PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thioon Phitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Keane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Phitch
vs
Keane

174 cm
30
163 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

186 cm
35
180 lbs
19 - 26 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thioon Phitch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roy Keane!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Keane looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Roy Keane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phitch tries to close the distance and clinch up but Keane swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Phitch throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Keane tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Phitch swivels and escapes.
Keane changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Phitch tries to avoid it but Keane manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Phitch to the ground. Phitch escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Phitch misses with a hook.
Phitch looks to throw the jab but Keane is out of range.
No luck for Keane with that takedown attempt.
Phitch appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Thioon Phitch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roy Keane.

Phitch tries to sprawl but Keane drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Keane is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Keane is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Keane wants to work for an arm triangle but Phitch is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Keane seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phitch controlling the position well.
Phitch gets full guard.

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

Phitch trying to control but Keane is working from the bottom.

Keane working for a triangle but Phitch defends it easily.

Keane working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Phitch doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Phitch manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Phitch trying to stand up but can't free himself from Keane's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Keane looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Phitch might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Phitch is looking to stand up but Keane won't let him.
Phitch slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Keane tries to bench press Phitch off him but Phitch keeps the position.
Phitch advances to mount.
Keane is trying desperately to improve position.
Phitch takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keane is looking to get to half guard.
Phitch content just to control the position here.
Keane is trying to escape the mount.
Phitch controlling the position easily from mount.
Keane really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Phitch sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Phitch continues to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keane is working to get back to half guard.
Phitch controlling his opponent.
Phitch prevents Keane from getting the reversal.
Phitch controlling from the full mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Keane is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thioon Phitch dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Keane shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Phitch napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Keane is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Phitch has escaped the position, nice work there.
Roy Keane has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

Keane is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Phitch has escaped the position, nice work there.
Phitch is trying to get back to half guard.

Keane is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Phitch knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Keane tries for a kimura but Phitch is defending well.
Phitch is trying to control Keane's posture but Keane avoids it.

Keane tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Keane has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Phitch is looking for a sweep.
Phitch is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Keane off and has taken his back!
Keane tries to escape but Phitch has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Phitch is riding his opponent, not letting Keane buck him off.
Keane is really stuck here.
Phitch has good solid back control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keane tries to escape but Phitch has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Phitch is trying to stick to Keane's back but Keane is turning into Phitch. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Phitch's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Keane.
Keane stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Phitch swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Phitch bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Keane's guard.

Keane is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Phitch is aware though and is defending well.
Phitch forces his way into half guard.
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!
Phitch tries to stand but can't do so whilst Keane controls his leg.

Phitch decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Keane scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Phitch tries to buck Keane off but Keane is having none of it.

Keane tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Keane wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Phitch, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Keane wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Phitch, who protects the arm well.
Phitch is looking to reverse the position.
Phitch gets back to half guard.
Phitch is trying to stand.

Phitch kicks Keane off and gets back to his feet.
Thioon Phitch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Keane is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Phitch.
Keane tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Phitch defends well and Keane ends up having to push Phitch into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keane closes the distance and clinches up with Phitch, looking for a takedown. Keane pushes Phitch against the cage but Phitch circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Phitch here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Phitch bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Phitch throws a right hand that Keane ducks under and follows up with a left that Keane also avoids with ease.

Keane closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Phitch did well to prevent Keane getting side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Keane seems to be looking for submissions.
Keane prevents Phitch from standing back up.
Phitch makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Phitch.
Phitch wants to stand up but Keane is controlling him.
Keane looking to pass the guard.
Phitch tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Keane is pushing down on Phitch's leg trying to pass to half guard. Phitch is fighting to maintain full guard but Keane has managed to sneak the leg through.
Phitch has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Keane is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Roy Keane will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Keane is looking to clinch.
Phitch keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Phitch throws a lazy right hand but Keane sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Phitch misses with an uppercut. Keane saw that one coming.
Keane is trying hard to land a takedown here. Phitch sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A little feinted left hand from Phitch on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Phitch has managed to clinch.
Phitch scores with a nice hook to the head.
Phitch is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Keane can do to turn this around?
Keane scores with a shoulder strike.
Keane jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Phitch walks away with a smile on his face. Keane gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Thioon Phitch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roy Keane.
Keane tries to move into range but Phitch moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Keane dives in and scores a takedown into Phitch's guard.
Keane trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phitch is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Phitch content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phitch has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Phitch sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Keane is trying to escape the mount.
Phitch controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keane working to try and regain half guard.
Phitch takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Keane is in all sorts of trouble here.
Phitch trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Phitch controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keane is looking to improve his position but Phitch isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phitch sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Phitch can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Keane is looking to escape.
Keane working to try and regain half guard.

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.
Phitch controlling from mount.
Keane is in all sorts of trouble here.
Keane slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Keane manages to get to full guard.
Phitch wants to stand but Keane has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thioon Phitch showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Phitch 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thioon Phitch!