PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Edward Phelps (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zoe Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Phelps
vs
Swanson

166 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Edward Phelps!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zoe Swanson!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swanson lands a slapping body shot.
Phelps dodges the punch combination from Swanson.

Phelps darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Swanson is trying to get back to full guard.

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

Phelps is working for a kimura but Swanson is defending it quite comfortably.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Swanson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Swanson trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phelps stops Swanson from getting back to his feet.

Phelps seems to be looking for submissions.
Swanson is trying to stand up here but Phelps is controlling him well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Phelps lands a nice short elbow.

Phelps is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Swanson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Phelps.

Phelps decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Swanson is looking to clinch but Phelps is avoiding it.
Swanson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Swanson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Phelps could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phelps moves forwards but Swanson connects with a nice, crisp jab.

It looks like Edward Phelps has been cut.
Swanson misses with a few strikes there.

Swanson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Swanson.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Swanson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zoe Swanson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Swanson misses with a double jab.
Phelps ducks under a wild hook from Swanson.
Phelps misses with a takedown attempt - Swanson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Swanson misses with a combination

and Phelps counters with a nice double leg into side control. Swanson won't be happy with that.

Swanson explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Swanson looks winded!
Swanson wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson wants to clinch

and Phelps counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Swanson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Swanson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Phelps throws a big right hand that misses.
Phelps working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Phelps postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Phelps works over Swanson with some ground and pound from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Phelps accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Phelps decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Swanson, up you get!
Swanson looks to land a combination but Phelps avoids it well.
A chopping leg kick lands by Phelps.
Swanson checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson throws a head kick that half lands.
Phelps throws a leg kick that misses.
Swanson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Phelps eats them both and turns towards Swanson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Phelps throws a nice head kick!
Swanson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Phelps paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Phelps wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Swanson tries a head kick but it misses.
Phelps tries a head kick but it misses.
Phelps looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Swanson is fending him off so far but Phelps persists. Nope, Swanson circles away and we're back to standing.
An inside leg kick from Phelps misses.
Phelps showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Swanson.
Phelps throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zoe Swanson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick misses from Swanson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zoe Swanson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Edward Phelps's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Swanson scores with a push kick.

Swanson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Swanson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Swanson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Phelps manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Swanson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Phelps moves away.
Phelps walks into a left hand.
Swanson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Phelps circles away quickly and effectively.
Swanson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Swanson tries to bum rush Phelps with a series of wild strikes but Phelps uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Phelps half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Swanson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Zoe Swanson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Swanson is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Phelps manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Swanson on his heels. He'll look to pass Swanson's guard now, I'm sure.
Phelps throws a strike but Swanson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Phelps looking for a sweep. Not yet Phelps, not yet.
Phelps throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phelps wants to stand up but Swanson is controlling him.
Swanson is looking to stand up but Phelps won't let him.
Phelps has Swanson pulled in close to control his posture.
Phelps working a defensive guard here.

Phelps working for submissions but it's allowed Swanson to get to half guard.
Phelps wants to control but Swanson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Phelps has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Phelps has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Swanson is on him like a limpet, forcing Phelps back against the cage.
Phelps fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Swanson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Phelps kicks off Swanson and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Swanson misses with the combination.
Swanson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Swanson throws a body kick that misses.
Phelps is looking to counter the offense by Swanson and move into the clinch.
Swanson looks to land a combination. Phelps sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Phelps throws a leg kick but Swanson sees it coming and moves out of range.
Phelps swats away the attempt to clinch by Swanson.
Swanson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Phelps holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Phelps tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Phelps goes for a takedown attempt but Swanson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edward Phelps. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swanson doesn't manage to clinch there - Phelps circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson avoids the head kick by Phelps.
Nice uppercut lands for Swanson. That snapped Phelps's head back.
Swanson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Swanson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Swanson blocks a leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Swanson. Those never looked like landing.
Phelps seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Swanson tries to clinch there but Phelps circles away.
Swanson misses with a body kick.
Phelps throws a head kick but Swanson moves out of range.
Swanson looks to land a combination but Phelps avoids it well.
Phelps misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Phelps or perhaps it was just good defense by Swanson, which made it look bad.
Phelps avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Swanson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Phelps half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Phelps closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Swanson did well to prevent Phelps getting side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Swanson has hold of Phelps's hands but Phelps slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Phelps looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Swanson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Swanson is looking for a sweep. Phelps is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zoe Swanson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Edward Phelps's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Swanson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Phelps.
Phelps throws a counter high kick but Swanson was just alert enough to avoid it.
Swanson fakes the leg kick and cracks Phelps in the body.

Phelps closes the distance and clinches.
Swanson lands with a light punch inside.

Phelps turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Phelps manages to end up in side control.

Swanson bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Swanson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Swanson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Phelps counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Swanson lands with a short shot to the head.
Swanson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Phelps backwards.
Phelps is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Swanson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Phelps's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Swanson wants to take the fight to the mat but Phelps manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Phelps pulls Swanson into guard.
Phelps working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Swanson.
Swanson wants to pass the guard but Phelps is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Phelps had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Swanson defends it easily.

Phelps has his feet on Swanson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Swanson rushes Phelps and presses him up against the cage.
Swanson stops a takedown attempt from Phelps.

Swanson breaks from the clinch.
Swanson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Swanson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Swanson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Phelps back to the cage. Swanson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Swanson checks the leg kick nicely there.
Phelps throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Swanson's waist but Swanson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Phelps off to one side.
Swanson swings for the body but Phelps moves out of range.
As Swanson tries to get set, Phelps tries to push him back and clinch up but Swanson manages to avoid the attempt.
Phelps fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edward Phelps. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swanson looks to land a combination but Phelps avoids it well.
As Swanson tries to get set, Phelps tries to push him back and clinch up but Swanson manages to avoid the attempt.
Swanson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Phelps counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Swanson is looking for a sweep. Phelps is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Swanson trying to control here.
Swanson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson wants to get back to his feet.
Phelps drops an elbow to the side of Swanson's head.

Phelps is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Swanson is just riding it out for now. Phelps eventually gives up the hold.
Phelps stops Swanson from getting back to his feet.
Swanson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Phelps. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Phelps working Swanson over with strikes.

Phelps is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Swanson tries to kick Phelps off but Phelps keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Swanson regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Phelps.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phelps working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Swanson wants to sweep but no luck.
Swanson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Swanson working a defensive guard here.

Swanson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Phelps gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Phelps postures up.
Edward Phelps has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zoe Swanson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Phelps with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zoe Swanson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Swanson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zoe Swanson!