PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John De Vito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Irwin Linford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John De Vito has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

De Vito
vs
Linford

185 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
204 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John De Vito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Irwin Linford!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Linford throws a combination that misses
and De Vito counters with a series of strikes. Linford will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sloppy strikes from Linford. Those never looked like landing.
Irwin Linford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Vito shoots in for a takedown but Linford shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Linford slaps away a takedown attempt from De Vito, before circling back to the center of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from De Vito.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John De Vito. That's going to take a lot out of him.
De Vito tries to clinch but Linford is having none of it.
De Vito misses the body punch
and Linford counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Danga de danga de dang - Linford scores with a four punch combination!
De Vito tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Linford scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
De Vito shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Linford digs a good body shot into De Vito's ribs.
Linford should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Sloppy strikes from Linford. Those never looked like landing.
Linford throws a front kick aimed at De Vito's knee but De Vito avoids it well.
Linford swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and De Vito counters with a thumping low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Linford fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No joy there for Linford, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Vito tries for a takedown but Linford sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
De Vito tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Linford counters with a right hand to the body.
De Vito with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Linford to score with a decent uppercut.
Linford misses with a combination

so De Vito counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
De Vito is breathing heavily.
De Vito thows a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Linford is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and De Vito dives into side control.
Linford is trying to buck De Vito off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Vito trying to control the action but Linford is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Linford bucks up and tries to throw De Vito off but instead De Vito has got his back!
Linford trying to get back to his feet but De Vito is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Vito throws strikes from the back but Linford rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by Linford.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
De Vito won't allow Linford to get back to his feet.
De Vito trying to control but Linford is working from the bottom.
Linford really doesn't want to stay on the ground with De Vito. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
De Vito wanted to stand there but Linford had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John De Vito dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Linford lands with a right hand.
De Vito tries to clinch but Linford moves away
and Linford counters with a two punch combo.
Linford scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A clash of legs there as De Vito blocks the low kick.
Linford fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Linford lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Linford rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but De Vito moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
De Vito tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Linford counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Linford throws a combination. De Vito tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Linford lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Linford avoids a kick to the body.
Linford moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Linford falls off balance throwing a combination
and De Vito counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linford scores with a one two! De Vito had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A shot to the liver by Linford. Beautiful body shot.
De Vito tries to clinch but Linford moves away
and Linford counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
De Vito on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Linford falls off balance throwing a combination
and De Vito counters with a leg kick.
Linford displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Linford is working the combinations to good effect here.
De Vito tries to clinch but Linford moves out of range.
De Vito avoids a punch combination nicely.
Linford rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but De Vito moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A leg kick checked by De Vito.

De Vito has closed the distance and engaged Linford in a clinch.
De Vito tries to land a knee to the head but Linford blocks with his arms.
Linford can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linford is looking to break free of the clinch but De Vito has double underhooks.
De Vito with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A frustrated look appears on Linford's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Linford is looking to break free of the clinch but De Vito has double underhooks.
Linford wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Linford tries to break the clinch but De Vito is controlling the position.
Linford has had enough of the clinch but De Vito keeps him there for the moment.
Linford has had enough of the clinch but De Vito keeps him there for the moment.
Linford is trying to push De Vito away but De Vito has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Linford is trying to push De Vito away but De Vito has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Linford lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of De Vito backwards.

Linford breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Linford will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice shot by Linford.
Linford tries to bum rush De Vito with a series of wild strikes but De Vito uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Linford throws a combination but it was largely blocked by De Vito.
De Vito misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linford bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of De Vito's head.
A combination from Linford does no damage.
Linford swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Linford throws a series of strikes that have De Vito backpedaling.
Linford thuds a left hand into De Vito's body.
De Vito showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Linford.
Linford throws a lazy body kick

so De Vito counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
De Vito trying to control the position from guard on top but Linford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

De Vito drops back looking for a leg! Linford is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Linford manages to kick De Vito off! De Vito jumps back into Linford's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linford keeping moving, preventing De Vito from controlling successfully.
Linford is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
De Vito in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Irwin Linford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Linford looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Linford misses with the combination.
Linford throws a series of strikes that have De Vito backpedaling.
Linford misses with a wild combination.
Linford falls off balance throwing a combination

and De Vito counters with a takedown into side control.
De Vito creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Linford sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
De Vito trying to control the action but Linford is working from the bottom.
Linford is pushing De Vito's head away, looking to escape. De Vito manages to hold on to the position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

De Vito decides to stand back up. De Vito steps back and let's Linford get back to his feet.
De Vito slips a jab and a cross from Linford.
Linford throws a right and a left that De Vito avoids nicely.
Irwin Linford is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Linford's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Linford duly obliges.
De Vito closes the distance and clinches up with Linford, looking for a takedown. De Vito pushes Linford against the cage but Linford circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Linford scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Linford circles away from the clinch attempt
and Linford counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
De Vito looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Linford shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Linford misses with a head kick.
Linford digs a good hook to De Vito's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Vito takes one to the chin there.
Linford scores with a jab to the jaw.
De Vito shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Linford misses with the combination.
De Vito shoots in looking for a takedown. Linford tries to sprawl out of it but De Vito keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Linford manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Linford works the jab nicely.
De Vito with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Linford to score with a decent uppercut.
De Vito dodges the punch combination from Linford.
Linford pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Linford misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linford throws a combination but it was largely blocked by De Vito.
Linford throws a combination but it was largely blocked by De Vito.
Linford lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but De Vito circles away quickly and effectively.
De Vito doesn't manage to clinch there - Linford circles away.
A left lands for Linford.
De Vito showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Linford.
Linford looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Linford lands a jab to the head.
Irwin Linford seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Linford lands a nice shot that snaps De Vito's head back.
De Vito shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Linford pinned against the cage. Linford gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John De Vito. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Linford goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's four 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.
Linford throws out a leg kick but De Vito moves out of range and Linford only half commits.
Linford works over De Vito's head and body with a nice combination.
Linford throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Linford tries to land a leg kick but De Vito saw it coming and moves away.
John De Vito is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Linford lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Linford lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A punch combination from Linford misses.
De Vito has his takedown stuffed
and Linford counters with a straight right hand.
Linford scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Linford lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but De Vito circles away quickly and effectively.
Linford will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Linford swinging wildly here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Irwin Linford.
I think Linford has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Irwin Linford!