PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dante Kai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kai
vs
Phoenix

175 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dante Kai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brad Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Damien Edna and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kai swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kai throws a one two combo.
Kai tries a head kick but it misses.
Kai closes the distance and clinches up with Phoenix, looking for a takedown. Kai pushes Phoenix against the cage but Phoenix circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kai is breathing heavily.
Kai tries a head kick but it misses.
Kai throws a right hand that Phoenix ducks under and follows up with a left that Phoenix also avoids with ease.
Phoenix will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Phoenix closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Phoenix decides to stand back up.
Kai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Phoenix counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Phoenix works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Phoenix working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Kai's thigh. Kai counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Kai keeping full guard, as Phoenix tries to pass.
Phoenix wants to control from the top but Kai keeps moving.

Phoenix postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kai is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Phoenix, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kai stands and throws Phoenix's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Phoenix manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Phoenix wants to work for an arm triangle but Kai is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Phoenix is working for a kimura but Kai is defending it quite comfortably.

Kai is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Phoenix pulls his head out easily.
Kai tries to kick Phoenix off but Phoenix keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two 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.
Phoenix looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Phoenix lands a nice short elbow.
Phoenix is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Phoenix looking to control but Kai is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kai sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Phoenix tries to stand and escape but Kai is controlling the position.
Kai has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Phoenix is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kai is defending against the submission attempts here by Phoenix.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Phoenix is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix passes to full mount!

Phoenix goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Kai turns into him and now he's in Phoenix's guard.
Phoenix has Kai pulled in close to control his posture.
Phoenix manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kai manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Phoenix is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kai is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kai has escaped and now he's on top!

Phoenix working for a triangle but Kai defends it easily.

Kai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Phoenix has his foot on Kai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kai works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Phoenix is on top in guard.
Phoenix pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kai is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Phoenix dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kai tries to clinch but Phoenix moves away

and Phoenix counters with a single leg into guard. Kai didn't expect that.
Phoenix advances to half guard.
Phoenix looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Phoenix wants to work for an arm triangle but Kai is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Phoenix is pressing down on Kai's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kai is holding on for now.

Kai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Phoenix is working for a submission of some sort.
Kai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kai is trying to get back to full guard.

Phoenix is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Brad Phoenix has got the better of the ground game so far.

Phoenix is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Kai has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kai is refusing to be controlled, as Phoenix sits in half guard.

Phoenix is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Phoenix tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kai knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Phoenix wants to take a breather but Kai is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kai cracks Phoenix with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A head kick misses from Kai.
Phoenix misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kai has his takedown stuffed

and Phoenix counters with a shoot takedown. Kai fights it but they end up in guard.

Phoenix stands and steps away. Kai gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kai with a poor takedown

and Phoenix counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Phoenix.
Phoenix passes into half guard.
Phoenix tries to pass to full mount but Kai defends it.

Phoenix is working for a kimura but Kai is defending it quite comfortably.
Kai manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phoenix avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Phoenix passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kai prevents Phoenix from improving position.

Phoenix working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Phoenix wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kai, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Phoenix looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Phoenix tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Phoenix has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Phoenix wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kai keeps working.

Phoenix goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kai has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Phoenix but great work by Kai.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Phoenix tries to bench press Kai off him but Kai keeps the position.
Phoenix is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Phoenix showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Phoenix shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Phoenix moves to back control.
Kai looking very determined here, making life difficult for Phoenix.

Phoenix working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Phoenix working for a choke but Kai reverses nicely into Phoenix 's guard.

Phoenix working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kai doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kai manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Phoenix is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix keeping moving, preventing Kai from controlling successfully.

Phoenix throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Phoenix has his foot on Kai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kai works his way back into a safe position though.
Kai wants to control from the top but Phoenix keeps moving.

Phoenix working for submissions but it's allowed Kai to get to half guard.
Phoenix is looking for a sweep. Kai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Phoenix looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix wants to improve his position but Kai is controlling well.
Kai is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Phoenix!

Kai is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Phoenix has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Phoenix!

Phoenix stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kai throws a sloppy head kick and Phoenix moves out of range easily.
Kai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kai plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kai misses with a takedown

and Phoenix counters with a takedown into side control.
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!
Kai is looking for a sweep.
Phoenix has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix fails to advance to Kai's back.

Phoenix is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Kai has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Phoenix goes for an armbar but Kai turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Kai.
Kai pushes down on Phoenix's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Phoenix works his way to full guard. Good work.

Phoenix looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Kai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Phoenix looking for a guillotine here but Kai defends easily.
Phoenix tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Kai is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Dante Kai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Phoenix is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Phoenix working for a triangle but Kai defends it easily.
Kai with a nice head shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brad Phoenix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Phoenix 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 John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brad Phoenix!