PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shiva Red Gym (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Downer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Red Gym might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Fight Red Fight. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Red Gym
vs
Downer

175 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

189 cm
23
152 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shiva Red Gym!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mark Downer!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Patrick Alders and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Red Gym throws a wild body kick that Downer sees coming a mile off.
Red Gym fails in his attempt to clinch.
Red Gym throws the kick towards the body but Downer avoids it.
Downer moves out of range of the body kick.
A head kick misses from Downer.
Downer looks to clinch
and Red Gym counters with a head kick. That will keep Downer thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Red Gym lands a nice leg kick that just misses Downer's sensitive parts.
Downer moves in looking to clinch but Red Gym pushes him off.
Downer misses with a low kick.
Downer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Downer takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Red Gym tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Downer counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Red Gym is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Downer forces Red Gym back against the cage and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Downer can't break the clinch.
Downer wants to break free but Red Gym has control.
Downer blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downer prevents Red Gym from breaking the clinch.

Downer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Downer throws a sloppy head kick and Red Gym moves out of range easily.
Downer avoids a kick to the body.
Red Gym tries to clinch

and Downer counters by clinching up.
Red Gym pushes off an throws an elbow but Downer leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Red Gym unloads a knee to the mid-section. Downer lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Red Gym is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Red Gym tries to land knees in the clinch but Downer avoids the damage to the body.
Downer gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Downer is looking to break free of the clinch but Red Gym has double underhooks.
Red Gym crunches a lovely knee into Downer's ribcage.
Downer avoiding damage as Red Gym throws knees to the body.
Red Gym trying to land knees to the body.
Red Gym lands a nice knee to the body.
Downer looks gassed!
Downer keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Red Gym's efforts to push away.
Red Gym missing with knees to the body.
Downer is trying to force a seperation but Red Gym has the dominant position.
Red Gym has had enough of the clinch but Downer keeps him there for the moment.
Downer has had enough of the clinch but Red Gym keeps him there for the moment.

Red Gym's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Red Gym circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Red Gym lands a nice looking kick to the body. Downer takes a step back to recover.
Some wild striking there from Downer.

Downer moves into range and clinches up with Red Gym.
Red Gym utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Red Gym lands a good knee to the midsection. Downer won't want to take too many of those.
Downer avoiding damage as Red Gym throws knees to the body.

Red Gym pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Red Gym throws a sloppy head kick and Downer moves out of range easily.
Red Gym scores with a kick to the midsection.

Red Gym fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Downer, pushing him back against the cage.
Downer on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Red Gym avoiding damage as Downer throws knees to the body.

Downer breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Red Gym throws a wild body kick that Downer sees coming a mile off.
Downer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Downer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Red Gym pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A combination from Downer does no damage.
Downer looks to score with a jab to the body but Red Gym is just out of range.
Downer misses with a wild body shot.
Downer is looking to clinch.
Downer tried to score with a low kick but Red Gym checks it.
Red Gym avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A lazy body kick from Red Gym

and Downer counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Downer misses with a hook to the ribs.
Downer presses Red Gym against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Downer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Red Gym tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Downer avoids it.

Downer breaks from the clinch.

Downer clinches up against the cage.

Downer breaks the clinch.
Downer throws a left and a right that both miss
and Red Gym makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Downer really felt that one!
Downer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Red Gym moves away.
Red Gym tries to clinch but Downer moves out of range.
Red Gym tries to clinch

and Downer counters by clinching up.

Downer manages to break the clinch.
Downer looks to land a combination but Red Gym avoids it well.
Downer moves out of range as Red Gym throws a body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Downer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Downer misses with a series of wild punches.
Downer blocks a head kick by Red Gym.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shiva Red Gym dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Downer throws a sloppy head kick and Red Gym moves out of range easily.
Red Gym scores with a kick to the midsection.
Downer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Red Gym moves away.
Downer tries to clinch up.
Red Gym is looking to land body kicks.
Downer avoids a kick to the body.

Red Gym forces Downer back against the cage and clinches.
The referee calls for Downer to work.
Downer lands a good knee to the midsection. Red Gym won't want to take too many of those.
Downer wants to break the clinch but can't.
Downer is trying to break the clinch but Red Gym is controlling him.
Downer keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Red Gym's efforts to push away.

Red Gym breaks from the clinch.
Red Gym avoids the body shot from Downer.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Downer avoids the head kick by Red Gym.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downer stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Red Gym.
Red Gym tries to close the distance and clinch but Downer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Downer tries to clinch up but Red Gym circles away and keeps his distance.
Red Gym throws a push kick but Downer slaps the foot to one side.
Downer throws a head kick but Red Gym moves out of range.
Shiva Red Gym seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Downer instigates a clinch.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Downer in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Downer managing to block the knees to the body from Red Gym.
Red Gym missing with knees to the body.
Red Gym is looking to break free of the clinch but Downer has double underhooks.

