PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Phil Flacco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Bradley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Bradley will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Flacco
vs
Bradley

180 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Phil Flacco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael Bradley!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bradley looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Bradley is stalling in the full guard.
Bradley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Flacco is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Flacco looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bradley trying to control but Flacco is working from the bottom.
Flacco is breathing heavily.
Bradley would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Bradley is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bradley is looking to work some ground and pound but Flacco has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bradley tries to free his leg and advance position but Flacco is retaining full guard.
Bradley controlling from the top position.
Bradley trying to control the position from guard on top but Flacco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bradley works over Flacco with some ground and pound from guard.
Flacco keeping moving, preventing Bradley from controlling successfully.
Flacco looking for a sweep. Not yet Flacco, not yet.

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.
Bradley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Flacco is keeping the position for now.

Flacco is working an open guard so Bradley takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Bradley lands a head kick. Flacco smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Bradley has taken the fight to the clinch.

Bradley drags the fight down to the ground.
Bradley is pulling down on Flacco's head to control his posture.
Bradley tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bradley looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bradley working a defensive guard here.

Bradley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Bradley throws his legs up looking for a submission but Flacco uses it to pass to side control.
Bradley prevents Flacco from improving position.

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.
Flacco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bradley keeps working.
Flacco is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Bradley will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Flacco throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bradley is not content to let Flacco control the position.
Bradley is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Bradley dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bradley rushes Flacco and presses him up against the cage.

Bradley has clasped his hands together around Flacco's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Bradley working away.
Bradley has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Flacco!
Bradley breaks from Flacco's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Bradley is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Flacco has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Flacco tries to lock up and control but Bradley gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bradley looking to finish Flacco with some ground and pound. This is bad for Flacco!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bradley looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
BOOM! Bradley connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Flacco is in all sorts of trouble here.
Flacco is in a horrible position here. Bradley smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Flacco wants to hold on but Bradley pushes him away.
Bradley trying to control but Flacco is having none of it.
Flacco slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bradley working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Flacco's thigh. Flacco counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Bradley is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Flacco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bradley gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Flacco is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flacco looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Bradley keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Bradley is staying active underneath Flacco, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bradley wants to get back to full guard.
Flacco trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bradley wants to get back to full guard.
Flacco not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bradley gets back to full guard.
Flacco 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.
Bradley wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bradley doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Bradley wants to stand up but Flacco is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Bradley 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. This is the final round!

Flacco keeps the fight on the outside.
Bradley goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Flacco avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Bradley closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Flacco to the mat! Flacco manages to get full guard.
Flacco not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bradley trying to control the position from guard on top but Flacco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bradley sitting in guard here, content to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Flacco wants to stand up but Bradley is controlling him.
Flacco might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flacco is trying to keep Bradley in close.
Bradley preventing the sweep.
Bradley is working Flacco over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bradley must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Bradley has gone for a leg lock! Flacco slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bradley's guard.
Flacco wants to control from the top but Bradley keeps moving.
Flacco tries to free his leg and advance position but Bradley is retaining full guard.

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.
Flacco would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Bradley pulls Flacco in close to his closed guard and prevents Flacco from doing any damage or advancing position.
Bradley thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Bradley wants to sweep here but Flacco controlling him for the moment.
Flacco stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bradley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Flacco wants to control from the top but Bradley keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Bradley gets the takedown into side control.
Flacco prevents Bradley from moving into mount.
A lull in the action here.
Flacco parries the strikes from Bradley easily there. Bradley is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Flacco to escape.
Bradley trying to control the position but Flacco is working away.
Flacco scores with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bradley working away.
Flacco sneaks back into half guard.
Flacco gets back to full guard.
Phil Flacco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Bradley decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Flacco misses with a takedown

and Bradley counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bradley.

Bradley works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Michael Bradley is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Flacco controls Bradley momentarily but Bradley frees himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Bradley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bradley has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Bradley!