PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Conteh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Irwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Irwin has chosen AC/DC - T.N.T as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Conteh
vs
Irwin

183 cm
32
208 lbs
19 - 10 - 1

190 cm
36
212 lbs
31 - 17 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Kangaroo Punch (Formally Happy Pills) - Laundry 90

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 19 - 10 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Conteh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Irwin!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Irwin closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Conteh moves out of range as Irwin strikes.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Irwin!
Nice jab there from Irwin.
Irwin throws a hook but Conteh avoids it easily.

Irwin clinches.
Irwin swings wildly with an uppercut but Conteh uses good head movement to avoid it.
Conteh taking a breather.
Irwin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Conteh misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Conteh.
Irwin misses with some punches.
Conteh blocks an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Irwin has a couple of punches blocked by Conteh.
Irwin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Irwin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Irwin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Irwin has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Conteh throws a head punch that misses.
Conteh pushes Irwin back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Conteh misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irwin prevents a body shot from Conteh.
Conteh stalling the fight.
Irwin scores with a shot to the side of Conteh's head.
Conteh misses with a punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Irwin breaks the clinch.
Irwin cracks Conteh with an open hand slap.
Conteh has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Conteh blocks a low kick nicely.
Irwin throws the left hand but Conteh avoids the punch easily.
Irwin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Irwin looks to land a combination but Conteh avoids it well.
Irwin throws a right hand that Conteh ducks under and follows up with a left that Conteh also avoids with ease.
An inside leg kick from Irwin misses.
Irwin finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Conteh misses the shot to the body.
Irwin misses with a wild body shot.
Conteh walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conteh throws a hook to the side of Irwin's head but Irwin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Irwin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Irwin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Conteh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Irwin drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Conteh throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Irwin lands with a nice body punch.
Paul Irwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Conteh ducks right into an uppercut from Irwin.
Irwin tries to land a leg kick but Conteh saw it coming and moves away.

Conteh darts in and clinches Irwin up against the cage.
Irwin lands a shoulder strike.
A nice left hand lands by Conteh.
Irwin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Irwin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A short left from Irwin.
Conteh lands a right hand.
Irwin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Irwin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Irwin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Conteh blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Irwin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Irwin connects with a single shot there.
Conteh throws a looping overhand right but Irwin ducks down to avoid it.
Irwin throws a right and a left that Conteh avoids nicely.
Conteh wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Conteh throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Conteh dips to his left and cracks Irwin with an uppercut!
Irwin throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Conteh counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Irwin throws a leg kick that is checked
and Conteh counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Irwin misses with a combination
and Irwin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Conteh ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
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!
Irwin throws a right and a left that Conteh avoids nicely.
Irwin throws a hook to the side of Conteh's head but Conteh sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Irwin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Conteh counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Conteh. Irwin does a little dance to reset his feet.
A big left from Conteh misses.
Irwin walks into a straight right hand from Conteh.
Irwin throws the left hand but Conteh avoids the punch easily.
Irwin tries to clinch there but Conteh circles away.

Conteh has closed the distance and engaged Irwin in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Conteh.
Conteh blocks an uppercut.
Conteh swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Conteh makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Irwin takes a shot to the head.
Conteh misses with a short punch on the inside.
Irwin misses with some punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Irwin lands an uppercut.
Conteh content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Irwin misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Conteh creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Irwin gets through Conteh's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Irwin scores with a jab to the body.
Irwin wants to slow Conteh down by chopping away at his legs.
A shot to the liver by Conteh. Beautiful body shot.
Nice body punch from Irwin.
Conteh connects with the punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Irwin. Conteh does a little dance to reset his feet.
Irwin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Irwin misses with a hook.
Conteh displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Irwin throws out the jab.
Irwin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Irwin throws a shot to the body.
Conteh is looking to wear down Irwin with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Irwin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Irwin lands the left hand.
Conteh takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Conteh drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Conteh punishes Irwin's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irwin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Conteh moves away.
Irwin throws a poor cross that misses
and Conteh cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Conteh throws a body punch but Irwin moves out of range.
Irwin scores with a hook.
Conteh has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Irwin.
Irwin's corner calls for a 1-2. Irwin obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Irwin lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Irwin listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Irwin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Conteh moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Conteh closes the distance and pushes Irwin back into the cage.
Irwin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Irwin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Irwin as Conteh tries to tie him up.
Conteh fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irwin scores with a nice hook to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Irwin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Irwin misses with the head strike.
Conteh throws a punch but it's blocked by Irwin.
Irwin misses with some punches.
Irwin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Conteh lands a right hand that snaps the head of Irwin backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Conteh.
Conteh lands with a light punch inside.
Irwin misses with the head strike.
Irwin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Conteh blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Conteh blocks an uppercut.
Irwin swings wildly with an uppercut but Conteh uses good head movement to avoid it.
Irwin tries to break free but Conteh pushes him back against the cage.
Conteh misses with a short punch on the inside.
Conteh lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Conteh misses with some punches.

Irwin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irwin cracks Conteh with a good jab.
Irwin throws a big shot that misses.
Conteh throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Irwin blocks a jab.
Irwin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Conteh.
Irwin throws a hook but Conteh blocks it.
No joy there for Irwin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Conteh with a jab.
Conteh connects with a body shot that sends Irwin's belly button to the back.
Irwin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Conteh sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Conteh misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Irwin.
Conteh uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Irwin.
Conteh swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Irwin.
Conteh throws the left hand but Irwin avoids the punch easily.
Conteh cracks Irwin with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irwin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Irwin dips to his left and cracks Conteh with an uppercut!

Conteh closes the distance and pushes Irwin back into the cage.
Conteh tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Irwin throws a punch but it's blocked by Conteh.
Irwin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Conteh throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Irwins head.
Conteh blocks an uppercut.
Irwin lands a right hand.
Irwin has a couple of punches blocked by Conteh.
Irwin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Irwin tries a knee to the head but Conteh blocks it.
Conteh throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Conteh lands a body shot in the clinch.
Conteh pushes Irwin back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Irwin tries a knee to the head but Conteh blocks it.
Irwin is breathing heavily.

Irwin manages to break the clinch.
Irwin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Conteh swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paul Irwin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Irwin walks into a jab.
Irwin misses with a low kick.
Irwin throws an off balance right hand
letting Conteh counter with a right hand.
Irwin moves away from the strike by Conteh.
Irwin misses with a body shot
and Conteh counters with a left right combination that sends Irwin crashing to the mat - Conteh wastes no time in diving on top of him and pounding Irwin out for a TKO! Devastating finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Conteh!
After winning the bout, John Conteh thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.