook from the clinch.
Side blocking some punches.
Punch tries a body shot but Side blocks it.
Punch misses with a hook to the ribs.
Side lands with a short shot to the head.
Side swings wildly with an uppercut but Punch uses good head movement to avoid it.
Side lands with a short shot to the head.
Side tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Punch's elbow.
Punch lands a right hand that snaps the head of Side backwards.
Side lands a hook to the side of the head.
Punch misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short uppercut from Side.
Side scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Side working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Punch throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Punch is fighting off a takedown attempt but Side is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Punch to the mat. Punch regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Side is stalling in the full guard.
Punch looks winded!
Side won't allow Punch to get back to his feet.
Punch is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Side dives into side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Side in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dark Side dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Side ducks under a wild hook from Punch.
Punch slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Punch connects with a nice looking jab.
Good exchange - Punch coming out on top.
Punch has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Side feints and then cracks Punch's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Punch down.
Side dodges the punch combination from Punch.
Good standup being displayed there by Side as he connects with a hook.
Punch throws out a powerful jab.

Side clinches with his opponent.
Side misses with a punch on the inside.
Side working aggressively here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Side swings wildly with an uppercut but Punch uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good body shot from Side.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Side creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Side lands a shoulder strike.
Side swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Side.
Side misses with some punches.
Side scores with a nice hook to the head.
Side has a couple of punches blocked by Punch.
Punch working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Side fails to land.
Side working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Punch misses with a hook from the clinch.
Side blocks an uppercut.
Side tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Side lands a body shot in the clinch.
Punch misses with a hook from the clinch.
Punch is breathing heavily.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Side creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short right from Side.
Side makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Punch misses with some punches.

Side has clasped his hands together around Punch's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
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!
Side takes a little break here. Punch wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Punch wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Side taking a breather here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dark Side.
Side throws a shot from downtown. Punch moves away and avoids it.
Side slips under a jab.
Side is looking to land body kicks.
Punch throws a push kick but Side slaps the foot to one side.
Side throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Punch ducks right into an uppercut from Side.
A big left from Punch misses.
Punch lands with a straight right. Side didn't see that one coming.

Side has closed the distance and engaged Punch in a clinch.
Side misses with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Side creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Side pushes Punch back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A right hand to the body from Side.

Side has hold of one of Punch's legs. Punch is fighting the takedown attempt but Side gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Side sitting in guard, not really doing much.
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!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Side's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dark Side dominated that second round.
That's time! Side's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Side misses with an uppercut. Punch saw that one coming.
Kick Punch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Side misses with a body shot.

Side drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Side taking a breather here.
Side has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dark Side just wasn't active enough.
Punch misses with a leg kick
and Side cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Side looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Side throws a head kick but Punch moves out of range.
Punch scores with a nice body kick.
Side misses with a hook.
Side takes a swing at Punch's ribcage but misses.
Punch misses the jab.
Punch cracks Side with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Punch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Side thuds his shin into the meat of Punch's side.
Punch misses with a wild combination.
Side looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kick Punch seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Punch cracks Side with a good jab.
Kick Punch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dark Side is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Side throws a jab when Punch was well out of range.
Punch throws a wild body kick that Side sees coming a mile off.
Punch is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Punch waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Side.
Punch thows a left - swing and a miss!
Punch throws out a loose jab but Side uses good head movement to avoid it.
Side scores with a head kick. Punch tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kick Punch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
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!
Punch looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Side misses with a head kick.
Side lands an overhand right.
Side misses with a body shot.
Side throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Punch.
Side misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Punch.
Side takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Side throws a head kick but Punch moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Side throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A slow jab from Side misses its intended target.
Punch missing with a left hand there. Side was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Side slips a straight right by Punch.
Side misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Side attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Punch loads up on a big right hand but Side slips the punch.
Punch bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Side scores with a head kick.
Side moves away from the strike by Punch.
Punch ducks under a wild hook from Side.
Punch moves out of range of the body kick.
Punch takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Side connects with a body shot that sends Punch's belly button to the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Side lands but Punch takes it in his stride.
Punch thows a left - swing and a miss!
Side finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A big left from Punch misses.

Side shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Side showed some decent athleticism there.
Side content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dark Side showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Side, 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dark Side!
Dark Side thanked the fans post fight for their support.