PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Armbong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Invidious (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Armbong
vs
Invidious

185 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
171 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nathan Armbong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Invidious!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Steve Erwin and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Invidious throws a series of strikes that have Armbong backpedaling.
Invidious keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Invidious shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Armbong as he jumps to the side.
Armbong misses with a head kick.
Armbong misses with a takedown
and Invidious counters with a three punch combo that has Armbong backing up. Armbong nods at Invidious to acknowledge the strikes.

Invidious bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Invidious tries to stand but Armbong is controlling his head.
Invidious looks gassed!

Invidious has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Invidious throws a lazy right hand but Armbong sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Armbong tries to close the distance and clinch but Invidious swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Armbong closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Armbong lands in his opponent's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Armbong looking to pass the guard.
Invidious is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Armbong is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armbong slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Invidious wants to stand and escape but Armbong is having none of it.
Armbong showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Invidious has his feet on Armbong's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Armbong misses with a takedown

and Invidious counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Armbong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Invidious wants to get back to his feet.

Invidious stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Mike Invidious seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Armbong with a poor takedown

and Invidious counters with a shoot takedown. Armbong fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Invidious gets to his feet. Armbong looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Invidious circles away from the clinch attempt

and Invidious counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Armbong punching from the bottom.
Armbong regains full guard. Nicely done.

Invidious gets to his feet. Armbong looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Armbong shoots and misses

and Invidious counters with a nice double leg into side control. Armbong won't be happy with that.

Invidious stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Armbong shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Invidious will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Armbong fails with the takedown

and Invidious counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Invidious.
Invidious preventing the sweep.
Invidious tries to stand but Armbong is controlling from the bottom.

Armbong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Invidious has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Armbong is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Invidious gets to his feet. Armbong looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Armbong throws a head kick that misses

and Invidious counters with a nice double leg into side control. Armbong won't be happy with that.

Invidious decides to stand up, so the ref orders Armbong to his feet.
Armbong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Invidious paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Armbong fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Invidious looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Armbong closes the distance looking to clinch
and Invidious counters with a left and a right that stings Armbong.

Invidious closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Invidious lands in his opponent's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Armbong scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Armbong.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Invidious wants to get back to his feet but Armbong drags him back down.
Armbong trying to control the action but Invidious is working from the bottom.
Invidious is trying to get back to his feet.
Armbong looks up at the clock and then as Invidious takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Armbong smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Armbong knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Invidious on the ground.

Invidious throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Armbong gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Invidious counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Invidious getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Armbong is looking to clinch.
Armbong takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Armbong goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Invidious will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Invidious throws a right hand that Armbong ducks under and follows up with a left that Armbong also avoids with ease.
Invidious misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Invidious looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Armbong connecting with a few gentle strikes.

Invidious stands up and beckons Armbong to join him on the feet.
Invidious misses with a jab, cross combination.
Armbong with a lazy takedown attempt
and Invidious counters with a left and a right that stings Armbong.

Invidious closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Armbong struggling a bit here.
Armbong wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Armbong is trying to control Invidious's posture but Invidious avoids it.
Armbong tries to bench press Invidious off him but Invidious keeps the position.
Invidious is breathing heavily.
Armbong regains half guard.
Armbong tries to kick Invidious off but Invidious keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Invidious circles away from the clinch attempt.
Armbong misses with a takedown attempt

and Invidious counters with a single leg into guard. Armbong didn't expect that.
Invidious has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Invidious decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Invidious tries to keep at a distance but Armbong has taken the fight into the clinch.
Armbong jumps guard but Invidious stands there with Armbong around his waist. Armbong gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Armbong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The is referee keeping an eye on Armbong - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Armbong throws an elbow that misses.
Armbong wants a takedown.

Invidious manages to break the clinch.
Invidious throws a series of punches but Armbong moves out of range.

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

Invidious decides to stand back up. Invidious steps back and let's Armbong get back to his feet.
Armbong changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Invidious tries to avoid it but Armbong manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Invidious to the ground. Invidious escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Armbong moves in looking to clinch but Invidious pushes him off.
Armbong changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Invidious tries to avoid it but Armbong manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Invidious to the ground. Invidious escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Invidious scores a takedown into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Armbong is squirming around, avoiding Invidious's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Invidious is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Invidious fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Invidious misses with a jab, cross combination.
Invidious on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Invidious moves into range and connects with a jab.
Invidious throws a nice looking combination but Armbong bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Invidious shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Invidious showed some decent athleticism there.
Armbong has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Invidious is working away from the top position though.

Invidious stands up and beckons Armbong to join him on the feet.
Invidious checks a low kick from Armbong.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armbong misses with a takedown

and Invidious counters with a single leg into guard. Armbong didn't expect that.

