PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Justin Potter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Paterno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Potter
vs
Paterno

175 cm
21
130 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

166 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Justin Potter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joe Paterno!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paterno scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Paterno gets a clinch.
Potter blocks the elbow strike.
Potter's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Potter can't get the takedown.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Paterno.

Paterno decides to pull guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Paterno wants to stand but Potter is controlling the position.
Potter stopping the sweep attempt from Paterno.
Potter trying to control the position from guard on top but Paterno 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 one minute gone in the round.

Paterno has his foot on Potter's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Potter works his way back into a safe position though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Paterno can do anything to dispel that myth.
Paterno has his hands on Potter's head, controlling the position.

Paterno has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Potter can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paterno looking to control.
Paterno has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Potter moves to clinch but Paterno breaks away
and Paterno counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Potter tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Paterno manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Some bone on bone action there as Potter checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Potter is looking to clinch but Paterno is avoiding it.
Paterno takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Potter is breathing heavily.
Potter is trying hard to land a takedown here. Paterno sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Paterno gets a clinch.

Paterno manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Potter. No joy for Paterno on that attempt.

Paterno gets in close and instigates a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch on the inside from Potter fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paterno is looking for a takedown.
Paterno tries to score a body lock takedown but Potter shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Justin Potter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Paterno.
Potter lands a body punch in the clinch.
Paterno tries to pull guard but Potter forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Paterno keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Potter's efforts to push away.

Potter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Paterno misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Paterno scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Paterno fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paterno tries to clinch but Potter is having none of it.
Paterno stuffs the takedown.
Potter changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Paterno tries to avoid it but Potter manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Paterno to the ground. Paterno escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Paterno looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Potter is fending him off so far but Paterno persists. Nope, Potter circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown by Potter or perhaps it was just good defense by Paterno which made him look bad.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Paterno.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Potter is trying hard to land a takedown here. Paterno sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Paterno has Potter up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Paterno 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.

Paterno shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Potter defends it nicely.
Paterno shoots in for a double leg but Potter sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Paterno misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Justin Potter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Paterno.
A head kick misses from Potter.
Potter tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Paterno manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Paterno shoots in looking for a takedown. Potter tries to sprawl out of it but Paterno keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Potter manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Potter ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Potter gets tackled into the cage by Paterno. Paterno maintains the clinch.
Paterno is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Potter drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Paterno gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Paterno prevents a takedown attempt there.
Potter is trying to pull guard but Paterno has him pressed against the cage.
Paterno tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potter wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Paterno dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Paterno breaks from the clinch.
Justin Potter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Paterno moves into the clinch.
Paterno managing to block the knees to the body from Potter.
Potter is trying to pull guard but Paterno turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Paterno lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Paterno looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Paterno jumps into guard, dragging Potter to the mat.
Paterno pulls Potter in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potter postures up.
Potter throwing strikes from guard but Paterno blocks nicely.
Paterno trying to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Joe Paterno.
Potter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Paterno sprawls well. Paterno wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Potter gets slowly back to his feet.
Paterno shoots in looking for a takedown. Potter tries to sprawl out of it but Paterno keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Potter manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potter lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Paterno clinches.

Paterno breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Paterno throws a head kick but Potter moves out of range.
Potter misses with a jab, cross combination.
Paterno fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Potter avoids it really well and circles away.
Potter fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Paterno showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Paterno slaps away a takedown attempt from Potter, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Paterno will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Potter really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Potter is looking to clinch.
Potter will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
No luck for Potter with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Potter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Paterno moves into range and clinches up with Potter.

Paterno breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Paterno.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paterno throws a sloppy head kick and Potter moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paterno throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Paterno.
Potter throws a combination. Paterno tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Paterno closes the distance and clinches.

Paterno breaks from the clinch.
Potter misses with a series of wild punches.

Paterno drives through and clinches with Potter against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Paterno as the two fighters clinch.
Paterno is trying to drag Potter to the mat but Potter just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potter tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Paterno's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Paterno escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Paterno waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Potter.
Potter scores with a decent looking hook.
Potter stuffs the takedown attempt from Paterno. Paterno gets slowly back to his feet.
Potter shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paterno shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Potter but Potter pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Paterno avoids the head kick by Potter.
Potter shoots in for a double leg but Paterno sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Potter shoots in looking for a takedown but Paterno manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Potter's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Potter tries to keep at a distance but Paterno has taken the fight into the clinch.
Paterno is looking to take this one to the mat.
Potter keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Paterno's efforts to push away.

Potter has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Paterno uses from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paterno wants to control from the top but Potter keeps moving.

Paterno got a little sloppy there for a moment and Potter has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Paterno has managed to get both his arms back between Potter's legs - danger averted.
Paterno wants to stand but Potter is controlling his posture from full guard.
Paterno pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Potter is keeping the position for now.
Justin Potter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Paterno is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Paterno looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Paterno comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Paterno has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Paterno!