PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Huang Gayden (ranked 5097 p4p, 6339 weight class) and James Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Phillips will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gayden
vs
Phillips

150 cm
18
130
0 - 1 - 0

169 cm
25
135
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Huang Gayden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Phillips!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Santiago Holmes and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Phillips moves into the clinch.
Gayden looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Gayden goes for a takedown in the clinch but Phillips prevents it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Phillips gets underhooks to prevent Gayden's takedown attempt.
Phillips lands an elbow just above Gayden 's eye.

Huang Gayden's cut is getting worse.

Phillips manages to break the clinch.

Phillips pushes Gayden up against the cage in a clinch.
Phillips stalls.
Gayden wants to break free but Phillips has control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Phillips has hold of one of Gayden's legs. Gayden is fighting the takedown attempt but Phillips gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Phillips controlling from the top position.
Phillips postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gayden knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Phillips on the ground.
Phillips trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gayden could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Phillips scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Phillips postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Phillips is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Phillips gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Phillips throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gayden.
Phillips fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips doesn't manage to clinch there - Gayden circles away.
Phillips shoots in for a double leg but Gayden sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gayden half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Phillips dives in for a single leg takedown but Gayden sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Huang Gayden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Phillips.

Phillips rushes Gayden and presses him up against the cage.
Phillips taking a breather.
Phillips lands a nice knee to the body.

Phillips pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Phillips fails with the takedown.
Phillips shoots for a takedown but Gayden saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A lazy body kick from Gayden
and Phillips counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Phillips gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phillips breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Phillips fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Phillips shoots in but no luck this time.
Phillips closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Phillips lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Phillips lands a glancing blow to the side of Gayden's head.
Phillips darts in looking for a takedown but Gayden gets double underhooks and turns Phillips into the cage.

Phillips drives through and clinches with Gayden against the cage.

Phillips jumps guard.
Phillips has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips is trying to keep Gayden in close.

Phillips escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gayden gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Phillips manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gayden manages to get himself to full guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Phillips dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Huang Gayden's cut.
That's time! Gayden's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gayden is defended easily by Phillips.

Phillips clinches up against the cage.

Phillips pulls Gayden into guard.
Phillips wants to hit a sweep here but Gayden passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Phillips there!
Phillips reaches up and holds on to Gayden to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips tries to hold on but Gayden postures up.
Phillips regains half guard.
Phillips is trying to stand.

Phillips has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Gayden is on him like a limpet, forcing Phillips back against the cage.

Phillips escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Phillips closes the distance and pushes Gayden back into the cage.

Phillips gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips stands up over Gayden, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gayden might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Phillips drops back looking for a leg! Gayden is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gayden manages to kick Phillips off! Phillips jumps back into Gayden's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phillips pushing down on Gayden's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Phillips passes to full mount!
Phillips has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phillips controlling the pace for now.

Phillips has hold of Gayden's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gayden manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phillips is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gayden can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Phillips controlling his opponent.

Gayden defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Phillips.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips prevents Gayden from getting the reversal.
Phillips controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gayden wants to hold on but Phillips pushes him away.
Phillips sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Phillips showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Huang Gayden's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gayden leaves Phillips with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gayden has been working on his balance at Elite Island Training, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Phillips.

Phillips closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gayden did well to prevent Phillips getting side control.
Phillips scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Phillips seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gayden does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Phillips slows the pace down in half guard.

Phillips is working for a kimura but Gayden is defending it quite comfortably.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips controlling the action here.
James Phillips has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips passes the guard and advances to mount!
Phillips lands a couple of good shots and Gayden has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Phillips gets his hands free as Gayden looks to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gayden is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Phillips.

Gayden fending off the submission attempt from Phillips.
What can Gayden do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Gayden is squirming around looking to escape but he's just wriggling himself into more trouble. Phillips sinks in the hooks and manages to tighten his grip on a rear naked choke. Gayden has no choice but to tap and Phillips jumps to his feet to celebrate and slick submission win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). James Phillips!