PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Denis Opal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and That Guy (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.

Opal
vs
Guy

156 cm
30
135 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

175 cm
27
135 lbs
17 - 13 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Denis Opal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, That Guy!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Donald Grub and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Guy is predictable there

and Opal counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Opal.
Guy wants to sweep but no luck.

Guy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Opal defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Guy controls Opal momentarily but Opal frees himself.
Guy keeping moving, preventing Opal from controlling successfully.
Guy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Opal wants to control from the top but Guy keeps moving.
Opal wants to get up but he can't break Guy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Guy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Opal defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Guy looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Opal passes into half guard.
Guy trying to control but Opal postures up.
Guy is refusing to be controlled, as Opal sits in half guard.
Guy trying to control here.

Guy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Opal is trying to control the action in half guard but Guy is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guy punching from the bottom.

Opal seems to be looking for submissions.
Opal moves into full mount! Guy won't be happy about that!
Guy wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Guy staying busy and making it hard for Opal to control.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Guy wants to escape the position.
Guy breaks Opal's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Guy is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Guy is looking to stand up but Opal won't let him.
Opal is trying to keep Guy in close.

Guy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guy postures up.
Guy throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Guy makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Guy loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Opal trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Guy postures up and lands a big shot to Opal's brow.
Guy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Opal's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Guy accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Opal keeping moving, preventing Guy from controlling successfully.
Opal working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Guy.
Opal preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Guy wants to get up but he can't break Opal's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Opal throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Opal managing to control the position.
Guy is looking to advance position but Opal has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Guy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Opal takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Denis Opal 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.

Guy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Opal avoids it really well and circles away.
Opal looks for a takedown but Guy sprawls well.
Denis Opal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Opal drives through and clinches with Guy against the cage.

Opal works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Guy wants to sweep here but Opal controlling him for the moment.
Opal wanted to stand there but Guy had control of the position.
Guy keeping moving, preventing Opal from controlling successfully.
Denis Opal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guy is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Opal dives into side control.
Guy tries to improve position but can't.
Opal trying to control the position but Guy is working away.
Guy is looking for a sweep.
Opal is chipping away with strikes.
Guy gets back to half guard.
Guy is trying to stand up here but Opal is controlling him well.
Opal is keen to just control but Guy is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opal not doing much here.
Guy tries to roll over but Opal keeps him under control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Denis Opal wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Guy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Opal pinned against the cage. Opal gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Guy lets loose with a powerful body kick. Opal will feel that in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opal tries to clinch there but Guy circles away.
Guy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Denis Opal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of That Guy.
Guy misses with the combination.

Opal has managed to clinch.
Opal throws an elbow that misses.
Opal drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Guy gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Opal is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Guy is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guy keeps control of Opal as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Opal is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Guy to keep the fight standing.
Opal stops a takedown attempt from Guy.

Opal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Guy darts in and clinches Opal up against the cage.

Opal is trying to trip Guy. He has hold of a leg but Guy is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Opal persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Guy trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Guy is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Opal trying to control but Guy is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Opal sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Opal dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Opal doesn't manage to clinch there - Guy circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Opal.
Guy slaps away a takedown attempt from Opal, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Opal throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Guy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Opal throws a lazy right hand but Guy sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
No joy there for Guy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Opal scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guy is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Opal is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Opal looking to control but Guy is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Opal controlling from mount.

Opal moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Guy has worked his arm free - good work by Guy!
Guy wants to control but Opal postures up.
Guy tries to bench press Opal off him but Opal keeps the position.
Guy is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Opal's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Guy trying to control but Opal postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guy wants to get back to full guard.

Guy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Opal seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Guy does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Opal seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Guy makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Guy.

Guy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Opal defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Guy is keeping the position for now.
Opal forces his way into half guard.
Opal is thwarting Guy's attempts to control the position.

Guy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Opal controlling the action here.
Opal is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Opal is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Guy sees it coming and defends easily.
Guy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Opal is working away from the top position though.
Opal blocks the strikes from Guy.
Guy is trying to maintain the position but Opal is very close to passing his half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Opal in particular looking to stall.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Opal has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
That Guy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Denis Opal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Guy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Opal pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Denis Opal.
Well Opal has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denis Opal!