PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Elite (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Knight
vs
Elite

179 cm
25
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
171 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shawn Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, The Elite!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Eliza Hachem and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Elite closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Knight's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Knight wants to stand up but Elite is controlling him.
Elite controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Elite really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Knight. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Elite in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Knight wants to stand and escape but Elite is having none of it.
Knight is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Knight is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Elite is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Shawn Knight has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Elite closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
You can see the frustration on Knight's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Knight gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Elite is nestled in close to Knight, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elite scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Elite sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Knight defending well though.
Elite landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Knight is trying to stand.
Elite is thwarting Knight's attempts to control the position.
Elite controlling the pace.
Elite throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Knight trying to control but Elite postures up.
Knight makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Knight.
Elite with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight trying to control the position.

Knight had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Elite defends it easily.
Knight trying to control the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Knight is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Elite throws a strike but Knight rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Knight trying to control the position from guard on top but Elite is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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.
Elite wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Knight manages to pass to side control.
Knight is trying to control. Elite wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Elite trying to control but Knight postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Elite can do anything to dispel that myth.
Elite looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Knight is going to stand back up.
Knight wants to control but Elite is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knight is pressing down on Elite's thigh, looking to free his foot. Elite is holding on for now.

Shawn Knight has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Knight looks for a takedown but Elite sprawls well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Elite shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Knight sprawls well. Knight wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Elite gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but The Elite will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Knight.
Elite misses with a straight right.
Elite displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Knight.
Knight is trying hard to land a takedown here. Elite sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shawn Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knight leaves Elite with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shawn Knight seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Knight is defended easily by Elite.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Elite as he jumps to the side.
Elite misses with a takedown attempt - Knight sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Elite looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Knight.
Elite shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Elite on the side of the head.
Knight shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Elite but Elite pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Knight looks for a takedown but Elite sprawls well.
Elite looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Knight has a takedown stuffed.
Knight scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Elite's waist but Elite gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Knight off to one side.

Elite drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Knight can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Elite controls the pace.
Elite looking to sit in guard and control but Knight gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Knight is pushing down on Elite's leg trying to pass to half guard. Elite is fighting to maintain full guard but Knight has managed to sneak the leg through.
Knight passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Elite!
Elite wants to hold on but Knight pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight looking to control but Elite is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knight avoids the attempt from Elite to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Shawn Knight will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Knight shoots in and drives through. Elite sprawls well.
Knight is looking to clinch but Elite is avoiding it.

Elite fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Knight to the ground. Elite is now in Knight's guard.
Elite preventing the sweep.

Knight throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Knight escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Elite gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Elite lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elite working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Elite lands a couple of digs.
Elite tries to free his leg and advance position but Knight is retaining full guard.
Elite throwing strikes but missing.
Knight is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Elite throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Elite is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Elite must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Elite postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Elite scoring with some ground and pound.
Elite is in close to Knight's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Knight is trying to control the position but Elite postures up.
Elite looking to sit in guard and control but Knight gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Knight trying to control but Elite is working from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Knight gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Knight keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Elite.

Elite throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Knight was covering up waiting for the punch and Elite finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Elite is controlling him.
Elite stands up over Knight, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Knight avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Elite wants to control from the top but Knight keeps moving.
Knight manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Knight is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Elite is surviving well by controlling Knight's body position as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Elite is looking to escape.
Elite is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
The Elite comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Elite 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... The Elite!