Invidious gets to his feet - Armbong follows without any prompting.
Invidious swings widly with a right hand
and Armbong counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Armbong is looking to clinch.
Invidious misses with a double jab

and Armbong counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Armbong has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Invidious avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Armbong prevents a takedown attempt there.
Invidious can't break the clinch.

Invidious breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Invidious lands a jab-cross combination.
Armbong fails with the takedown.
Invidious misses with a jab, cross combination.
Invidious fails to land the takedown.
Armbong misses with a takedown
and Invidious counters with a nice uppercut.
Invidious has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Armbong misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Invidious falls off balance throwing a combination

and Armbong holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Armbong keeps control of Invidious as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Armbong tries to pull guard but Invidious won't allow it.

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

Armbong gets a takedown into half guard.
Armbong controlling the action here.

Invidious kicks Armbong off and gets back to his feet.
Invidious throws a combination that misses
and Armbong counters with a series of strikes. Invidious will be more careful next time no doubt.
Invidious swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Invidious rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Armbong moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Armbong tries to work over Invidious's front leg with a kick but Invidious checks it.
Invidious shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Armbong pinned against the cage. Armbong gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Armbong shoots and misses

and Invidious counters with a shoot takedown. Armbong fights it but they end up in guard.
Armbong is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Invidious showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Armbong stuffs the takedown.

Armbong closes the distance and clinches.

Armbong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Good standup being displayed there by Armbong as he connects with a hook.

Armbong forces Invidious back against the cage and clinches.
Invidious wants to break free but Armbong has control.
Armbong tries to pull guard but Invidious won't allow it.
Armbong is working for takedown but Invidious is calmly controlling the position for now.
Armbong is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Invidious gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Armbong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Armbong tries to pull guard but Invidious holds him up against the cage and eventually Armbong drops back down to his feet.
Invidious wants to get back to striking at distance but Armbong won't allow it.
Armbong lands a body shot in the clinch.
Invidious is trying to break free.

Invidious breaks the clinch.
Invidious throws a left and a right that both miss
and Armbong counters with a series of strikes. Invidious will be more careful next time no doubt.

Armbong rushes Invidious and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Armbong has Invidious pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Invidious manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Armbong looking to slow down the pace here.
Armbong wants to break free but Invidious has control.
Invidious is trying to break the clinch but Armbong has him pressed against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Invidious.

Invidious breaks the clinch.
Invidious misses with a double jab

and Armbong counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armbong prevents Invidious from standing back up.

Invidious manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Armbong gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Invidious counters with a left and a right that stings Armbong.
Armbong wants to clinch up but Invidious keeps it at a distance.
Invidious throws the left hand but Armbong avoids the punch easily.
Nice takedown defense from Invidious. No joy for Armbong on that attempt.
Armbong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Invidious fails with a takedown attempt.
Armbong fails with the takedown

and Invidious counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Invidious.
Armbong trying to keep a closed guard but Invidious is proving a slippery customer.

Invidious stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Armbong fails with the takedown

so Invidious counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Armbong is working an open guard so Invidious takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armbong fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Invidious checks it well.

Armbong drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Invidious is not content to let Armbong control the position.
Armbong advances nicely into full mount.
Armbong sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Invidious's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Invidious bucks up and throws Armbong to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Nathan Armbong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Armbong tries for a takedown but Invidious circles away easily
and Invidious counters with a straight right hand.

Armbong feints and as Invidious raises his hands in defense, Armbong changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Armbong is standing up over Invidious. Invidious looks to escape but Armbong dives into side control.

Invidious throws Armbong to one side and escapes!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Invidious takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Invidious misses with a wild combination.
Nice takedown defense from Invidious. No joy for Armbong on that attempt.
Armbong shoots and misses
and Invidious counters with a one-two to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Invidious as Armbong shoots in.
Armbong closes the distance and clinches up with Invidious, looking for a takedown. Armbong pushes Invidious against the cage but Invidious circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Invidious misses with the combination.
Armbong fails with the takedown
and Invidious counters with a two punch combo.
Invidious fails to land the takedown.
Armbong dodges the punch combination from Invidious.
Invidious misses with a double jab

and Armbong counters by moving into the clinch.

Invidious breaks from the clinch.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Invidious, as that shot connected.
Invidious misses with a double jab

and Armbong counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Invidious looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Armbong!
Invidious trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Armbong throwing hammer fists to the chest of Invidious. What's that going to do exactly?

Invidious gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Armbong with a lazy takedown attempt
and Invidious counters with a three punch combo that has Armbong backing up. Armbong nods at Invidious to acknowledge the strikes.
Invidious misses with a combination

and Armbong counters with a single leg into guard. Invidious didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Armbong gets to his feet. Invidious looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Armbong shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Invidious but Invidious pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Armbong takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Invidious misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Armbong is looking to clinch.
Invidious throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Armbong counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Invidious's guard now.
Nathan Armbong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Invidious manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Invidious shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mike Invidious.
I've got Invidious 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Invidious!