PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick Briggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelio Garcia (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.

Briggs
vs
Garcia

183 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
32
185 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Red Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nick Briggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marcelio Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Briggs manages to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Garcia. Briggs does a little dance to reset his feet.
Garcia looks to score with a jab to the body but Briggs is just out of range.

Garcia looking to score a takedown here. Briggs is defending well but Garcia drives through and ends up in Briggs's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garcia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Briggs is keeping the position for now.
Briggs looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Garcia not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Briggs pulls Garcia in to control the position.
Briggs keeping moving, preventing Garcia from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Garcia misses with a takedown attempt - Briggs sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Briggs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia cracks a nice hook into Briggs's ribs.
Briggs with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Garcia to score with a decent uppercut.
Briggs shoots in and drives through. Garcia sprawls well.
Briggs dives in and grabs Garcia's left leg, looking for a takedown. Garcia pushes down on Briggs's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Briggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garcia misses with a low kick.
Briggs shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Garcia counters with a nice uppercut.

Briggs shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Briggs was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Briggs wants to lay and pray for a moment but Garcia keeps working.

Briggs tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Garcia is trying to control Briggs's posture but Briggs avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Briggs landing a few strikes.
Garcia tries to bench press Briggs off him but Briggs keeps the position.
Briggs trying to control the position but Garcia is working away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garcia tries to bench press Briggs off him but Briggs keeps the position.
Garcia wants to control but Briggs postures up.
Garcia is trying to get back to half guard.
Garcia is trying to control Briggs's posture but Briggs avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Garcia is not content to let Briggs control the position.
Briggs is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Garcia is looking to regain half guard here but Briggs keeps moving and retains side control.
Garcia taking punishment in the form of punches.
Garcia is trying to control Briggs's posture but Briggs avoids it.
Briggs trying to control the action but Garcia is working from the bottom.
Briggs is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Garcia is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Garcia struggling a bit here.
Briggs wants to control but Garcia is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Briggs just content to control the position.
Garcia is trying to control Briggs's posture but Briggs avoids it.
Garcia gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Garcia is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Briggs's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Briggs's back!
Garcia has the hooks in. Briggs is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Garcia lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Briggs hold on?!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garcia is landing with strikes. Briggs can't take much more of this.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Briggs manages to reverse the position and now he's in Garcia's guard. Nice work there by Briggs.
Garcia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelio Garcia dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Garcia chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Briggs shoots for a takedown but Garcia saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Garcia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Briggs manages to avoid it.
Garcia darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Garcia scores with a decent looking hook.
Marcelio Garcia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Garcia closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Briggs is not content to let Garcia control the position.
Briggs is being controlled here.
Briggs is trying to get back to half guard.
Garcia in side control, throwing shots but Briggs defends.
Garcia slows the pace down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briggs struggling a bit here.
Garcia slows the pace down.
Garcia throwing strikes but Briggs manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Garcia trying to control but Briggs flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

Garcia defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Briggs's arms.
Briggs wants to control but Garcia is keeping busy.
Garcia rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Briggs wants to lay and pray for a moment but Garcia keeps working.

Briggs is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Garcia sees it coming and defends easily.
Garcia is pressing down on Briggs's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Garcia has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Briggs can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Garcia is trying to control the position but Briggs postures up.
Briggs works a leg free and moves into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garcia has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Briggs is working away from the top position though.
Briggs frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Briggs putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Marcelio Garcia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Briggs trying to control from half guard but Garcia is working away.

Garcia looking for submissions off his back.
Garcia has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Briggs is working away from the top position though.
Garcia works his way to full guard. Good work.

Garcia has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Briggs can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Garcia looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Garcia is breathing heavily.
Briggs trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Garcia working for a triangle but Briggs defends it easily.
Briggs seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Briggs got a little sloppy there for a moment and Garcia has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Briggs has managed to get both his arms back between Garcia's legs - danger averted.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Briggs stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Garcia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelio Garcia 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! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Briggs fails to land the takedown.
Garcia throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice sprawl there from Garcia as Briggs shoots in.
Briggs throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Garcia's waist but Garcia gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Briggs off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Briggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garcia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Garcia stuffs the takedown attempt from Briggs. Briggs gets slowly back to his feet.
Briggs is trying hard to land a takedown here. Garcia sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Garcia throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Briggs tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Garcia is in Briggs's guard.
Garcia controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Briggs is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Briggs manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Garcia looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Briggs is defending well. Garcia quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Briggs has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Garcia celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Marcelio Garcia!