PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jorge Linares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Come Away (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.

Linares
vs
Away

172 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
23
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Sportsmanship Ltd.

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, Jorge Linares!
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, Come Away!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Away closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Linares gets back to full guard.
Linares is looking to stand up but Away isn't so interested in that idea.
Away in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Away trying to control but Linares is working from the bottom.

Linares is working an open guard so Away takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Come Away seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Linares wants to clinch up but Away keeps it at a distance.
Linares tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Away counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Away will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Linares is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Linares moves out of range of the leg kick from Away.
Away tries to clinch up but Linares circles away and keeps his distance.
Away throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Linares's waist but Linares gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Away off to one side.
Linares circles away from the clinch attempt.
Linares seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Away slaps away a takedown attempt from Linares, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Away throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Linares's waist but Linares gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Away off to one side.
Linares moves in looking to clinch but Away pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Linares. Away shrugs it off though.
Linares slips a jab and a cross from Away.
Linares throws a nice looking combination but Away bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Away is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Away darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Away prevents Linares from standing back up.
Linares tries to roll over but Away keeps him under control.
Away is just content to waste time from the top position. Linares takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linares trying to keep a closed guard but Away is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Linares looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Away not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Linares has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Away can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Away sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four 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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Away trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Linares blocks the body kick.
Away misses with a two punch combination.
Away swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Come Away dominated that 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.

Away takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Linares gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Linares manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Away is looking to take this one to the mat.

Linares pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Away bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Linares explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Away tries a head kick but it misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A combination from Away does no damage.

Linares rushes Away and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Away tries to throw a body punch but Linares avoids it by throwing Away back against the cage.
Linares leaning his opponent against the cage.
Away jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Linares walks away with a smile on his face. Away gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Away.
Linares is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Away.
Jorge Linares has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Come Away.
Linares fails in his attempt to clinch.

Linares instigates a clinch.
Linares jumps guard but Away stands there with Linares around his waist. Linares gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Linares has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Away jumps guard but Linares stands there with Away around his waist. Away gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Linares is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Away to keep the fight standing.

Linares's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Linares throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Away tries to clinch there but Linares circles away.
As Away tries to get set, Linares tries to push him back and clinch up but Away manages to avoid the attempt.
A nice combination there by Linares.
Linares avoids the head kick by Away.
Linares tries to clinch up but Away circles away and keeps his distance.
Away takes a swing at Linares's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Away is looking to clinch.
Linares tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Away counters with a nice body shot.
Linares tries to clinch there but Away circles away.

Away gets caught flat footed, as Linares shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Linares postures up in Away's guard and throws a big left but Away blocks it.

Away looking for subs off his back but Linares has passed one foot through into half guard.
Away is breathing heavily.
Linares thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Away is looking to escape.
Away wants to improve his position but Linares is controlling well.
Away is looking to control Linares's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Away avoid being mounted?
Linares not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Linares trying to control the action but Away is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorge Linares dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Away closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Away lands in his opponent's guard.
Linares is trying to control the position but Away postures up.
Away looking to sit in guard and control but Linares gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Linares wants to stand and escape but instead Away has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Away decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Linares tries to close the distance and clinch but Away swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Come Away seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Linares tries for a takedown but Away sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Linares lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Away has a takedown stuffed.
Linares drops down looking for a counter takedown but Away sprawls and moves away.

Away decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Linares is trying to stand up here but Away is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linares on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Away is keen to just control but Linares is a slippery customer.
Linares is pressing down on Away's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Away takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Linares controls Away momentarily but Away frees himself.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Away misses with a few strikes there.
Away throws a body kick that misses.
Away is looking to clinch.
Linares blocks a head kick by Away.
As Away looks to move away, Linares throws a big counter combo bu Away just gets out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linares doesn't manage to clinch there - Away circles away.
Linares is looking to clinch.

Linares gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Away trying to control the position from guard on top but Linares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Away tries to free his leg and advance position but Linares is retaining full guard.

Linares throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Away trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linares tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Linares has his feet on Away's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Linares shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Away but Away pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Away drives through with a takedown into Linares's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Away is pushing down on Linares's leg trying to pass to half guard. Linares is fighting to maintain full guard but Away has managed to sneak the leg through.

And that's the end of the fight!
Come Away comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Away 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Come Away!