PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Briggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dr Dre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Briggs has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Briggs
vs
Dre

175 cm
27
142 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

155 cm
27
148 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Briggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dr Dre!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Ryoma Takatsuka and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dre bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Dre tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dre has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Briggs is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
My spies in The Dojo inform me that Dre has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Briggs is trying to buck Dre off.

Dre is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Briggs is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Briggs is pushing Dre's head away, looking to escape. Dre manages to hold on to the position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Briggs can't do much from the bottom here.

Dre tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dre has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Dre is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Briggs is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dre is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Briggs is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Briggs can't do much from the bottom here.

Dre thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Briggs is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Dre off and has taken his back!
Briggs doesn't have the hooks in and Dre manages to turn into his guard.
Briggs working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dre.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Briggs holds on and takes a little breather.
Briggs trying to keep a closed guard but Dre is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dre is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Dre wants to pass the guard but Briggs is keeping the position.
Dre looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Briggs bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dre's guard.

Briggs trying to control the position from guard on top but Dre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Briggs pushing down on Dre's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Dre won't allow Briggs to pass to mount.
Briggs thows a huge punch but Dre dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briggs is keen to just control but Dre is a slippery customer.
Briggs thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Briggs wants to free his trapped foot but Dre is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Briggs with the ground and pound but Dre uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Briggs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dre is keeping the position for now.
Dre working a defensive guard here.
Dre keeping full guard, as Briggs tries to pass.

Dre 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Dre is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Briggs wants to pass the guard but Dre is keeping the position.
Dre wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Briggs looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dre fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Briggs closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dre circles away.
Dre tries for a takedown but Briggs circles away easily
and Briggs counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dr Dre dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Briggs shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dre as he avoids it easily.
Dre will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dre will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dre gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Briggs counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
James Briggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dr Dre.
Dre stuffs the takedown attempt from Briggs. Briggs gets slowly back to his feet.

Dre closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Briggs did well to prevent Dre getting side control.
Briggs tries to kick Dre off but Dre keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Dre is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dre wants to pass to mount but Briggs is defending the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Briggs wants to get back to his feet.
Dre is looking to take a break and control but Briggs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Briggs is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dre's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dre's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Dre's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Briggs will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Briggs throwing damaging strikes from the back! Dre could be in trouble here!
Dre just trying to survive but Briggs is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Briggs scores with punches and elbows.
Briggs misses with a punch to the head.
Briggs cracks Dre with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Dre from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Dre has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Briggs.
Briggs misses with an elbow to the head.
Briggs scores with strikes from the back.
Briggs is punishing Dre with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dre covering up well under a series of strikes from Briggs.
Dre is covering up but some of the strikes from Briggs are getting through and doing damage.
Briggs thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dre avoids the strikes from Briggs.
Dre is trapped and Briggs is scoring with shots to the head and body.

Briggs is looking for a choke. Dre gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Dre manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Dre in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dre tries to free his leg and advance position but Briggs is retaining full guard.
Briggs is trying to control the position but Dre postures up.

Briggs uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Briggs shoots for a takedown but Dre saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Dre tries to sprawl but Briggs drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Briggs wants to pass to mount but Dre is defending the position.
Dre avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Briggs.
Dre tries to roll over but Briggs keeps him under control.
Briggs trying to mount his opponent but Dre defends it.
Dre makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dre.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Briggs trying to control the position from guard on top but Dre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Briggs working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Briggs trying to control but Dre is working from the bottom.
Briggs throwing strikes but missing.
Briggs scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Briggs shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Dre manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Briggs trying to move into half guard but instead Dre has managed to sweep!

Briggs manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dre manages to get himself to full guard.

