PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ping Pong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Amber (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.

Pong
vs
Amber

175 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ping Pong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liam Amber!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Pong looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pong looks for a takedown but Amber sprawls well.
Amber fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Pong looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Amber stuffs the takedown.

Amber closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pong quickly recovers to half guard.
Pong is looking to escape.
Amber sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pong defending well though.
Amber winds up and cracks Pong with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pong is looking to control Amber's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pong avoid being mounted?
Amber missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pong tries to get to full guard but Amber has control of the leg.
Amber throwing shots but Pong is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pong manages to get to full guard.
Amber wants to stand but Pong has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Amber throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pong looking to control.
Amber is looking to work some ground and pound but Pong has wrist control.
Pong is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Amber trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pong looking to control.
Pong wants to sweep here but Amber controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Amber pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pong is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.

Amber shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Pong napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Pong regains half guard.
Amber thows a huge punch but Pong dodges it nicely.
Amber throwing shots but Pong is blocking nicely.
Nice strikes from Amber there.
Pong trying to hold on to Amber's head to control him but Amber postures up.
Pong is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Amber is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Pong is pressing down on Amber's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Amber must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Amber has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pong is proving hard to escape from.
Amber throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pong preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Amber connects with a couple of short punches.
Amber is looking to work some ground and pound but Pong has wrist control.
Amber is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Amber looking to pass the guard.
Pong looking to control.
Pong wants to sweep here but Amber controlling him for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Amber lands with a shot to the body.

Amber manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Pong on his heels. He'll look to pass Pong's guard now, I'm sure.
Amber working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pong is trying to keep Amber in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amber throws a strike but Pong rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Pong looking to pass the guard.
Pong makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Amber avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Amber is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Amber really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pong. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pong scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pong throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Amber's waist but Amber gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pong off to one side.

Amber drives through with a takedown into Pong's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Pong is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Amber wants to control but Pong is keeping busy.
Amber has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Pong is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Amber is trying to stand back up but Pong is controlling him
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Amber trying to get back to full guard but Pong takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Amber throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Amber can't escape the position.
Amber is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amber is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Amber is looking to get to half guard.
Pong lands a nice shot to the head.
Amber is trying to escape the mount.
Pong fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
BOOM! Pong connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Pong is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Amber can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Amber is trying to stand up.

Pong is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Amber is surviving well by controlling Pong's body position as best he can.
Pong prevents Amber from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amber is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Liam Amber has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pong working the ground and pound effectively.
Amber tries to hold on but Pong pushes him away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Amber working to try and regain half guard.
Pong really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Pong raining down hammerfists from mount.

Pong has control of Amber's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Amber regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Pong 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.
Amber wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Amber throwing hammer fists to the chest of Pong. What's that going to do exactly?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amber is in all sorts of trouble here.
Pong landing strikes from the mount and Amber is in trouble!
Pong landing shots from mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Amber can do anything to dispel that myth.
Amber tries to lock up and control but Pong gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Amber is looking to get to half guard.
Amber swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Amber tries to buck Pong off but he can't manage it.
Amber tries to hold on but Pong pushes him away.
Amber's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Amber throwing hammer fists to the chest of Pong. What's that going to do exactly?
Pong postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Amber looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amber tries to hold on but Pong postures up.
Pong is landing with some decent strikes but Amber is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Pong lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Amber hang on?
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!
Amber throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Pong with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Amber flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Amber tries to reverse the position but Pong maintains control.

Pong working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Amber is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ping Pong dominated that second round.
That's time! Pong's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Pong is trying hard to land a takedown here. Amber sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Amber scores with a three punch combo!
Amber stuffs the takedown.
Amber throws a counter combo.

Amber closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Amber is trying to control the action in half guard but Pong is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pong keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pong is trying to get back to full guard.
Amber working the head and body with strikes.
Pong taking some punishment here, with Amber in his half guard.
Amber thows a huge punch but Pong dodges it nicely.
Pong is pressing down on Amber's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pong being controlled here, momentarily.
Pong is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pong avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pong keeping moving, preventing Amber from controlling successfully.
Amber is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Pong avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Amber pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pong is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Pong is trying hard to land a takedown here. Amber sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ping Pong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pong shoots in but Amber avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Amber lands a jab to Pong's midsection.
Pong takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Pong tries to sprawl but Amber drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Amber seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Amber wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pong keeps working.
Amber lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Amber is controlling the pace.
Amber thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pong on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Amber missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pong is looking to control Amber's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pong avoid being mounted?
Amber not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pong is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Amber scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pong trying to control but Amber postures up.
Pong wants to get back to his feet.
Amber thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pong's head.
Pong is not content to let Amber control the position.

That's four 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.
Amber seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Amber throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Amber throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Amber working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Amber is trying to control the action in half guard but Pong is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Amber scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Pong is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Amber's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Amber's back!
Amber is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Pong landing with strikes.
Amber is trying to stand back up.

Pong has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Amber has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

And that's the end of the fight!
Liam Amber comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Amber 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight for Liam Amber!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Ping Pong!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Liam Amber!

Liam Amber wins by split decision!