PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Barzakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Phillips
vs
Barzakov

177 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
164 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid 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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brandon Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Barzakov!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barzakov feints and as Phillips raises his hands in defense, Barzakov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Phillips wants to get back to his feet but Barzakov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Barzakov wants to control from the top but Phillips keeps moving.
Barzakov throws a big right hand that misses.
Phillips wants to stand but Barzakov is controlling the position.
Phillips wants to sweep but no luck.
Phillips throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barzakov stays in close to Phillips's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Phillips clinches up with Barzakov and pushes him back against the cage.
Barzakov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Phillips gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Barzakov jumps guard but Phillips stands there with Barzakov around his waist. Barzakov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barzakov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Barzakov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Brandon Phillips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Barzakov.
A nice right hand lands inside from Phillips.
Barzakov jumps guard but Phillips stands there with Barzakov around his waist. Barzakov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Phillips throws a knee to the head but misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Phillips.
Knees in the clinch landing for Phillips.
Phillips misses with a body punch.

Barzakov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Barzakov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Phillips. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Phillips missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barzakov is on top in guard.
Barzakov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Barzakov wants to control from the top but Phillips keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barzakov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Phillips kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phillips is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Barzakov landing with the ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Phillips is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barzakov is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Barzakov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Phillips's guard.
Phillips is breathing heavily.
Barzakov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Barzakov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Phillips bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barzakov's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barzakov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Phillips wants to get up but he can't break Barzakov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Barzakov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Phillips preventing the sweep.
Barzakov is controlling Phillips's posture.
Phillips preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips tries to stand but Barzakov is controlling from the bottom.
Barzakov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Barzakov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Phillips circles away.

Barzakov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Barzakov lands in his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barzakov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Phillips wants to get back to his feet but Barzakov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Barzakov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Barzakov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Phillips misses with a series of wild punches.
Barzakov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Phillips chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Barzakov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Phillips.
Barzakov shoots for a double leg takedown but Phillips sprawls well. He's pushed Barzakov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Phillips fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barzakov swats away the attempt to clinch by Phillips.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Phillips.
Phillips goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Barzakov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Phillips as he avoids it easily.
Brandon Phillips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Barzakov.
Phillips feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Barzakov's calf.
Barzakov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Phillips.
Phillips looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A chopping leg kick lands by Phillips.
Phillips lands with a slapping head kick.
Phillips tries to clinch up but Barzakov circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Phillips fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Barzakov, pushing him back against the cage.
Barzakov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Barzakov is breathing heavily.
Phillips tries to land knees in the clinch but Barzakov avoids the damage to the body.
Phillips stalling.
Phillips lands a shoulder strike.
Phillips missing with knees to the body.

Phillips breaks from the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Phillips. No joy for Barzakov on that attempt.
Phillips stuffs the takedown.
Barzakov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Phillips scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Phillips is looking to clinch but Barzakov is avoiding it.
A combination from Phillips does no damage.

Phillips moves into the clinch.

Phillips breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Phillips lands a nice shot to the body.
A combination from Phillips does no damage.
Brandon Phillips is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barzakov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Phillips wants to clinch.
Phillips lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips throws a right hand that Barzakov ducks under and follows up with a left that Barzakov also avoids with ease.
Alexander Barzakov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phillips tries to land a front kick but Barzakov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Barzakov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Barzakov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Phillips pinned against the cage. Phillips gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Phillips.
Phillips connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Phillips tries a head kick but it misses.
Barzakov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Phillips's waist but Phillips gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barzakov off to one side.
Phillips lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Phillips throws a nice inside leg kick.
Phillips swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Phillips misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barzakov gets a takedown into half guard.

Phillips looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Barzakov lands with a punch from half guard.
Barzakov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Phillips gets full guard.
Barzakov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Phillips is looking to stand up but Barzakov isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barzakov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Phillips wants to stand but Barzakov is controlling the position.
Barzakov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Phillips dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Barzakov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Barzakov content just to control the position here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Alexander Barzakov just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Phillips tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Phillips tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barzakov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Barzakov takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Barzakov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice body punch from Phillips.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barzakov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Barzakov shoots in and drives through. Phillips sprawls well.
Brandon Phillips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Barzakov.
Phillips throws a leg kick which misses Barzakov's front leg but catches the back leg as Barzakov tries to avoid it.

Barzakov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Phillips regains full guard. Nicely done.
Barzakov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Barzakov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Barzakov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Barzakov controlling from the top position.
Alexander Barzakov has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barzakov advances position into side control!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Phillips is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Barzakov slows the pace down.
Barzakov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barzakov working the ground and pound.
Barzakov tries to advance to mount but Phillips denies him.
Barzakov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Barzakov connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Phillips some visible discomfort.
A lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Despite being in the dominant position, Alexander Barzakov just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Phillips throws a quick inside leg kick.
Barzakov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Some wild striking there from Phillips.

Phillips clinches with his opponent.
Barzakov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Phillips looking to slow down the pace here.
Barzakov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Phillips stalling the fight.

Barzakov has Phillips pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Barzakov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Phillips tumbling to the mat - Barzakov dives into Phillips's guard.
Phillips is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barzakov is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Barzakov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barzakov 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Barzakov!