PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lynn Oneal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Middleton (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.

Oneal
vs
Middleton

176 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lynn Oneal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Luke Middleton!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Middleton dives in and grabs Oneal's left leg, looking for a takedown. Oneal pushes down on Middleton's head and hops out.
Middleton doesn't manage to clinch there - Oneal circles away.
Middleton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Oneal but Oneal pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Middleton takes a swing at Oneal's ribcage but misses.
Oneal tries to counter with a takedown but Middleton is quick to defend against it.
Oneal avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As Middleton tries to get set, Oneal tries to push him back and clinch up but Middleton manages to avoid the attempt.
Oneal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Oneal went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Oneal 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.
Middleton trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Oneal wanted to stand there but Middleton had control of the position.
Oneal controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oneal trying to control but Middleton is working from the bottom.
Middleton wants to sweep but no luck.
Middleton wants to stand and escape but Oneal is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Middleton moves into range and connects with a jab.
Middleton fails to land the takedown.
It looked like Oneal was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Lynn Oneal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Middleton.
Oneal swats away the attempt to clinch by Middleton.
It looked like Oneal was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A head kick misses from Middleton.
Oneal seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
No luck for Oneal with that takedown attempt.

Oneal throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Middleton was covering up waiting for the punch and Oneal finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Middleton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Oneal slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Middleton controls Oneal momentarily but Oneal frees himself.
Oneal wants to control from the top but Middleton keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.
Middleton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Oneal throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Oneal trying to control the position from guard on top but Middleton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Middleton misses with a head kick.
Middleton throws a head kick but Oneal moves out of range.
Oneal shoots in looking for a takedown but Middleton manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Oneal'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!
Middleton throws a wild body kick that Oneal sees coming a mile off.
Oneal seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Middleton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Oneal sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Middleton closes this distance looking for a takedown but Oneal circles away.

Middleton gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Middleton jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Oneal walks away with a smile on his face. Middleton gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Middleton lands a two punch combo.
Oneal displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Middleton.
Lynn Oneal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Middleton.
Oneal avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Middleton throws a right hand that Oneal ducks under and follows up with a left that Oneal also avoids with ease.
Oneal tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Middleton manages to circle out of the way.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Middleton.
Middleton is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oneal stuffs the takedown attempt from Middleton. Middleton gets slowly back to his feet.
Middleton misses with a leg kick.
As Middleton looks to move away, Oneal throws a big counter combo bu Middleton just gets out of the way.

Oneal shoots in and bounces Middleton off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Oneal working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Oneal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Middleton swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Middleton keeping moving, preventing Oneal from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oneal sitting in guard here, content to control.
Middleton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Oneal. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Middleton wants to stand and escape but Oneal is having none of it.
Oneal sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Oneal preventing the sweep.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Oneal trying to control but Middleton is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Oneal looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Middleton is trying to get back to full guard.
Oneal looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Middleton is trying to stand.
Oneal wants to stand up but Middleton is controlling the position.
Oneal not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Oneal content to control rather than advance.

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.
Oneal lands with a punch from half guard.
Oneal trying to control from half guard but Middleton is working away.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Middleton shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Oneal as he jumps to the side.
Oneal throws a big counter combination but Middleton scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
A combination from Middleton does no damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Oneal swats away the attempt to clinch by Middleton.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lynn Oneal dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Middleton moves in looking to clinch but Oneal pushes him off.
Oneal blocks a head kick by Middleton.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Middleton is defended easily by Oneal.
Middleton tries to land a front kick but Oneal steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Oneal is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Middleton can do to turn this around?
Oneal takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Middleton looks to land a combination but Oneal avoids it well.
Oneal went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Middleton tries to clinch up.
Oneal seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Middleton clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oneal wants a takedown.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Middleton takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Middleton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Middleton is looking to take this one to the mat.
Middleton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Middleton is trying to push Oneal away but Oneal has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Oneal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Middleton throws a leg kick but Oneal sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Oneal seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Middleton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lynn Oneal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Middleton.

That's two 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.
Middleton fails with the takedown.
Oneal throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Middleton's head.

Oneal scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Middleton is not content to let Oneal control the position.
Oneal moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Middleton tries to bench press Oneal off him but Oneal keeps the position.

Oneal decides to stand up, so the ref orders Middleton to his feet.
Middleton is looking to clinch but Oneal is avoiding it.
Oneal avoids the head kick by Middleton.
Middleton takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Lynn Oneal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Oneal throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Middleton tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Oneal is in Middleton's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Middleton wants to stand up but Oneal is controlling him.
Oneal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Oneal with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Oneal trying to control but Middleton is working from the bottom.
Middleton keeping full guard, as Oneal tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Middleton pulls Oneal in close to his closed guard and prevents Oneal from doing any damage or advancing position.
Luke Middleton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lynn Oneal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Oneal is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Lynn Oneal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Oneal, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lynn Oneal!
In defeat, Luke Middleton stepped up to the mic, saying 'Back to the drawing board, was always going to be tough my first fight, I hope to improve in the next.'.