PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dr Dre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Briggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Briggs will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Dre
vs
Briggs

155 cm
27
148 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

175 cm
27
142 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dr Dre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Briggs!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dre looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Briggs is fending him off so far but Dre persists. Nope, Briggs circles away and we're back to standing.

Briggs dives in and scores a takedown into Dre's guard.
Dre preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Briggs with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dre not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Briggs stopping the sweep attempt from Dre.
Dre working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Briggs throwing strikes but missing.
Dre pulls Briggs in close to prevent any damage.
Briggs preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dre looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dr Dre.

Dre closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Briggs quickly recovers to half guard.
Briggs is trying to stand up here but Dre is controlling him well.
Briggs wants to control but Dre is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Briggs is looking for a sweep. Dre is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Briggs has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dre trying to control from half guard but Briggs is working away.
Dre perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Briggs is looking for a sweep. Dre is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Dre seems to be looking for submissions.
Dre is looking to take a break and control but Briggs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Dre is trying to work for a kimura but Briggs is defending well.

Dre is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Briggs preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Briggs wants to control but Dre is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dre with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Dre'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.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. James Briggs wasn't active enough on the ground.

Dre looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dre not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dre is looking to take a break and control but Briggs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Briggs slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dre preventing the sweep.
Dre might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Briggs working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dre.
Briggs bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dre's guard.
Briggs with a flurry of punches that miss.
Briggs keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dre's head.
Dre pulls Briggs in close to his closed guard and prevents Briggs from doing any damage or advancing position.
Briggs working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Briggs trying to control the position from guard on top but Dre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dre preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Briggs slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
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!
Dre tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Briggs wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Briggs advances nicely into full mount.
Briggs lands a couple of good shots and Dre has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Dre wants to escape the position.
Briggs not allowing Dre to control his hands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Briggs is punishing Dre with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Briggs will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dre.
Briggs rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dre moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dre with a lazy takedown attempt
and Briggs counters with a straight right hand.

Dre shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Briggs manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Briggs looking for a sweep. Not yet Briggs, not yet.
Briggs is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dre is controlling him.
Dre wants to pass the guard but Briggs is keeping the position.
Dre is in close to Briggs's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Briggs looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dre is one step ahead there.
Dre not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Dre wants to pass the guard but Briggs is keeping the position.

Dre drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Briggs manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dre has Briggs in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briggs throws a strike but Dre rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Dre being controlled here momentarily.
Briggs trying to control the position.
Dre missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dre postures up.
Briggs looking for a sweep. Not yet Briggs, not yet.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Dre pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Briggs is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James Briggs has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Dre dives in and grabs Briggs's left leg, looking for a takedown. Briggs pushes down on Dre's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dr Dre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Briggs as Dre shoots in.
Dre looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Briggs darts in looking for a takedown but Dre gets double underhooks and turns Briggs into the cage.
Briggs blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Dre fails to land.
Briggs changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dre fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dre with a poor takedown
and Briggs connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice takedown defense from Briggs. No joy for Dre on that attempt.
Dre stuffs the takedown attempt from Briggs. Briggs gets slowly back to his feet.
Briggs shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dre pinned against the cage. Dre gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dre takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Briggs.
Briggs throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Dre stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Briggs keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Dre shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Briggs napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Dre goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Briggs rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Dre's guard! Nice work there by Briggs!
Briggs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dre is keeping the position for now.
Briggs wants to control from the top but Dre keeps moving.
Briggs trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Dre manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dre trying to control the position from guard on top but Briggs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Briggs avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dr Dre overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Briggs is looking to stand up but Dre isn't so interested in that idea.
Dre looking to pass the guard.
Briggs is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dre is controlling him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Briggs keeping moving, preventing Dre from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Briggs is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Briggs can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dre controls the pace.
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 Dr Dre will probably get the nod.
That's time! Dre's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Dre takes one on the button.
Dre's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Briggs connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Dre scrambles back to his feet.
Dr Dre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dre drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Briggs defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dre.
Dre fails to land the takedown.
Dre shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dre takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dr Dre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Briggs looks for a takedown but Dre sprawls well.
Dre misses with a takedown attempt
and Briggs cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dre shoots and misses
and Briggs counters with a stiff right hand.
Briggs connects with a nice looking jab.
Briggs fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dre avoids it really well and circles away.
Dre fails to land the takedown.
Dre shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Briggs as he jumps to the side.
Dre looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Dre. No joy for Briggs on that attempt.
Dre looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dre looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dr Dre is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dre keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Horrible takedown attempt by Dre or perhaps it was just good defense by Briggs, which made it look bad.
Dre has his takedown stuffed
and Dre takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
James Briggs seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dre takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Dre defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Briggs.
Nice takedown defense from Briggs. No joy for Dre on that attempt.

Briggs shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dre napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Briggs looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Dre is avoiding damage well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Briggs throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Dre works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Briggs not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dre avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Briggs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Briggs is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Briggs scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Briggs uses his free foot to push down on Dre's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Dre.
Briggs throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Dre because Briggs loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briggs working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Poor strikes thrown by Briggs there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Briggs throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Briggs throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Briggs connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Briggs punishing his opponent with strikes.
Briggs looking to finish with strikes here!
Briggs lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dre is trying to escape the mount.
Briggs working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dre wants to control but Briggs is having none of it.
Briggs thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Briggs thowing shots but they're missing.
Briggs misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Briggs with the ground and pound from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dre is desperately trying to improve his position but Briggs has a good base and remains in mount.
Briggs lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Briggs misses with some ground and pound and Dre recovers position to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Briggs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Briggs 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 Colin Fray scores the fight for James Briggs!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight for James Briggs!
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight for James Briggs!

James Briggs wins by unanimous decision!
James Briggs thanked the fans post fight for their support.