PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tarrell Newsome (ranked 2440 p4p, 5358 weight class) and En Route (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Newsome
vs
Route

184 cm
27
155
11 - 7 - 1

170 cm
30
155
20 - 13 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Tarrell Newsome!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, En Route!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Route gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Newsome can't find room to land a body shot as Route controls the action.
Newsome blocks a body shot from Route.
Route misses with an elbow over the top.
Route working aggressively here.
Newsome misses with the head strike.
Newsome misses with a punch to the body.
Newsome struggles to land a body shot inside as Route controls his hands.
Route blocks an uppercut.
Newsome struggles to land a body shot inside as Route controls his hands.
Newsome just leaning against Route, taking a breather.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Newsome.
Newsome throws a punch but it's blocked by Route.
Newsome content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Newsome misses with a hook to the ribs.
Newsome struggles to land a body shot inside as Route controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newsome fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Newsome throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Routes head.
Newsome can't find room to land a body shot as Route controls the action.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Route.
Newsome tries to work over Route's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short body shot lands from Newsome as the two fighters clinch.
Newsome is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Route throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Route scores with a shoulder strike.
Route softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Route misses with some punches.
A short right from Newsome on the inside.
Newsome lands a left hand that snaps the head of Route backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Newsome.
Route lands an uppercut.
Route goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Route lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Newsome lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right from Route on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Route as Newsome tries to tie him up.
Newsome misses with a hook to the ribs.
Newsome struggles to land a body shot inside as Route controls his hands.
We've been informed that Route has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Newsome can't find room to land a body shot as Route controls the action.
Newsome really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
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!
Route goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newsome swings wildly with an uppercut but Route uses good head movement to avoid it.
Newsome goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right from Route.
Route scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short body shot lands from Newsome as the two fighters clinch.
Newsome digs a right hand underneath Route's ribcage. Route let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Newsome tries to throw a body punch but Route avoids it by throwing Newsome back against the cage.
Route blocks a body shot from Newsome.
Route blocks a body shot from Newsome.
Newsome misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Newsome doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Route lands a body punch in the clinch.
I was talking to Newsome's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Newsome misses with a hook from the clinch.
Newsome dodges an elbow strike from Route.
Newsome goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Newsome misses with a body punch.
Route blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Route misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Route scores with a nice short uppercut.
Newsome misses with the head strike.
Route misses with a short punch on the inside.
Newsome misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Still in the clinch, Route scores with a nice short uppercut.
Route fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Route misses with some punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Route.
Route misses with a punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Newsome.
A short right from Route.
Route misses with the head strike.
Route lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Newsome tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Route's elbow.
Route blocking some punches.
Newsome tries a body shot but Route blocks it.
Route struggles to land a body shot inside as Newsome controls his hands.
Route lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
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!
Newsome takes a shot to the head.
Newsome tries to work over Route's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newsome goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Route lands with a right to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Route.
Route pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Newsome tries to work over Route's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Route lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Route blocking some punches.
Newsome lands a nice uppercut.
Route blocks a body shot from Newsome.
Newsome blocking some punches.
Newsome working aggressively here.
Route blocks an uppercut.
Newsome throws a punch but it's blocked by Route.
Route blocks a body shot from Newsome.
Newsome works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Route scores with a nice hook to the head.
Newsome struggles to land a body shot inside as Route controls his hands.
Newsome misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Newsome can't find room to land a body shot as Route controls the action.
Route presses Newsome against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Route throws out a loose jab but Newsome uses good head movement to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Newsome.
Newsome throws a lazy uppercut
and Route counters with a nice uppercut.
Tarrell Newsome seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Newsome does no damage.
Newsome throws a right hand that misses
and Route counters with a right hand to the body.
Newsome looks to throw the jab but Route is out of range.
Newsome connects with a right hand. Route shakes it off.
Route ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Route misses the jab.
Newsome jabs Route right on the nose. Route blinks but takes it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Route on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Newsome tries to close the distance and clinch but Route swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A big left from Newsome misses.
Newsome fails in his attempt to clinch.
A swing and a miss from Newsome.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Route uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Newsome.
Route lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Route moves away from the strike by Newsome.
Newsome is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Route.
Route swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Route throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A punch lands to the side of Route 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Newsome has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Newsome scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Route looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Newsome tries to clinch there but Route circles away.
Newsome checks the leg kick nicely there.
Route shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Newsome has managed to clinch.
Route tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Newsome.
Route misses with a body punch.
Route can't find room to land a body shot as Newsome controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Route lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Still in the clinch, Route scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Newsome.
Newsome misses with a body punch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Route creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Route scores with a shot to the side of Newsome's head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Route.
A short left from Newsome.
Newsome throws a head punch that misses.
Good body shot from Route.
Route tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Newsome lands a body punch in the clinch.
Route prevents a body shot from Newsome.
Newsome tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Route tries a body shot but Newsome blocks it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Newsome.
Route blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Newsome lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Newsome stalling in the clinch but Route improves position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newsome lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Newsome works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Newsome tries to work over Route's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Newsome lands with a right to the head.
Route throws a punch but it's blocked by Newsome.
Route prevents a body shot from Newsome.
Newsome lands a hook to the side of the head.
Newsome lands a right hand that snaps the head of Route backwards.
Route swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Route lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Newsome backwards.
Newsome doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Route lands a body shot in the clinch.
Newsome misses with a punch to the body.
Newsome prevents a body shot from Route.
Still in the clinch, Route scores with a nice short uppercut.
Newsome tries a body shot but Route blocks it.
Newsome looking to slow down the pace here.
Route lands a nice uppercut.
Newsome misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Route lands with a short shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Newsome stalling in the clinch but Route improves position.
Newsome is looking to control Route's arms but Route gets an underhook and turns him. Now Newsome has his back to the cage.
Route blocks an uppercut.
Newsome tries to work over Route's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Route working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Newsome throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Routes head.
Route throws a punch but it's blocked by Newsome.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Newsome tries a body shot but Route blocks it.
Newsome swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Newsome.
Newsome tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Route can't find room to land a body shot as Newsome controls the action.
Newsome misses with a body punch.
Route presses Newsome against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Newsome has a couple of punches blocked by Route.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Route.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tarrell Newsome dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Newsome works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Newsome throws a poor cross that misses
and Route counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Newsome is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Route thows a left - swing and a miss!

