PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Irving (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Trap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Irving's entrance music is Reach For The Sky. A fine choice. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Irving
vs
Trap

197 cm
24
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
28
210 lbs
14 - 22 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Irving!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 22 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jon Trap!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Bruno Lombardi and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Irving decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Irving lands strikes from half guard.
Trap missing with punches from the bottom.
Irving thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Trap's head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Trap manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Irving has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Irving working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Trap manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Irving manages to get himself to full guard.

Trap wants to pass the guard but Irving is keeping the position.
Trap passes Irving's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Trap not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Trap sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Irving defending well though.
Trap looks to land a strike but Irving avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trap wants to control from the top but Irving keeps moving.
Trap connects with a couple of short punches.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Trap working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Irving pulls Trap in to control the position.
Irving preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Irving working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Trap.
Trap working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Trap missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Trap with a flurry of punches that miss.
Trap content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Trap throws an elbow that misses. Irving uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Trap's guard. Nice move by Irving!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irving won't allow Trap to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Trap is on top in guard.

Trap stopping the sweep attempt from Irving.

Trap postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Irving is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Trap, into his guard.

Irving throws a big right hand that misses.
Irving has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Trap bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Irving's guard.

Trap throws a strike but Irving rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

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!
Trap manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Irving manages to get himself to full guard.

Trap must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trap works over Irving with some ground and pound from guard.
Irving keeping moving, preventing Trap from controlling successfully.
Trap working some strikes from top position.
Irving lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Irving preventing the sweep.
Trap lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Trap content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irving avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Irving has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Trap has passed into side control.
An elbow from Trap crashes against the mat.
Trap cracks Irving with a big right hand but Irving just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Trap is looking to take a break and control but Irving is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Trap scores with punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Irving looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Irving postures up in Trap's guard and throws a big left but Trap blocks it.
Irving won't allow Trap to sweep him here.
Jon Trap has got the better of the ground game so far.
Trap preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Irving got a little sloppy there for a moment and Trap has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Irving has managed to get both his arms back between Trap's legs - danger averted.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Trap is on top in guard.

Trap throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irving is trying to keep Trap in close.
Trap throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irving is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Trap trying to control the position from guard on top but Irving is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Trap missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Trap throws a big elbow that misses.
Trap loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Irving preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Trap with a nice head shot there.
Trap trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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.
Irving keeping moving, preventing Trap from controlling successfully.

Trap is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Irving is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Irving has escaped and now he's on top!

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

Trap working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Trap working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Irving's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Trap accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irving preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Trap has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Trap lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Irving working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Trap.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Trap accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Irving utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Irving working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Trap.
Trap tries to free his leg and advance position but Irving is retaining full guard.
Trap postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Trap lands a couple of digs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Trap wants to control from the top but Irving keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trap content to stall in guard here.
Trap distracts Irving with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Trap landing some decent shots from guard.
Trap showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Trap wants to control from the top but Irving keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Trap showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Trap misses with a takedown attempt - Irving sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Irving feinted with a counter takedown.
Jon Trap seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Trap gets a takedown into half guard.
Irving tries to get to full guard but Trap has control of the leg.
Trap controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Trap missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irving wants to get back to full guard.
Trap throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Trap with the ground and pound but Irving uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Trap chips away with some ground and pound.
Trap looking to sit in guard and control but Irving gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Trap looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Trap is on top in guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trap trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Trap looking to pass the guard.
Trap loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Trap working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Irving working a defensive guard here.
Trap looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Trap throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trap postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Trap missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Trap in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Trap.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Irving.
Anthony Irving has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trap regains half guard.
Trap avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Irving.
Trap moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Trap is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Jon Trap is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Trap controlling the action here.
Irving trying to control but Trap postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Trap is taking a breather. Irving says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Trap comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Trap winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Trap!
An out of breath Jon Trap thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.