PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Merle Pace (ranked 24953 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Miguel (ranked 7670 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pace
vs
Miguel

174 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

225 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Merle Pace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jose Miguel!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Steven Brown and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pace is looking to clinch but Miguel is avoiding it.

Pace gets a double leg takedown into Miguel's guard.
Miguel bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pace's guard.

Miguel trying to control the position from guard on top but Pace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miguel 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.
Miguel is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Pace has a closed guard, preventing Miguel from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Miguel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miguel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pace wants to stand and escape but Miguel is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miguel is working Pace over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pace preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Miguel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Miguel trying to control but Pace is working from the bottom.
Miguel landing some decent shots from guard.
Miguel wants to stand but Pace has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Miguel scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pace controls Miguel momentarily but Miguel frees himself.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Miguel darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Pace kicks off Miguel and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Miguel is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Pace's half guard.

Pace manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Miguel keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pace wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Miguel has him pressed against the cage.
Pace working hard to break the clinch.
Pace wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pace looking to stall.

Miguel pulls guard successfully.
Miguel is pulling down on Pace's head. It's preventing any offense from Pace, at least for the moment.

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

Miguel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miguel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Miguel drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pace looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pace looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pace!

You can see the frustration on Miguel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Miguel is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Miguel manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jose Miguel will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Miguel has Pace up against the cage in a clinch.
Pace misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Miguel.
Miguel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pace can't break the clinch.

Miguel pulls guard effortlessly.
Miguel is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pace preventing the sweep.
Miguel wants to stand but Pace is controlling the position.
Miguel is controlling Pace's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Miguel is on top in guard.

Miguel drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Pace dives on top into guard.

Pace postures up in Miguel's guard and throws a big left but Miguel blocks it.
Miguel is pulling down on Pace's head to control his posture.
Pace throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miguel pulls Pace in close to prevent any damage.

Miguel scrambles and gets back to his feet.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miguel wants to get back to full guard.
Jose Miguel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Miguel keeping control of the position.

Pace is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Miguel sees it coming and defends easily.
Miguel wants to control but Pace is keeping busy.
Miguel preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

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.
Let's hope that Miguel has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Miguel tries to get to full guard but Pace has control of the leg.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Pace has taken the fight to the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Miguel's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jose Miguel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Pace drives through with a takedown into Miguel's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Miguel is pulling down on Pace's head to control his posture.
Miguel bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pace's guard.

Miguel trying to control but Pace is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miguel landing some decent shots from guard.
Pace avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miguel wants to control from the top but Pace keeps moving.
Pace throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Miguel scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Pace utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pace is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pace keeping moving, preventing Miguel from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Miguel looking to sit in guard and control but Pace gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pace has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two 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.
Miguel wants to stand and escape but Pace is having none of it.
Pace loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pace preventing the sweep.
Miguel wants to stand but Pace is controlling the position.

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

Pace dives in and scores a takedown into Miguel's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Miguel is on top in guard.

Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pace keeping moving, preventing Miguel from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miguel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Miguel distracts Pace with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Miguel trying to control the position from guard on top but Pace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pace being controlled here, momentarily.

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.
Miguel wants to stand but Pace is controlling his posture from full guard.
Miguel slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Pace is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Miguel is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jose Miguel.
I've got Miguel winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jose Miguel!