PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dr Dre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Briggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Briggs will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Dre
vs
Briggs

155 cm
26
148 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

175 cm
26
142 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid 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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dr Dre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Briggs!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Michael Johnstone and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Briggs shoots in for a takedown but Dre shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Briggs dives in and scores a takedown into Dre's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Briggs throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dre works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dre manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Briggs tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Briggs avoids a series of strikes thrown by Dre.
Dre definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Briggs wants to hold on but Dre pushes him away.
Dre wants to control the pace but Briggs is squirming around nicely.

Dre looking for a guillotine from mount but Briggs is having none of it.
Briggs wants to control but Dre is having none of it.
Briggs regains half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Dre is looking for submissions but instead, Briggs has regained full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dre looking to pass the guard.
Dre's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dre trying to control but Briggs is working from the bottom.
Briggs is adopting a defensive guard.
Briggs trying to control the position.
Briggs wants to stand and escape but Dre is having none of it.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. James Briggs wasn't active enough on the ground.
Dre misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The fighters circle momentarily. Briggs darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Dre closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Briggs's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dre trying to control but Briggs is working from the bottom.

Dre drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dre jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Briggs is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Briggs keeping full guard, as Dre tries to pass.
Dre might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Dre trying to control but Briggs is working from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dre preventing the sweep.
Dre trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dre trying to control but Briggs is working from the bottom.
Briggs manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dre manages to get himself to full guard.
Briggs is looking to work some ground and pound but Dre has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briggs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dre is keeping the position for now.
Briggs keeps trying to improve his position.
Briggs throws an elbow that misses. Dre uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Briggs's guard. Nice move by Dre!
We've been informed that Briggs has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Briggs looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Dre trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Briggs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dre with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Briggs controls Dre momentarily but Dre frees himself.
Dre looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Briggs trying to control the position.
Dre trying to control but Briggs is working from the bottom.
Briggs keeping full guard, as Dre tries to pass.
Dre trying to control but Briggs is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Good standup being displayed there by Briggs as he connects with a hook.

Dre 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. Dre is in Briggs's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dre slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Briggs gets back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dre throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dre wants to take a breather but Briggs is having none of it.
Dre performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
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 Dr Dre will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Briggs shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dre but Dre pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Briggs dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Dre closes the distance and clinches up with Briggs, looking for a takedown. Dre pushes Briggs against the cage but Briggs circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Briggs lands a jab to Dre's midsection.

Dre drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Briggs managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Dre.

Dre thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Briggs is looking to reverse the position.
Briggs keeping his opponent close.
Briggs is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Briggs struggling a bit here.
Briggs is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Briggs is trying to control Dre's posture but Dre avoids it.
Dre postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Briggs is looking to reverse the position.
Dre trying to control the action but Briggs is working from the bottom.

Dre tries for a kimura but Briggs is defending well.

Dre looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Briggs is trying to control Dre's posture but Dre avoids it.
Briggs is looking to reverse the position.

Dre tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Briggs manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Briggs regains full guard. Nicely done.
Briggs is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dre working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Briggs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dre wants to control from the top but Briggs keeps moving.
Briggs bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dre's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briggs being controlled here momentarily.
Dre is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Briggs is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Dre is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Briggs tries to roll over but Dre keeps him under control.
Dre throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Briggs is looking to control Dre's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Briggs avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dre thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Briggs's head.
Briggs works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Dre trying to control the position from guard on top but Briggs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dre sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Briggs's guard.
Briggs wants to control but Dre is keeping busy.
Dre scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Dre throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Dre seems to be looking for submissions.
Briggs wants to improve his position but Dre is controlling well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dre seems to be looking for submissions.
Briggs moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dr Dre will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dre is trying hard to land a takedown here. Briggs sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dre shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Briggs as he jumps to the side.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dre is defended easily by Briggs.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dr Dre. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Briggs leaves Dre with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Briggs shoots in and bounces Dre off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Briggs in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Briggs tries to free his leg and advance position but Dre is retaining full guard.
Dre on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dre tries to get out of the position.
Briggs trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Dre manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Briggs is on top in guard.
Dre avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Briggs trying to control the position from guard on top but Dre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dr Dre overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Briggs throws a big elbow that misses.
Briggs tries to free his leg and advance position but Dre is retaining full guard.
Dre is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dre keeping full guard, as Briggs tries to pass.
Briggs scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dre is trying to keep Briggs in close.
Briggs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dre is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Briggs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Briggs missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Briggs pushes down on Dre's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Dre blocking the ground and pound attempt from Briggs.
Dre moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briggs loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dre keeping full guard, as Briggs tries to pass.
Briggs postures up in Dre's guard and throws a big left but Dre blocks it.
Briggs trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dre trying to control the position.
Briggs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dre is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Briggs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
James Briggs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

Dre is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Briggs is aware though and is defending well.
Briggs with a flurry of punches that miss.
Briggs trying to control the position from guard on top but Dre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Briggs is looking to work some ground and pound but Dre has wrist control.
Briggs wants to pass the guard but Dre is keeping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Briggs throws a strike but Dre rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Dr Dre is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dre prevents Briggs from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Briggs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dre has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dr Dre!
Dr Dre decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.