PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Al Deal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Knotts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brian Knotts has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Deal
vs
Knotts

198 cm
22
245 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

184 cm
20
220 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Al Deal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brian Knotts!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Deal looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Knotts throws a body punch but Deal moves out of range.
Deal shoots in and drives through. Knotts sprawls well.
Knotts jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Knotts misses with a two punch combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knotts looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Deal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Knotts is fending him off so far but Deal persists. Nope, Knotts circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Al Deal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knotts throws a nice looking combination but Deal bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Deal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Knotts is fending him off so far but Deal persists. Nope, Knotts circles away and we're back to standing.
A combination from Knotts does no damage.

Deal has managed to clinch.
Knotts can't break the clinch.

Deal pulls Knotts into guard.
Deal is trying to control the position but Knotts postures up.
Knotts throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Knotts is looking to stand up but Deal won't let him.
Deal on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Deal tries to get out of the position.
Deal doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Deal will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Knotts trying to control but Deal is working from the bottom.
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.
Deal throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Knotts swinging wilding here.
Deal shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Knotts as he jumps to the side.
Knotts misses with a wild combination.
Knotts tries for a takedown but Deal circles away easily

and Deal counters with a takedown into side control.
Deal lands a few punches from side control.
Deal working away.
Knotts has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Knotts is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Deal sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Knotts defending well though.
Knotts wants to get back to his feet.
Knotts works his way to full guard. Good work.
Deal tries to free his leg and advance position but Knotts is retaining full guard.
Knotts utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Deal scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knotts pulls Deal in close to his closed guard and prevents Deal from doing any damage or advancing position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knotts keeping moving, preventing Deal from controlling successfully.
Knotts is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Knotts wants to stand up but Deal is controlling him.
Deal keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Knotts's head.
Deal landing some decent shots from guard.
Knotts has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Deal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Deal in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Deal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Knotts controls Deal momentarily but Deal frees himself.
Deal makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Knotts thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Deal cracks Knotts with a solid left hand.

Knotts had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Deal is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Knotts Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Deal's back instead.
Knotts looks gassed!
I really don't envy Deal right now.
Knotts is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Knotts gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Knotts gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Knotts apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Knotts misses with a combination

and Deal counters with a nice double leg into side control. Knotts won't be happy with that.
Knotts is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Deal is controlling him well.
Deal wants to lay and pray for a moment but Knotts keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Deal scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Knotts to see if he's OK.
Knotts is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Deal working away.
Knotts tries to bench press Deal off him but Deal keeps the position.
Knotts wants to get back to his feet but Deal drags him back down.
Deal trying to control the action but Knotts is working from the bottom.
Knotts takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Deal tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Deal has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Deal is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Knotts is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Deal with the ground and pound but Knotts regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Al Deal dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Knotts misses with a jab, cross combination.

Deal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Knotts escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Knotts tries to clinch but Deal moves out of range.
Knotts misses with a jab to the body

and Deal decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Knotts's guard.
Deal works over Knotts with some ground and pound from guard.
Knotts trying to keep a closed guard but Deal is proving a slippery customer.
Deal is looking to work some ground and pound but Knotts has wrist control.
Knotts keeping moving, preventing Deal from controlling successfully.
Deal cracks Knotts with a solid left hand.
Deal scoring with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Deal's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Knotts is trying to keep Deal in close.
Knotts lands an upkick as Deal stands over him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knotts tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Knotts is trying to keep Deal in close.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Deal accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Knotts looking to control.
Knotts striking off his back but it's not causing Deal any problems.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Knotts misses with the combination.
Knotts is breathing heavily.

Deal looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Deal postures up in Knotts's guard and throws a big left but Knotts blocks it.
Deal has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Deal with a flurry of punches that miss.
Deal with a flurry of punches that miss.
Deal throwing strikes from guard but Knotts blocks nicely.
Deal is fighting to break Knotts's control of his arms but Knotts is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knotts wants to sweep here but Deal controlling him for the moment.

Knotts scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Deal fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Knotts is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Deal.
Knotts looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Knotts throws a right and a left that both miss.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Deal.
Deal fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Al Deal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Knotts.
Knotts misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Deal shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Knotts but Knotts pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knotts displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Knotts misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Deal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Knotts tries to clinch there but Deal circles away.
Deal fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Knotts misses with a body shot.
Knotts is looking to clinch.
Deal moves out of range as Knotts strikes.
Brian Knotts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knotts swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Deal decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Knotts's guard.
Deal working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Knotts's head.
Knotts working a defensive guard here.
Deal with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Knotts looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knotts is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Deal is controlling him.
Deal lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Knotts has momentary wrist control but Deal slips an elbow through the middle.
Knotts trying to control the position.
Deal with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Knotts looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Deal is fighting to break Knotts's control of his arms but Knotts is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Deal will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Deal postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Deal landing with the ground and pound.
Deal in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Deal postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Al Deal will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Knotts is looking to clinch but Deal is avoiding it.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Deal - that will leave a mark!
Knotts tries to close the distance and clinch up but Deal swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Knotts closes the distance looking to clinch

and Deal counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Knotts trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Knotts is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Knotts has momentary wrist control but Deal slips an elbow through the middle.
Deal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Knotts wants to get back to his feet but Deal is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Deal postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Deal with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Deal lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Deal landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deal tries to free his leg and advance position but Knotts is retaining full guard.
Deal scoring with some ground and pound.
Deal postures up.
Knotts preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Deal throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Knotts controls Deal momentarily but Deal frees himself.
Knotts looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Deal loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Deal showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Knotts.
Knotts tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Deal counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Knotts!
Deal connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deal pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Deal won't let Knotts get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Deal working the ground and pound effectively.

Deal looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Deal is landing with some decent strikes but Knotts is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Knotts tries to lock up and control but Deal gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Knotts working to try and regain half guard.
A nice elbow there by Deal.
Knotts tries to lock up and control but Deal gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Deal dominating with strikes here.
Knotts wants to hold on but Deal pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Deal is landing with some decent strikes but Knotts is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Knotts is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Deal lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Deal dominating with strikes here.
Knotts is wriggling around trying to escape.
Knotts wants to control but Deal is having none of it.
Deal cracks Knotts with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Knotts tries to reverse the position but Deal maintains control.
Deal looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Deal has hold of Knotts's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Knotts manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Knotts wants to control but Deal is having none of it.

That's four 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.
Deal scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Deal scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Knotts tries to lock up and control but Deal gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Deal landing strikes, looking to finish!
Knotts tries to hold on but Deal postures up.
Knotts is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
BOOM! Deal connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Deal punishing his opponent with strikes.
Knotts keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Deal pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Al Deal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Deal, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Al Deal!