PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stringer Bell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Busta Rhymes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rhymes has chosen Winter Warz as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bell
vs
Rhymes

185 cm
25
213 lbs
20 - 6 - 0

185 cm
27
215 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Stringer Bell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Busta Rhymes!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bell pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bell defending well as Rhymes loads up on a big left hand.
Bell rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bell lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rhymes backs up against the cage.
A combination from Bell does no damage.
Bell throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bell ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Bell misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bell throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rhymes thows a leg kick but Bell checks it
and Bell counters with a two punch combo.
Bell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bell misses with a hook
and Rhymes counters with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rhymes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rhymes throwing shots but Bell is blocking nicely.
Rhymes is nestled in close to Bell, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rhymes takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bell tries to roll over but Rhymes keeps him under control.
Bell controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Bell trying to control here.
Rhymes working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rhymes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bell keeps working.
Ground and pound from Rhymes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bell on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bell is trying to get back to full guard.
Rhymes lands strikes from half guard.
Rhymes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rhymes working the head and body with strikes.
Rhymes is pressing down on Bell's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bell is holding on for now.
Bell gets back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rhymes landing some decent shots from guard.
Bell has momentary wrist control but Rhymes slips an elbow through the middle.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bell holds on and takes a little breather.
Bell 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhymes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bell trying to keep a closed guard but Rhymes is proving a slippery customer.
Rhymes landing with the ground and pound.
Bell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rhymes manages to get himself to full guard.
Bell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rhymes is keeping the position for now.
Rhymes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bell is one step ahead there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rhymes pulls Bell in close to prevent any damage.
Bell throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bell wants to control from the top but Rhymes keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rhymes is on top in guard.
Bell is trying to control the position but Rhymes postures up.
Rhymes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rhymes postures up in Bell's guard and throws a big left but Bell blocks it.
Bell keeping moving, preventing Rhymes from controlling successfully.
Rhymes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bell wants to sweep here but Rhymes controlling him for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bell pulls Rhymes in close to his closed guard and prevents Rhymes from doing any damage or advancing position.
Bell is trying to keep Rhymes in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Busta Rhymes dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rhymes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A slow jab from Bell misses its intended target.
Bell misses with a body punch
and Rhymes counters with a head kick.
Bell takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Bell blocks a jab.
Bell avoids a punch combination nicely.
Busta Rhymes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rhymes misses with a hook
enabling Bell to counter with a crisp jab.
Rhymes misses with a left hand
and Bell counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Rhymes closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rhymes lands in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhymes is fighting to break Bell's control of his arms but Bell is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Busta Rhymes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rhymes trying to control the position from guard on top but Bell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rhymes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Bell had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rhymes defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rhymes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Bell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rhymes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rhymes with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhymes won't allow Bell to sweep him here.
Bell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rhymes lands a couple of elbows.
Bell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rhymes throws a strike but Bell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rhymes working a defensive guard here.
Rhymes 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.
Rhymes keeping full guard, as Bell tries to pass.
Bell thows a big elbow that misses.
Rhymes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bell sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rhymes's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhymes wants to get back to full guard but Bell has passed into side control.
Rhymes is looking for a sweep.
Bell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rhymes keeps working.
Rhymes parries the strikes from Bell easily there. Bell is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rhymes to escape.
Rhymes gets back to half guard.
Bell winds up and cracks Rhymes with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rhymes wants to control but Bell is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bell thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rhymes wants to control but Bell is keeping busy.
Rhymes wants to improve his position but Bell is controlling well.
Rhymes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bell trying to control from half guard but Rhymes is working away.
Rhymes trying to hold on to Bell's head to control him but Bell postures up.
Bell wants to pass to mount but Rhymes is defending the position.
Rhymes moves into full guard.
Rhymes keeping full guard, as Bell tries to pass.
Rhymes is pulling down on Bell's head. It's preventing any offense from Bell, at least for the moment.
Bell working some strikes from top position.
Rhymes is pulling down on Bell's head to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Busta Rhymes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bell misses with a straight right.
Rhymes lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Bell scores with a three punch combo!
Bell moves out of range of the strikes.
Bell throws a combination that misses
and Rhymes makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Rhymes closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bell quickly recovers to half guard.
Rhymes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rhymes scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bell trying to hold on to Rhymes's head to control him but Rhymes postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rhymes connects with a nice short shot to Bell's temple.
Bell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rhymes wants to pass the guard but Bell is defending well.
Rhymes is looking to take a break and control but Bell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bell taking some punishment here, with Rhymes in his half guard.
Bell is looking to improve his position.
Bell gets full guard.
Rhymes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bell 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.
Rhymes trying to control the position from guard on top but Bell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rhymes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhymes looking to pass the guard.
Rhymes is looking to work some ground and pound but Bell has wrist control.
Bell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rhymes thows a big elbow that misses.
Bell wants to sweep here but Rhymes controlling him for the moment.
Rhymes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bell keeping moving, preventing Rhymes from controlling successfully.
Bell has momentary wrist control but Rhymes slips an elbow through the middle.
Rhymes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bell 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.
Rhymes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Stringer Bell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rhymes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bell is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rhymes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Bell throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rhymes trying to control the position from guard on top but Bell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rhymes is looking to work some ground and pound but Bell has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rhymes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bell is trying to keep Rhymes in close.

That's four 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.
Rhymes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rhymes.
Bell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rhymes.
Rhymes postures up.
Bell is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rhymes is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Bell wants to sweep but no luck.
Bell keeping moving, preventing Rhymes from controlling successfully.
Bell lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rhymes!
Rhymes gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Busta Rhymes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rhymes 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Busta Rhymes!