Downer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Downer with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Downer clinches.
Downer has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Downer is trying to force a seperation but Red Gym has the dominant position.
Downer is trying to break the clinch but Red Gym has him pressed against the cage.
Red Gym is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Downer is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downer has had enough of the clinch but Red Gym keeps him there for the moment.

Downer breaks from the clinch.
Red Gym dodges the punch combination from Downer.
Downer is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Red Gym rather than just go for the knockout.

Downer fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Red Gym, pushing him back against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Downer.

Downer breaks the clinch.
Red Gym showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Downer.
Red Gym throws a leg kick

and Downer moves into the clinch.
Downer tries to throw a body punch but Red Gym avoids it by throwing Downer back against the cage.

Downer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Downer moves into the clinch.

Downer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Red Gym throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Downer throws a leg kick but Red Gym checks it.
Downer throws a sloppy head kick and Red Gym moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Downer gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knees to the body from Red Gym.
Downer is trying to stall.

Downer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Downer gets a clinch.
Red Gym tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Downer avoids it.

Downer manages to break the clinch.
Downer moves in looking to clinch but Red Gym pushes him off.
Downer stalks Red Gym and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Red Gym's face. Red Gym staggers backwards, shaken.

Downer closes the distance and clinches.
Downer with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Red Gym tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Downer avoids it.

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

Downer instigates a clinch.
Red Gym landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downer looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Downer breaks the clinch.
Red Gym clinches but Downer breaks the clinch
and Downer makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Red Gym tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Downer fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Red Gym, pushing him back against the cage.
Downer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Red Gym backwards.
Red Gym lands a good knee to the midsection. Downer won't want to take too many of those.
Downer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Red Gym is defending well for now.
Downer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Red Gym.
Red Gym is trying to break the clinch but Downer has him pressed against the cage.

Downer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Downer throws a sloppy head kick
and Red Gym counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Red Gym throws the kick towards the body but Downer avoids it.
Red Gym blocks a head kick by Downer.
Red Gym scores with a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Downer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Downer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Downer avoids a kick to the body.
Downer blocks a head kick by Red Gym.
Red Gym tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Downer counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Downer moves in looking to clinch but Red Gym pushes him off.
Red Gym misses with a straight left.
Downer throws a leg kick which misses Red Gym's front leg but catches the back leg as Red Gym tries to avoid it.

Downer clinches up against the cage.
Red Gym is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Downer is defending well for now.
Downer tries to circle away but Red Gym has him pinned against the cage.

Downer breaks from the clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Downer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downer is looking to score with low kicks.

Downer gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Downer controlling the action here for a moment.

Downer breaks the clinch.
Red Gym thows a leg kick but Downer checks it

and Downer counters by moving into the clinch.
Downer wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Downer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Downer misses with a series of wild punches.
Downer tries to clinch there but Red Gym circles away.
Red Gym is looking to land body kicks.
Downer throws a body kick that misses.
Shiva Red Gym is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Red Gym goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

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.
Downer throws a right and a left that both miss.
Downer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Red Gym was well out of range. Poor timing from Downer.
Downer goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Downer.

Downer gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Downer breaks from the clinch.
Red Gym avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Downer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Downer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Red Gym paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice body punch from Red Gym.
Mark Downer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Red Gym moves away from the strike by Downer.
Red Gym scores with a kick to the midsection.

Downer moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downer is looking to control Red Gym's arms but Red Gym gets an underhook and turns him. Now Downer has his back to the cage.
Downer lands a hook to the side of the head.
Downer tries a body shot but Red Gym blocks it.
Red Gym is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Downer is defending well for now.

Downer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Red Gym has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Red Gym throws a wild body kick that Downer sees coming a mile off.
Red Gym wants to clinch but Downer slips to the side

and Downer counters by clinching up.
Downer is looking to break free of the clinch but Red Gym has double underhooks.
Red Gym tries to break the clinch but Downer is controlling the position.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Downer.
Downer is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Downer takes an elbow to the forehead.
Red Gym tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Downer avoids it.
Red Gym misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Downer.
Red Gym throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Red Gym tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Downer avoids it.
Red Gym dodges an elbow strike from Downer.

Downer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Downer has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downer throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Red Gym blocks it with crossed arms.
Red Gym using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Downer has Red Gym pressed against the cage, preventing Red Gym from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Downer throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Downer blocks the elbow strike.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Downer.

Downer breaks from the clinch.
Red Gym misses with a two punch combination.
Downer misses with a body kick.
Downer takes a kick to the side of the head.
Downer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Red Gym will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Downer tries to clinch up but Red Gym circles away and keeps his distance.
Downer throws a head kick that misses
and Red Gym counters with a flying knee. Nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Downer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Downer has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Downer!