PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Arturo Gatti III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gatti III
vs
Phillips

172 cm
19
164 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
160 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arturo Gatti III!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ian Phillips!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Phillips forces Gatti III back against the cage and clinches.
Gatti III lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Phillips.
Phillips drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gatti III gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Phillips misses with some punches.
Gatti III presses Phillips against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Phillips has a couple of punches blocked by Gatti III.
Phillips fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Phillips lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gatti III backwards.
Gatti III lands a hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Ian Phillips has been cut.
Gatti III lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gatti III misses with a punch to the body.
Phillips is trying to drag Gatti III to the mat but Gatti III just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Arturo Gatti III has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ian Phillips.
Gatti III working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Gatti III stops a takedown attempt from Phillips.
Nice body punch from Gatti III - that landed with a thud.
A right handed body shot lands from Gatti III.
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!
Gatti III lands an uppercut.

Phillips lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Gatti III knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Phillips on the ground.
Gatti III is trying to get back to full guard.

Phillips wants to work for an arm triangle but Gatti III is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Phillips looks gassed!
Gatti III is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatti III is refusing to be controlled, as Phillips sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gatti III wants to improve his position but Phillips is controlling well.
Phillips works his way into full mount!
Gatti III really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Phillips sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Gatti III tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gatti III on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gatti III tries to get out of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gatti III is squirming around, avoiding Phillips's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Phillips misses with a head shot.

Gatti III defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Phillips.
Phillips lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Gatti III is looking to improve his position but Phillips isn't that keen on the idea.
Phillips sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Phillips throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Phillips looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Phillips works his way to his opponent's back.
Phillips controlling from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips trying to control momentarily.
You can see the frustration on Gatti III's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Phillips is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Gatti III has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Gatti III covering up well and avoiding damage.

Phillips looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Gatti III is controlling Phillips 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Gatti III preventing the sweep.
Phillips bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gatti III's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips preventing the sweep.
Phillips thows a big elbow that misses.
Gatti III working a defensive guard here.
Gatti III lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Phillips!
Phillips gets back to half guard.
Phillips manages to get to full guard.
Gatti III looking to pass the guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Phillips working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gatti III doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gatti III manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Phillips controls Gatti III momentarily but Gatti III frees himself.
Phillips has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Phillips keeping moving, preventing Gatti III from controlling successfully.
Gatti III wants to pass the guard but Phillips is keeping the position.
Phillips throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Phillips wants to sweep here but Gatti III controlling him for the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Phillips is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Phillips moves in looking to clinch but Gatti III pushes him off.
Phillips shoots in but Gatti III avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Phillips closes the distance and clinches up with Gatti III, looking for a takedown. Phillips pushes Gatti III against the cage but Gatti III circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gatti III swings for the body but Phillips moves out of range.
Gatti III swats away the attempt to clinch by Phillips.
Gatti III throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gatti III throws a jab but it's blocked by Phillips.
Phillips looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gatti III is fending him off so far but Phillips persists. Nope, Gatti III circles away and we're back to standing.
Phillips tries to clinch there but Gatti III circles away.
Gatti III throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Phillips on the side of the head.
Phillips tries to move into range but Gatti III moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Phillips misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Phillips shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gatti III sprawls well. Gatti III wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Phillips gets slowly back to his feet.
Gatti III throws a jab but it's blocked by Phillips.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gatti III throws a body punch but Phillips moves out of range.
Gatti III thows a body shot but no joy.
Arturo Gatti III is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gatti III displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Phillips.
Phillips tries to bum rush Gatti III with a series of wild strikes but Gatti III uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gatti III misses with a wild combination.
Decent striking displayed by Gatti III there.
Phillips misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Phillips fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gatti III looks to score with a jab to the body but Phillips is just out of range.
Phillips ducks under a wild hook from Gatti III.
Phillips misses with a two punch combination.

Gatti III has managed to clinch.
Gatti III lands a hook that snaps the head of Phillips backwards.
Phillips jumps guard but Gatti III stands there with Phillips around his waist. Phillips gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Gatti III scores with a hook to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Gatti III.
A short body shot lands from Gatti III as the two fighters clinch.
Gatti III working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Gatti III works on Phillips's body with a couple of short punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gatti III digs a right hand into Phillips's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Phillips's gas tank.
Gatti III lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Phillips or not.
Gatti III stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Gatti III pushes Phillips back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gatti III cracks Phillips with a nice body shot.
Gatti III stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Gatti III lands with a light punch inside.
Good body shot from Gatti III.
Phillips working hard to break the clinch.
Gatti III lands a hook that snaps the head of Phillips backwards.
A short right from Gatti III.
Good body shot from Gatti III.
Gatti III cracks Phillips with a nice body shot.
Gatti III lands a body punch.
Gatti III softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Good body shot from Gatti III.
A hook to the body from Gatti III.
Phillips's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gatti III lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Phillips.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Gatti III.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Gatti III.
Phillips can't get the takedown.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gatti III.
Gatti III lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A right handed body shot lands from Gatti III.
Gatti III lands a left hand that snaps the head of Phillips backwards.
Gatti III scores with a shot to the side of Phillips's head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Phillips. Gatti III does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gatti III cracks Phillips with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Gatti III throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Phillips takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gatti III is looking to clinch but Phillips is avoiding it.
Gatti III digs a good hook to Phillips's body.
Gatti III dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Phillips gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gatti III.
Gatti III leaves Phillips with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gatti III fails with an attempt to clinch.
Phillips shoots in but Gatti III avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gatti III scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arturo Gatti III dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ian Phillips's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gatti III gets a clinch.
Gatti III digs a right hand into Phillips's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Phillips's gas tank.
Phillips is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gatti III throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Phillipss head.
Gatti III lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gatti III lands a body shot in the clinch.
Gatti III stops a takedown attempt from Phillips.
A right hand to the body from Gatti III.
Gatti III scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Gatti III lands a body punch.
Gatti III lands a nice uppercut.
Gatti III lands a hook that snaps the head of Phillips backwards.
Phillips is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gatti III lands a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Phillips tries to circle away but Gatti III has him pinned against the cage.
A short left from Gatti III.
Gatti III cracks Phillips with a nice body shot.
Gatti III lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right from Gatti III.
Gatti III lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Gatti III pushes Phillips back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gatti III lands a body punch in the clinch.
Gatti III lands with a light punch inside.
Gatti III lands a body shot in the clinch.
Gatti III is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatti III lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Gatti III working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Phillips is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gatti III is keeping busy.
Gatti III lands a right hand.
Gatti III lands a nice shot to the body.
Gatti III lands a nice uppercut.
Gatti III working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Phillips is rocked!
Gatti III pushes Phillips back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Phillips is still on wobbly legs! Can Gatti III finish him?
Gatti III lands a hook that snaps the head of Phillips backwards.
Gatti III scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Gatti III stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gatti III lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Phillips to his knees! Gatti III keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Arturo Gatti III!
Arturo Gatti III retains his lightweight title!