Briggs with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dre trying to control the position.
Briggs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Briggs cracks Dre with a solid left hand.
Dre avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dre keeping full guard, as Briggs tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briggs postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Dre escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Briggs gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Briggs loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Briggs trying to control but Dre is working from the bottom.
Briggs missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Briggs being controlled here momentarily.
Briggs trying to control but Dre is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Briggs looking to sit in guard and control but Dre gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Dre wants to pass the guard but Briggs is keeping the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dre's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Briggs is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dre can do to turn this around?
Briggs wants to stand and escape but Dre is having none of it.
Dre looking to pass the guard.
Dre throwing strikes but missing.
Dre stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Briggs swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dre prevents Briggs from getting back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Dre has a takedown stuffed.
Dre on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Briggs shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dre is trying to defend but Briggs finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Dre regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Briggs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Briggs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dre looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Briggs looking to pass the guard.
Dre controls Briggs momentarily but Briggs frees himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Briggs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dre wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Dre controls Briggs momentarily but Briggs frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Dre gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Dre manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Briggs manages to get himself to full guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Briggs clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Briggs shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dre is trying to defend but Briggs finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Briggs trying to mount his opponent but Dre defends it.
Briggs throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Briggs tries to pass to full mount but Dre defends it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dre works his way to full guard. Good work.
Briggs throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Briggs with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briggs looking to pass the guard.
Briggs preventing the sweep.
James Briggs overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Briggs lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Dre keeping moving, preventing Briggs from controlling successfully.
Briggs trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Briggs looking to sit in guard and control but Dre gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Briggs looking for a sweep. Not yet Briggs, not yet.
Briggs wants to stand up but Dre is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dre is looking to work some ground and pound but Briggs has wrist control.
Dre missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dre trying to control but Briggs is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Briggs is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Briggs feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Briggs looking to pass the guard.
Dre has his hands on Briggs's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dre is continuing to stall.
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!

Briggs pulls Dre in to control the position.
Briggs is looking to stand up but Dre isn't so interested in that idea.
Briggs keeping moving, preventing Dre from controlling successfully.
Briggs preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Briggs wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Dre drops back looking for a leg! Briggs is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Briggs manages to kick Dre off! Dre jumps back into Briggs's guard.
Dre wants to control from the top but Briggs keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Dre shoots in looking for a takedown. Briggs tries to sprawl out of it but Dre keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Briggs manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dre shoots in looking for a takedown but Briggs manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dre's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dre tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Briggs swivels and escapes.
James Briggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dr Dre.

Briggs shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Dre is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Dre avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Briggs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Briggs had his way with Dr Dre in that round.
That's time! Briggs's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Briggs misses with the combination.
Dre changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Briggs tries to avoid it but Dre manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Briggs to the ground. Briggs escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Dre throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Briggs was covering up waiting for the punch and Dre finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Briggs keeping moving, preventing Dre from controlling successfully.
Dre missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dre landing with the ground and pound.
Dre stops Briggs from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dre trying to control but Briggs is working from the bottom.
Briggs is pulling down on Dre's head. It's preventing any offense from Dre, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dre keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Briggs's head.
Briggs trying to keep a closed guard but Dre is proving a slippery customer.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Briggs is on top in guard.

Briggs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dre is keeping the position for now.
Briggs makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dre is on top in guard.

Briggs manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dre manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dre keeping moving, preventing Briggs from controlling successfully.
Briggs postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Briggs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dre is keeping the position for now.
Briggs trying to control the position from guard on top but Dre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Briggs tries to free his leg and advance position but Dre is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briggs trying to control the position from guard on top but Dre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dre lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Briggs wants to sweep here but Dre controlling him for the moment.
Dre stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Briggs swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dr Dre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Briggs is pulling down on Dre's head to control his posture.
Dre is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Briggs not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
James Briggs is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dre trying to control the position from guard on top but Briggs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dre throws a strike but Briggs rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Briggs looking to sit in guard and control but Dre gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Briggs wants to sweep but no luck.
Dre's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Briggs is looking to stand up but Dre isn't so interested in that idea.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dre tries to free his leg and advance position but Briggs is retaining full guard.
Briggs preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Briggs is on top in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dr Dre.
Well Briggs 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Josh West scores the fight 48:47
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 48:47
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Briggs!
Our winner, James Briggs, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.