PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between IP Freely (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Skip Torres (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Skip Torres has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Freely
vs
Torres

160 cm
27
140 lbs
13 - 15 - 0

168 cm
22
140 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, IP Freely!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Skip Torres!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freely tries for a takedown but Torres sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Freely shoots in but Torres avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Torres is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Freely's half guard.
Freely won't allow Torres to pass to mount.
Torres is trying to control. Freely wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Freely is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Torres pulls his head out easily.
Torres is pressing down on Freely's thigh, looking to free his foot. Freely is holding on for now.
Torres performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Freely won't allow Torres to pass to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Freely manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Torres throwing strikes from guard but Freely blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Freely is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Torres is aware though and is defending well.
Freely keeping moving, preventing Torres from controlling successfully.
Freely wants to sweep but no luck.
Torres looking to pass the guard.
Freely seems keen to control Torres's posture.
Torres wants to control from the top but Freely keeps moving.
Freely is trying to control the position from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Torres slips under a jab from Freely.
Freely shoots in for a takedown but Torres shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for IP Freely. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freely slips a jab and a cross from Torres.
IP Freely seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Torres displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Freely.
Freely takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Torres rushes Freely and presses him up against the cage.
Torres taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Freely tries for a takedown. No joy.

Torres turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Freely is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Torres off and has taken his back!
Freely gets his hands free as Torres looks to control.
Torres is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Freely off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Freely has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Torres.
Freely is punishing Torres with strikes - can he finish him?!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freely thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Freely missing with punches from the back.

Freely has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Torres has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Freely is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Freely is persistently looking for the submission but Torres is defending it well.

Freely working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Torres fending off the submission attempt from Freely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Torres is in bad spot here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Torres showing good submission defense here.
Torres looking very determined here, making life difficult for Freely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

IP Freely dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Freely fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Freely keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Freely throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Freely shoots in looking for a takedown but Torres manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Freely's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Freely dives in for a single leg takedown but Torres sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for IP Freely. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freely is working for takedown but Torres is calmly controlling the position for now.
Freely wants to take the fight to the mat but Torres manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Torres pressing his opponent against the cage.

Torres breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freely has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Freely.
Torres is looking for a sweep.

Freely wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Torres, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Torres's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Torres is looking to reverse the position.
Torres manages to work his way to half guard, despite Freely's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Freely seems to be looking for submissions.
Freely is trying to control the action in half guard but Torres is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Freely moves nicely into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Freely scores with punches from side control.
IP Freely overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Freely working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Freely in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Torres is trying to control Freely's posture but Freely avoids it.

Freely working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Freely is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Torres is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Freely trying to control the position but Torres is working away.
Torres regains half guard, as Freely was trying to land strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torres wants to get back to full guard but Freely has passed into side control.
Torres struggling a bit here.
Torres is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Torres slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Freely trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Freely passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

IP Freely dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Freely fails with a takedown attempt.
Torres misses with a double jab
and Freely counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Torres stalks Freely and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Freely's face. Freely staggers backwards, shaken.
Freely has his takedown stuffed

and Torres counters by clinching up.
Torres is trying to force a seperation but Freely has the dominant position.

Torres lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Torres wants to work for an arm triangle but Freely is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Torres tries to pass to full mount but Freely defends it.

Freely actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torres trying to control the action but Freely is working from the bottom.
Torres is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Freely is squirming around, avoiding Torres's attempts to control the action.
Torres wants to take his opponent's back but instead Freely manages to regain half guard.
Torres wants to control but Freely is keeping him busy.
Freely is looking to control Torres's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Freely avoid being mounted?
Freely is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Torres seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Freely has recovered full guard.
Freely keeping moving, preventing Torres from controlling successfully.
Torres preventing the sweep.
Torres trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Torres is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Torres forces his way into half guard.

Freely manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Torres keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
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!
Freely is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for IP Freely. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Torres breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Torres closes the distance and pushes Freely back into the cage.
Torres gets underhooks to prevent Freely's takedown attempt.
Torres is trying to force a seperation but Freely has the dominant position.

Torres's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Freely seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Freely looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Freely is nestled in close to Torres, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The fighters are battling for position here. Torres manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freely throws a big elbow that misses.
Torres is trying to control the position but Freely postures up.
Freely advances position into side control!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sloppy strikes there by Freely.
IP Freely is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A lull in the action here as Freely stalls from top position.
Torres wants to control but Freely postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Skip Torres.
I think Freely has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

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