PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michel Collier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Freeman (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.

Collier
vs
Freeman

173 cm
18
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michel Collier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Freeman!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freeman throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Collier counters by clinching up.
Freeman is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Collier is defending well.
Freeman wants to break the clinch but can't.
Collier holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Freeman is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Collier ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Collier no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Collier has a closed guard, preventing Freeman from standing up.
Freeman landing with the ground and pound.
Freeman showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Collier is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Freeman is aware though and is defending well.
Collier looking to control.

Collier throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Freeman escapes and throws Collier's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Collier regains half guard.
Freeman lands strikes from half guard.
Freeman with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Freeman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Well, if Freeman is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James Freeman hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Collier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Freeman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Collier is looking to clinch but Freeman is avoiding it.
Freeman tries to clinch but Collier is having none of it.
Freeman has a takedown stuffed.
Michel Collier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Freeman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman misses with a takedown attempt
and Collier finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Freeman dives in for a single leg takedown but Collier sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Freeman has Collier pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Collier manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Collier looking for a takedown.
Freeman tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Freeman tries to circle away but Collier has him pinned against the cage.
Collier has Freeman pressed against the cage, preventing Freeman from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Freeman has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Collier after a bit of a struggle.
Freeman is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Collier to keep the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Collier looking for a takedown.
Freeman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Collier.
Freeman is trying to break the clinch but Collier is controlling him.
Freeman tries to pull guard but Collier won't allow it.
Collier is working for takedown but Freeman is calmly controlling the position for now.
The referee is keeping an eye on Collier - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Freeman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Collier is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Freeman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Freeman dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Collier thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Freeman if he has to take too many more of those.
Collier lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Michel Collier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Collier scores with a head kick.
Collier has his takedown stuffed

and Freeman counters with a shoot takedown. Collier fights it but they end up in guard.

Collier looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Collier working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Freeman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Freeman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Freeman stands up and waves to Collier to follow him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Freeman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Collier swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman throws a lazy head kick
and Collier counters with a head kick. That will keep Freeman thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Freeman moves in looking to clinch but Collier pushes him off.
Freeman is looking to clinch.
Freeman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Collier as he avoids it easily.
Freeman misses with a body shot.
Collier is looking to clinch but Freeman is avoiding it.
James Freeman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Collier blocks a head kick by Freeman.
Freeman throws a head kick that misses
and Collier counters with a three punch combo that has Freeman backing up. Freeman nods at Collier to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Collier shoots in for a takedown but Freeman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Freeman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Freeman keeps the fight on the outside.
Collier checks a leg kick.
Freeman shoots in and drives through. Collier sprawls well.
Collier moves in looking to clinch but Freeman pushes him off.
Freeman misses with a leg kick

and Collier moves into the clinch.

Collier has picked Freeman up - he's going for a ride! Collier dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Collier prevents Freeman from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Collier is looking for a kimura here.
Freeman manages to get to full guard.
Freeman controlling the position.
Freeman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Collier is controlling him.
Collier passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Freeman keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
James Freeman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Freeman pulls Collier in close to prevent any damage.

Freeman pushes Collier off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Collier displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Freeman.
Michel Collier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Freeman.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Collier throws a combination. Freeman tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Freeman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Freeman wants to clinch.
Collier lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Collier tries to clinch but Freeman is having none of it.
Freeman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Collier moves into the clinch.
Freeman tries to throw a body punch but Collier avoids it by throwing Freeman back against the cage.
Freeman wants a takedown.

Collier's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Collier circles away.
Michel Collier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Freeman.
Freeman misses with an uppercut
and Collier counters with a solid body kick.
Freeman misses with a combination
and Collier counters with a nice body kick.
Freeman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Collier counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Freeman is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Collier shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Freeman as he jumps to the side.
Freeman slaps away a takedown attempt from Collier, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Freeman is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Collier displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Freeman misses with a head kick.
Freeman tries to land a leg kick but Collier saw it coming and moves away.
Freeman tries to clinch up.
Collier throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Freeman's head.
Freeman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Freeman misses with a wild combination.
Collier stalks Freeman and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Freeman's face. Freeman staggers backwards, shaken.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Freeman misses.
Freeman tries to clinch up.
Collier misses with a takedown attempt - Freeman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Freeman misses with a takedown attempt - Collier sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Freeman shoots in for a double leg but Collier sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Collier looks for a takedown but Freeman sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Collier defends well and Freeman ends up having to push Collier into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Freeman is looking for a takedown.
Freeman is looking to take this one to the mat.

Collier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick from Collier lands but Freeman takes it in his stride.
Freeman misses with a body punch

and Collier moves into the clinch.
Freeman tries to land knees in the clinch but Collier avoids the damage to the body.
Michel Collier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Freeman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Freeman has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Collier is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

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 Michel Collier.
I think Freeman 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Freeman!