PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Antonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dereck Catone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Alexei Antonov has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Alexei Antonov seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Antonov
vs
Catone

178 cm
25
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

176 cm
23
140 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Brawler
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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alexei Antonov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dereck Catone!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jorge Garcia and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Antonov tries to clinch up but Catone circles away and keeps his distance.
Catone looks to land a left hand but Antonov moved out of range nicely.
Antonov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Antonov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Catone 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.
Catone cracks Antonov with a solid left hand.
Catone trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Catone is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Catone wants to pass the guard but Antonov is keeping the position.
Antonov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Catone on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Catone is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Let's hope that Catone has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Antonov blocks a head kick by Catone.
Antonov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Antonov scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Antonov enables Catone to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Antonov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Catone 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.
It looks like Catone might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Catone drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Catone jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Antonov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Catone is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Catone stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Catone shoots in looking for a takedown. Antonov tries to sprawl out of it but Catone keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Antonov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Antonov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Catone circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexei Antonov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Catone walks into a straight right hand from Antonov.
Antonov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Catone misses with the combination.

Antonov moves into the clinch.

Antonov manages to break the clinch.
Antonov throws a front kick aimed at Catone's knee but Catone avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antonov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
No joy there for Antonov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Catone closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Antonov to the mat! Antonov manages to get full guard.
Catone is stalling in the full guard.
Catone is pushing down on Antonov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Antonov is fighting to maintain full guard but Catone has managed to sneak the leg through.
Antonov is breathing heavily.

Catone decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Catone 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.
Catone sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dereck Catone dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Catone throws a right and a left that Antonov avoids nicely.
Antonov fails to land with a series of punches.
Antonov connects with an inside leg kick.
Antonov misses with a low kick.
Catone shoots in for a takedown but Antonov shows good takedown defense.
Antonov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Catone tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Antonov jumps guard.
Catone trying to control the position from guard on top but Antonov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Catone controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Catone stands up from Antonov's guard - Catone perhaps looking for a knockout.
Alexei Antonov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Antonov moves out of range of the body kick from Catone.
Catone tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Antonov defends well and Catone ends up having to push Antonov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Alexei Antonov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dereck Catone.
Antonov prevents Catone from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Catone prevents the takedown attempt.
Catone tries to pull guard but Antonov holds him up against the cage and eventually Catone drops back down to his feet.
Come on Catone - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Antonov tries to score a body lock takedown but Catone shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Antonov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Catone is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Antonov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Catone gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Catone looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Catone stalling in the clinch but Antonov improves position.
Catone is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Antonov to keep the fight standing.
Antonov jumps guard but Catone turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Catone is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Antonov is defending well for now.
Catone fails to pull guard.
Antonov can't get the takedown.

Antonov lands a takedown into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Catone is on top in guard.

Catone thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antonov wants to get back to his feet but Catone is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Catone passes Antonov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Catone in particular looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Catone thows a huge punch but Antonov dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Antonov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Antonov lands with a nice body punch.
Nice sprawl there from Antonov as Catone shoots in.
Alexei Antonov is winning the standup battle so far.
Catone pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A left lands for Antonov.
Antonov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Catone sprawls well. Catone wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Antonov gets slowly back to his feet.
Antonov shoots for a double leg takedown but Catone sprawls well. He's pushed Antonov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Antonov tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Catone counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Catone is pushing down on Antonov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Antonov is fighting to maintain full guard but Catone has managed to sneak the leg through.
Catone with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Catone wants to pass the guard but Antonov is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Catone is looking for a kimura but Antonov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Catone to get the leverage.
Catone is controlling the pace.

Catone is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Catone controlling the action here.
Catone wants to control but Antonov is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Catone wants to pass to mount but Antonov is defending the position.

Catone stands up out of the half guard.
Catone shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Antonov defends it nicely.

Catone shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Catone was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
You can see the frustration on Antonov's face as Catone controls the position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Catone is looking to take a break and control but Antonov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The strikes coming from Catone are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Catone slows the pace down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dereck Catone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Catone 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dereck Catone!