PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Craig Bartholemew (ranked 5025 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cyriac Doumbe (ranked 3734 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Bartholemew
vs
Doumbe

180 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Craig Bartholemew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cyriac Doumbe!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Michael Johnstone and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bartholemew stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bartholemew wants it to stay on the feet.
Bartholemew pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Doumbe closes the distance and pushes Bartholemew back into the cage.

Doumbe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bartholemew connects with a body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bartholemew is defended easily by Doumbe.
Doumbe wants to clinch up but Bartholemew keeps it at a distance.
Bartholemew shoots in for a takedown but Doumbe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bartholemew tries to clinch but Doumbe moves out of range.
Bartholemew shoots in looking for a takedown. Doumbe tries to sprawl out of it but Bartholemew keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Doumbe manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Bartholemew. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Doumbe looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartholemew tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Doumbe lands a head shot.
Bartholemew throws a head kick but Doumbe moves out of range.
And Doumbe responds with a good body kick, but Bartholemew manages to step out the way in time.

Bartholemew scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Doumbe wants to improve his position but Bartholemew is controlling well.
Doumbe throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Doumbe is looking for a sweep. Bartholemew is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bartholemew throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Doumbe is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doumbe controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Doumbe wants to control but Bartholemew is keeping busy.
Doumbe wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bartholemew throws a predictable looking body shot
and Doumbe counters with a nice body kick.

Doumbe has managed to clinch.

Doumbe breaks the clinch.
Doumbe delivers a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doumbe tries for a takedown but Bartholemew sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Doumbe rushes Bartholemew and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bartholemew is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Doumbe is keeping busy.
Bartholemew is trying to force a seperation but Doumbe has the dominant position.
Doumbe tries to pull guard but Bartholemew won't allow it.
Doumbe tries to pull guard but Bartholemew forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Bartholemew pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Doumbe seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Doumbe avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bartholemew is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Doumbe not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bartholemew is trying to control the position but Doumbe postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Doumbe trying to control but Bartholemew is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyriac Doumbe dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Doumbe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bartholemew counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bartholemew takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Doumbe tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Bartholemew counters with a series of strikes. Doumbe will be more careful next time no doubt.
Doumbe tries to clinch up.
Bartholemew misses with a head kick.
Doumbe tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bartholemew sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Doumbe somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Doumbe misses with a combination

and Bartholemew counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Doumbe manages to break the clinch.
Doumbe fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bartholemew is defended easily by Doumbe.
Bartholemew misses with a takedown attempt - Doumbe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bartholemew is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bartholemew throws a head kick that misses
and Doumbe counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Craig Bartholemew is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bartholemew tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Doumbe swivels and escapes.
Doumbe looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Bartholemew. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bartholemew fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Doumbe to the ground. Bartholemew is now in Doumbe's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Doumbe lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bartholemew keeping moving, preventing Doumbe from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doumbe would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Doumbe is stalling in the full guard.
Doumbe is pushing down on Bartholemew's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bartholemew is fighting to maintain full guard but Doumbe has managed to sneak the leg through.
Doumbe is looking to take a break and control but Bartholemew is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Doumbe is taking a breather. Bartholemew says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doumbe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bartholemew blocking the ground and pound attempt from Doumbe.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Doumbe slows the pace down in half guard.

Doumbe stands up from half guard.
Doumbe connects with a high kick.
Nice sprawl there from Bartholemew as Doumbe shoots in.
An attempted straight right counter from Bartholemew misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemew stuffs the takedown attempt from Doumbe. Doumbe gets slowly back to his feet.
Bartholemew throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Doumbe's waist but Doumbe gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bartholemew off to one side.
Doumbe fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Doumbe lands with a thumping leg kick.
Doumbe misses with a series of wild punches.
Cyriac Doumbe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bartholemew shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Doumbe sprawls well. Doumbe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bartholemew gets slowly back to his feet.
Bartholemew sets himself, and Doumbe steps forward looking for the clinch! Bartholemew avoids it this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bartholemew misses with a two punch combination.
Doumbe fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cyriac Doumbe 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!

Doumbe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bartholemew tries to clinch but Doumbe is having none of it.
Bartholemew shoots in looking for a takedown. Doumbe tries to sprawl out of it but Bartholemew keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Doumbe manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Doumbe with a poor takedown
and Bartholemew counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Bartholemew clinches.
Bartholemew tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Doumbe is trying to pull guard but Bartholemew has him pressed against the cage.
Craig Bartholemew has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cyriac Doumbe.
Doumbe tries to pull guard but Bartholemew forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Doumbe tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bartholemew just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bartholemew tries to pull guard but Doumbe won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Bartholemew.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Bartholemew trying to land knees to the body.
Doumbe is looking to take this one to the mat.
Bartholemew is pressed up against the cage. Doumbe has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bartholemew down to the mat. Bartholemew avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Doumbe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bartholemew darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Bartholemew not doing much here.
Doumbe is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doumbe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bartholemew.
Bartholemew keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Doumbe is trying to get back to full guard.
Doumbe looks like he's trying to stand up.
Craig Bartholemew overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Doumbe has his hands clasped together around Bartholemew's back. He's all about the action.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doumbe fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bartholemew avoids it really well and circles away.
Bartholemew looks for a takedown but Doumbe sprawls well.
Doumbe appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Doumbe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Doumbe fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bartholemew tries to counter by clinching up but Doumbe breaks away and moves out of range.
Doumbe shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bartholemew as he avoids it easily.
Bartholemew attempts a counter takedown but Doumbe avoids it well and moves away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bartholemew is defended easily by Doumbe.
Doumbe tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doumbe tries to clinch but Bartholemew is having none of it.
Doumbe tries to clinch up but Bartholemew circles away and keeps his distance.
Bartholemew wants to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Doumbe. No joy for Bartholemew on that attempt.
Bartholemew throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Doumbe's waist but Doumbe gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bartholemew off to one side.
Doumbe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bartholemew's waist but Bartholemew gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Doumbe off to one side.
Doumbe misses with a takedown attempt - Bartholemew sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Doumbe shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bartholemew swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Craig Bartholemew has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cyriac Doumbe is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A combination from Doumbe does no damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Bartholemew showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Doumbe 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cyriac Doumbe!