PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Equilibrium (ranked 3626 p4p, 2999 weight class) and Derek Blueboy (ranked 231 p4p, 205 weight class). Pedro Equilibrium looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Equilibrium
vs
Blueboy

174 cm
23
135
7 - 5 - 0

172 cm
28
135
7 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Pedro Equilibrium!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Derek Blueboy!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Equilibrium as Blueboy shoots in.
Equilibrium appears to be looking for a big counter.

Equilibrium has taken the fight to the clinch.
Blueboy stalling against the cage.

Blueboy lands a takedown into guard.

Equilibrium is working an open guard so Blueboy takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Blueboy throws a sloppy head kick and Equilibrium moves out of range easily.

Equilibrium throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Blueboy tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Equilibrium is in Blueboy's guard.
Blueboy is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Blueboy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Equilibrium in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Blueboy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Blueboy trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Blueboy is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blueboy postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Equilibrium looking for a guillotine here but Blueboy defends easily.
Equilibrium is breathing heavily.

Equilibrium throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Blueboy controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Equilibrium has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Blueboy is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Equilibrium.

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.
Blueboy controls the position from side control.
It looks like Blueboy might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Blueboy is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Equilibrium is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Equilibrium's face as Blueboy controls the position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Blueboy working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Equilibrium is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blueboy moves into full mount!
Blueboy controlling the position easily from mount.
Blueboy looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Blueboy pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Equilibrium is desperately trying to improve his position but Blueboy has a good base and remains in mount.

Blueboy stands up from mount. Strange move.

Equilibrium moves into the clinch successfully.

Blueboy ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Blueboy no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Equilibrium stopping the sweep attempt from Blueboy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blueboy working for a triangle but Equilibrium defends it easily.
Blueboy controlling the position.
Blueboy throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Blueboy holds on and takes a little breather.
Equilibrium in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Equilibrium won't allow Blueboy to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Blueboy working for a triangle but Equilibrium defends it easily.
Equilibrium won't allow Blueboy to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Blueboy dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Equilibrium fails in his attempt to clinch.
Equilibrium tries to close the distance and clinch but Blueboy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Equilibrium gets caught flat footed, as Blueboy shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Blueboy preventing the sweep.

Equilibrium is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Blueboy is aware though and is defending well.
Blueboy not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Equilibrium has an active guard here but Blueboy has managed to pass into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Blueboy lands a nice short elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blueboy stalling.

Blueboy decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Equilibrium tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Blueboy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Equilibrium leaves Blueboy with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Blueboy moves into the clinch.
Equilibrium fails to pull guard.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Blueboy pulls guard.
Derek Blueboy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Blueboy trying to control the position here.
Blueboy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Equilibrium accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Equilibrium throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Blueboy is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Equilibrium throws a strike but Blueboy rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Blueboy slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Blueboy postures up and lands a big shot to Equilibrium's brow.
Blueboy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Equilibrium wants to sweep but no luck.
Blueboy is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Blueboy advances to half guard.

Blueboy is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Equilibrium sees it coming and defends easily.
Blueboy drops an elbow to the side of Equilibrium's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Blueboy is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Equilibrium looking for submissions off his back.

Blueboy decides to stand up.

Blueboy fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Equilibrium to the ground. Blueboy is now in Equilibrium's guard.

Blueboy stands up and waves to Equilibrium to follow him.

Blueboy moves into range and clinches up with Equilibrium.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blueboy holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Blueboy takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Blueboy continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

Blueboy pulls guard effortlessly.
Blueboy has Equilibrium pulled in close to control his posture.

Blueboy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Equilibrium defends well.

Blueboy is looking for a triangle but Equilibrium pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Blueboy looking for a guillotine here but Equilibrium defends easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Blueboy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Blueboy looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Blueboy fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Equilibrium looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Equilibrium wants to clinch.
Blueboy goes for a double leg but Equilibrium avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Equilibrium continues to drive forward.
Blueboy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Equilibrium pinned against the cage. Equilibrium gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Pedro Equilibrium has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek Blueboy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blueboy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Blueboy keeps the fight on the outside.
Pedro Equilibrium seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blueboy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Equilibrium gets a double leg takedown into Blueboy's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Equilibrium accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Equilibrium has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Blueboy is on top in guard.

Blueboy keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Equilibrium's head.
Blueboy wants to pass the guard but Equilibrium is keeping the position.

Equilibrium is looking for a triangle but Blueboy pushes his legs off easily.
Blueboy works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Blueboy looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Equilibrium actively working from the bottom here.

Blueboy is working for a submission of some sort.
Blueboy lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Blueboy seems to be looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Equilibrium looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blueboy seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Blueboy is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Equilibrium is just riding it out for now. Blueboy eventually gives up the hold.
Blueboy with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Blueboy passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blueboy scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Equilibrium?
Blueboy is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Equilibrium can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Blueboy landing shots from mount.
Equilibrium really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Blueboy connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Pedro Equilibrium has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blueboy pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Equilibrium keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Blueboy controlling from the full mount.
Derek Blueboy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Blueboy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Blueboy 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 26:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek Blueboy!