PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lance Avery (ranked 3541 p4p, 3551 weight class) and Danny Booker (ranked 412 p4p, 414 weight class). Danny Booker has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Avery
vs
Booker

180 cm
25
197
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
188
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lance Avery!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Danny Booker!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Luis Engracia and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Avery tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nice straight punches there by Booker. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Booker.
Avery tries to clinch but Booker moves out of range.

Avery shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Booker pushes Avery off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Avery does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Booker appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Booker shoots in and drives through. Avery sprawls well.
Avery looks for a takedown but Booker sprawls well.
Avery misses with a head kick.
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!
Horrible takedown attempt by Avery or perhaps it was just good defense by Booker, which made it look bad.

Booker tries to keep at a distance but Avery has taken the fight into the clinch.

Booker has clasped his hands together around Avery's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Avery tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker throws some wild stikes that Avery manages to avoid easily.
Avery squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Booker can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Avery is looking to escape.

Booker looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Booker prevents Avery from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booker trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Avery really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Avery tries to hold on but Booker pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Booker lands with some strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Booker controlling from the full mount.
Booker punching from mount but Avery doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Booker prevents Avery from getting the reversal.
Avery regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avery blocking the ground and pound attempt from Booker.
My spies in Rio Grappling Club inform me that Booker has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Avery is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Booker thows a huge punch but Avery dodges it nicely.
Booker missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Avery moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Avery avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Booker won't allow Avery to sweep him here.
Avery is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Booker is controlling him.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Avery has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Booker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Booker trying to control the position from guard on top but Avery is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Booker tries a head kick but it misses.
Avery fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lance Avery. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Booker thuds a left hand into Avery's body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Booker dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Booker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Avery shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Booker counters with a one-two to the body.

Avery has Booker up against the cage in a clinch.
Booker tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Avery just stands there and leans against the cage.

Booker breaks from the clinch.
Booker stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Booker wants it to stay on the feet.
Avery shoots in but Booker avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lance Avery. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Booker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Avery connects with a body shot that sends Booker's belly button to the back.

Avery manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Booker on his heels. He'll look to pass Booker's guard now, I'm sure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Booker trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avery trying to control the position from guard on top but Booker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Avery tries to free his leg and advance position but Booker is retaining full guard.
Avery has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Booker is proving hard to escape from.
Booker wants to sweep but no luck.
Booker keeping moving, preventing Avery from controlling successfully.
Avery controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've been hearing good reports from Avery's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Booker keeping moving, preventing Avery from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Booker circles away from the clinch attempt
and Booker counters with an inside leg kick.
Booker throws a head kick that misses.

Avery closes the distance and clinches.
Avery is looking for a takedown.

Avery manages to pull guard.
Booker stays in close to Avery's body and controls the position.
Booker stopping the sweep attempt from Avery.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker is looking to work some ground and pound but Avery has wrist control.
Avery keeping full guard, as Booker tries to pass.
Avery looking for a sweep. Not yet Avery, not yet.
Booker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Booker looking to sit in guard and control but Avery gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Avery preventing the sweep.
Booker is trying to keep Avery in close.

Avery gets to his feet. Booker looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Booker throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Avery to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Booker tries to clinch but Avery is having none of it.
A quick step to the side and Avery tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Avery shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Booker fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Avery drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Booker explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Avery fails with an attempt to clinch.
Booker darts in looking for a takedown but Avery gets double underhooks and turns Booker into the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lance Avery will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Avery defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Booker.
Avery drops down looking for a counter takedown but Booker sprawls and moves away.
Avery tries to close the distance and clinch but Booker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Booker or perhaps it was just good defense by Avery, which made it look bad.
Lance Avery is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Booker gets caught flat footed, as Avery shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Booker can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Avery controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Booker has his hands on Avery's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avery wants to control from the top but Booker keeps moving.
Avery is pushing down on Booker's leg trying to pass to half guard. Booker is fighting to maintain full guard but Avery has managed to sneak the leg through.
Avery lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Booker wants to improve his position but Avery is controlling well.
Avery wants to stand up but Booker has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Booker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Danny Booker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Avery thows a huge punch but Booker dodges it nicely.
Avery is trying to control. Booker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Avery is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Booker sees it coming and defends easily.

Booker makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Booker tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker fails with a takedown attempt.
Lance Avery has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Booker.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Avery.

Booker moves into the clinch successfully.
Avery is trying to pull guard but Booker has him pressed against the cage.
Avery jumps guard but Booker turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Booker stalling the fight.
Avery pressing his opponent against the cage.

Booker manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Booker is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Avery throwing strikes from guard but Booker blocks nicely.
Booker has Avery pulled in close to control his posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Avery's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Avery got a little sloppy there for a moment and Booker has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Avery has managed to get both his arms back between Booker's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Danny Booker.
I think Booker 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Danny Booker!