PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between KEITH JOYCE (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neil Brove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

JOYCE
vs
Brove

225 cm
19
265 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

198 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, KEITH JOYCE!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Neil Brove!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Atkins and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
JOYCE looks to land a left hand but Brove moved out of range nicely.
Brove misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
JOYCE misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

JOYCE darts in and clinches Brove up against the ropes.

Brove breaks from the clinch.
JOYCE throws a series of punches but Brove moves out of range.
Brove throws a shot from downtown. JOYCE moves away and avoids it.
Brove on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

It looks like Neil Brove has been cut.
Brove moves in looking to clinch but JOYCE pushes him off.

JOYCE clinches with his opponent.
JOYCE is working for takedown but Brove is calmly controlling the position for now.
Brove jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as JOYCE walks away with a smile on his face. Brove gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Brove blocks a head kick by JOYCE.
JOYCE tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Brove paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Brove throws a head kick that misses.
JOYCE shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Brove counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

JOYCE closes the distance and clinches.
JOYCE wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

JOYCE rushes Brove and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Brove can't get the takedown.
KEITH JOYCE has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neil Brove.
JOYCE tries to break the clinch but Brove is controlling the position.
JOYCE wants to get back to striking at distance but Brove won't allow it.
JOYCE lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Brove backwards.

JOYCE breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
JOYCE tries to close the distance and clinch but Brove swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
JOYCE keeps the fight on the outside.
JOYCE looking to land some kicks to the body here.
JOYCE misses with the combination.
JOYCE fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
No joy there for Brove, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Brove blocks a jab.
Brove tries to clinch up.
JOYCE has his takedown stuffed
and Brove counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
JOYCE is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brove shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Brove was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Brove with shots to the head and body - JOYCE looks very uncomfortable down there.

Brove has control of JOYCE's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and JOYCE regains control of the situation pretty easily.
JOYCE is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
JOYCE is trying to escape the mount.
Brove landing strikes, looking to finish!
Brove avoids the attempt from JOYCE to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
JOYCE squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Brove avoids the attempt from JOYCE to control.
Brove with a couple of short strikes.
JOYCE is wriggling around trying to escape.

Brove is standing up, even though he is in mount.
A head kick misses from Brove.
Brove avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
JOYCE throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Brove counters with a head kick.

JOYCE closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Brove to the mat! Brove manages to get full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

JOYCE gets to his feet - Brove follows without any prompting.
JOYCE lands a nice shot that snaps Brove's head back.
JOYCE avoids the head kick by Brove.
JOYCE misses with an uppercut. Brove saw that one coming.
KEITH JOYCE seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
JOYCE throws a sloppy head kick and Brove moves out of range easily.
Brove fails to land the takedown.
JOYCE with a body punch. A glancing blow.
JOYCE throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Brove counters with a head kick.
JOYCE fails with an attempt to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brove throws a head kick that misses
and JOYCE counters with a big head kick but Brove shrugs it off.
JOYCE has his takedown stuffed

and Brove counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in JOYCE's guard now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Brove wants to stand but JOYCE is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

JOYCE circles away from the clinch attempt.
JOYCE throws a head kick that misses

and Brove counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in JOYCE's guard now.

Brove thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
JOYCE wants to stand up but Brove is controlling him.
Brove throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Brove missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
JOYCE on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if JOYCE tries to get out of the position.
Brove missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
JOYCE is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Brove is controlling him.

JOYCE uses the ropes to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brove throws a sloppy head kick and JOYCE moves out of range easily.
Brove stuffs the takedown.
Brove has a takedown stuffed.
JOYCE pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Brove throws a sloppy head kick and JOYCE moves out of range easily.
JOYCE tries to clinch but Brove moves away
and Brove counters with a head kick.
JOYCE tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
JOYCE blocks a head kick by Brove.
Brove throws a head kick but JOYCE moves out of range.
JOYCE really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nice cross by JOYCE.
Brove moves in looking to clinch but JOYCE pushes him off.
JOYCE connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Brove momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

JOYCE drives through with a takedown into guard.

JOYCE decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
JOYCE moves in looking to clinch but Brove pushes him off.
Brove swats away the attempt to clinch by JOYCE.
Brove throws a sloppy head kick and JOYCE moves out of range easily.
Neil Brove seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Brove tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Brove tries to close the distance and clinch up but JOYCE swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice uppercut there from JOYCE.
Brove closes the distance looking to clinch

and JOYCE counters by clinching up.
Brove is pressed up against the ropes. JOYCE has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Brove down to the mat. Brove avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
JOYCE throws a head kick that misses
and Brove counters with a head kick.

JOYCE fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Brove sprawls well initially but JOYCE persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
JOYCE is looking to take a break and control but Brove is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Still in half guard, JOYCE seems content to control.

JOYCE stands up from half guard.
JOYCE tries to clinch up but Brove circles away and keeps his distance.

JOYCE gets a clinch.

JOYCE's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Brove tries a head kick but it misses.
Brove circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brove slips a straight right by JOYCE.
Brove throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Brove loads up on a big right hand but JOYCE slips the punch.
Brove throws a head kick that misses.

Brove closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Brove lands in his opponent's guard.
JOYCE working a defensive guard here.
Brove wants to stand and escape but instead JOYCE has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
JOYCE has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
JOYCE trying to control but Brove is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Neil Brove will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Neil Brove's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Brove keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from JOYCE.
Brove avoids a punch combination nicely.
JOYCE thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Brove if he has to take too many more of those.
JOYCE tries to clinch up
and Brove counters with a flying knee. Nice.
JOYCE tries to close the distance and clinch up but Brove swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Brove tries to clinch but JOYCE is having none of it.
Nice uppercut there from JOYCE.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
JOYCE lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

JOYCE closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Brove working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

JOYCE's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A slow jab from JOYCE misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brove keeps the fight on the outside.
A head kick misses from Brove.
JOYCE gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Brove cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Brove throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
JOYCE misses with a head kick.
KEITH JOYCE is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
JOYCE jabs Brove right on the nose. Brove blinks but takes it well.
Brove throws a head kick but JOYCE moves out of range.
Brove fails with a takedown attempt.
JOYCE looking to land some kicks to the body here.
JOYCE's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and JOYCE duly obliges.
Brove closes the distance and clinches up with JOYCE, looking for a takedown. Brove pushes JOYCE against the ropes but JOYCE circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
JOYCE pulls out of a head kick attempt.
JOYCE closes this distance looking for a takedown but Brove circles away.
JOYCE misses with a double jab

and Brove counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
JOYCE manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
JOYCE looking to control but Brove is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
JOYCE looking to control and managing it successfully.
Brove is looking to get to half guard.
Brove is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Neil Brove is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
JOYCE avoids the attempt from Brove to control.
JOYCE tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Brove wants to hold on but JOYCE pushes him away.
JOYCE wants to control the pace but Brove is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
JOYCE wants to stand but Brove is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
JOYCE can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Brove is looking to escape.
JOYCE wants to stand but Brove is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Brove tries to hold on but JOYCE postures up.
JOYCE controlling his opponent.
Brove tries to lock up and control but JOYCE gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neil Brove comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Brove 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neil Brove!