PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jish Bratch (ranked 5837 p4p, 277 weight class) and Sammie Keith (ranked 5943 p4p, 284 weight class). Sammie Keith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bratch
vs
Keith

160 cm
25
143 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

160 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jish Bratch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sammie Keith!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

Bratch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Keith defends well.
Bratch is adopting a defensive guard.

Bratch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Keith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Bratch is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bratch working for a triangle but Keith defends it easily.

Bratch working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Keith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Keith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keith tries to free his leg and advance position but Bratch is retaining full guard.

Bratch looking for a guillotine here but Keith defends easily.
Bratch seems keen to control Keith's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Keith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bratch has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Keith has managed to get both his arms back between Bratch's legs - danger averted.
Bratch seems keen to control Keith's posture.
Bratch controls Keith momentarily but Keith frees himself.
Keith would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Bratch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Keith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bratch looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bratch throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Keith escapes and throws Bratch's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Bratch is trying to improve his position.
Bratch manages to work his way to half guard, despite Keith's best efforts.
Bratch is concentrating on defense, preventing Keith from advancing position.

Bratch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bratch manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bratch is keeping the position for now.
Bratch keeping moving, preventing Keith from controlling successfully.

Bratch working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Keith has passed into half guard!
Bratch wants to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bratch is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jish Bratch will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Keith swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bratch.

Keith moves into the clinch.

Bratch jumps guard.
Bratch managing to control the position.
Keith wants to stand but Bratch has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Bratch has an active guard here but Keith has managed to pass into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bratch is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bratch is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Keith jumps into side control!
Bratch tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Bratch tries to reverse the position but Keith maintains control.
Bratch is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Keith is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Keith looking to ground and pound but Bratch is blocking nicely.
Bratch is looking to improve his position but Keith isn't that keen on the idea.
Bratch sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Bratch is concentrating on defense, preventing Keith from advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bratch works his way to full guard. Good work.

Bratch looking for a guillotine here but Keith defends easily.

Keith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bratch has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Keith has managed to get both his arms back between Bratch's legs - danger averted.
Bratch is controlling Keith's posture.
Bratch is trying to keep Keith in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bratch wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Bratch is looking for a triangle but Keith pushes his legs off easily.

Bratch is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bratch has control of Keith's left arm, preventing Keith from doing any damage.

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.
Bratch wants to sweep here but Keith controlling him for the moment.
Jish Bratch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Bratch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Keith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Bratch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Keith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Keith trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bratch's guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sammie Keith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Keith lands a high kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammie Keith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bratch shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

It looks like Jish Bratch has been cut.

Bratch is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Keith sees it coming and defends easily.
Bratch thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Keith's head.
Bratch is thwarting Keith's attempts to control the position.
Bratch not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bratch throwing shots but Keith is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bratch looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bratch is trying to control. Keith wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bratch controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keith is not content to let Bratch control the position.
Bratch with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Bratch trying to control from half guard but Keith is working away.
Bratch trying to control the pace.
Keith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bratch.
Bratch keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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

Bratch clinches with his opponent.

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.

Keith manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Keith keeping moving, preventing Bratch from controlling successfully.
Bratch throws a big right hand that misses.
Bratch wants to pass the guard but Keith is keeping the position.
Bratch throws a strike but Keith rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Bratch wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Keith trying to control the position from guard on top but Bratch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bratch looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bratch has an active guard here but Keith has managed to pass into half guard.
Bratch trying to hold on to Keith's head to control him but Keith postures up.
Bratch is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Bratch trying to control but Keith postures up.
Keith looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bratch is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.
Bratch trying to control here.
Bratch is looking for a sweep. Keith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Keith is thwarting Bratch's attempts to control the position.

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

Keith tries to sprawl but Bratch drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Keith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bratch slows the pace down in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jish Bratch.
I think Bratch has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jish Bratch!