PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aurora Borealis (ranked 4372 p4p, 407 weight class) and Red Cup (ranked 7560 p4p, 537 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Red Cup was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Borealis
vs
Cup

184 cm
25
173 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
30
183 lbs
6 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Aurora Borealis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Red Cup!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Borealis shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cup's guard.
Borealis throwing strikes from guard but Cup blocks nicely.
Borealis is looking to work some ground and pound but Cup has wrist control.
Borealis won't allow Cup to get back to his feet.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cup holds on and takes a little breather.
Borealis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cup wants to stand up but Borealis is controlling him.
Borealis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Borealis wants to control from the top but Cup keeps moving.
Borealis throws an elbow that misses. Cup uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Borealis's guard. Nice move by Cup!

Cup content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borealis wants to sweep here but Cup controlling him for the moment.
Borealis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cup stays in close to Borealis's body and controls the position.
Borealis is trying to keep Cup in close.

Borealis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cup engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Borealis trying to strike off his back.
Cup is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cup trying to control but Borealis is working from the bottom.
Cup stopping the sweep attempt from Borealis.

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.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Borealis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cup pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Borealis is keeping the position for now.
Cup passes Borealis's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Cup decides to stand up.
Cup throws a series of punches but Borealis moves out of range.
Cup throws a shot from downtown. Borealis moves away and avoids it.

Cup shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cup was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cup taking a breather here.
It looks like Cup might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Borealis manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Cup moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borealis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Borealis landing some decent shots from guard.
Borealis slips nicely into half guard.
Borealis throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Cup to regain full guard.
Borealis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Borealis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Borealis wants to pass the guard but Cup is keeping the position.

Cup is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cup keeping moving, preventing Borealis from controlling successfully.
Cup looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borealis throwing strikes from guard but Cup blocks nicely.
Borealis throws a strike but Cup rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cup sitting in guard here, content to control.

Borealis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cup is aware though and is defending well.
Cup preventing the sweep.
Cup advances to half guard.
Cup moves into full mount! Borealis won't be happy about that!
Borealis tries to lock up and control but Cup gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Borealis is in all sorts of trouble here.
Borealis gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Red Cup dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cup fails to land with a series of punches.
Borealis keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cup.
Borealis catches Cup with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Cup shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Borealis but Borealis pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Aurora Borealis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Borealis avoids the body shot from Cup.
Red Cup seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Borealis takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Borealis slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cup scores with a crisp jab that stopped Borealis in his tracks.
Cup takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Cup gets caught flat footed, as Borealis shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Borealis throws a big elbow that misses.
Borealis wants to control from the top but Cup keeps moving.
Red Cup has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cup is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Borealis throws a strike but Cup rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borealis wants to sweep here but Cup controlling him for the moment.
Cup looking to pass the guard.
Borealis trying to keep a closed guard but Cup is proving a slippery customer.
Borealis wants to sweep here but Cup controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cup passes Borealis's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cup keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Cup is looking to take a break and control but Borealis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Cup is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Borealis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cup trying to control the action but Borealis is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cup might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Borealis haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Borealis is trying to get back to full guard.
Cup not doing much here.
Borealis trying to control from the bottom.
Cup is keen to just control but Borealis is a slippery customer.

Cup is working for a submission of some sort.
Borealis is refusing to be controlled, as Cup sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borealis is looking to control Cup's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Borealis avoid being mounted?

Cup decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Cup throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Borealis drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cup sprawls and moves away.
Cup misses with a takedown

and Borealis counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Cup!
Borealis throws a strike aimed at the side of Cup's head but Cup avoids it well.
Borealis sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Cup is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Borealis has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Cup!
A nice elbow there by Borealis.
Borealis breaks from Cup's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Borealis prevents Cup from getting the reversal.
Cup is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Borealis lands a big shot there that rocks Cup but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Borealis looking to finish Cup with some ground and pound. This is bad for Cup!
Borealis landing strikes, looking to finish!

Borealis moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Cup has worked his arm free - good work by Cup!
You can see the frustration on Cup's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cup avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Borealis.
Check out the look on Borealis's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Borealis thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cup defending against the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aurora Borealis dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Borealis looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cup preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Borealis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cup is keeping the position for now.
Cup avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Cup has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Borealis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Borealis lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Borealis stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Cup has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Borealis manages to get his head free but now Cup has transitioned to an armbar! Borealis grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Cup! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Red Cup!
A victorious Red Cup thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.