Newsome darts in and clinches Route up against the cage.
Newsome tries to work over Route's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
En Route seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Route misses with a body punch.
Newsome misses with a body punch.
Route can't find room to land a body shot as Newsome controls the action.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Route as Newsome tries to tie him up.
Newsome tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Newsome fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newsome lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Newsome presses Route against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short left from Route.
Route tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Newsome pushes Route back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Newsome misses with a short punch on the inside.
Route can't find room to land a body shot as Newsome controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newsome tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Route pushes off an throws an elbow but Newsome leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Newsome has a couple of punches blocked by Route.
Route lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Route can't find room to land a body shot as Newsome controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Newsome.
Route is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Newsome is pushing Route up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Route is leaning against Newsome and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Newsome prevents a body shot from Route.
Route tries a body shot but Newsome blocks it.
Newsome fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Route swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Route's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Newsome avoids a wild elbow strike from Route.
Route misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newsome lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Route backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Route.
Newsome misses with a punch on the inside.
Route lands an uppercut.
Route lands a shot to the body.
Newsome tries to throw a body punch but Route avoids it by throwing Newsome back against the cage.
Newsome misses with a hook to the ribs.
Newsome working aggressively here.
Newsome can't find room to land a body shot as Route controls the action.
Newsome is working Route over against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Newsome misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Route is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Newsome is keeping busy.
Route misses with a body punch.
Newsome tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Route's elbow.
Route goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Route pushes Newsome back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Newsome misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Route lands a body shot in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Newsome.
Route fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Newsome tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short left from Route.
Route working aggressively here.

Route has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Newsome uses from the top position.

Newsome is posturing up here but Route has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Newsome tries to roll out but it's too tight and Newsome has to tap! Slick submission there by Route!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). En Route!
A relieved looking En Route thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.