PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Papa John (ranked 3172 p4p, 174 weight class) and Dave Brooksbank (ranked 4922 p4p, 470 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

John
vs
Brooksbank

170 cm
24
140 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

175 cm
31
160 lbs
8 - 17 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Papa John!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dave Brooksbank!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
John throws a nice inside leg kick.
Brooksbank pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Brooksbank swinging wildly here.

Brooksbank moves into the clinch.
John tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Brooksbank jumps guard.

Brooksbank is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and John defends well.
John looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brooksbank keeping moving, preventing John from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John preventing the sweep.

John has gone for a leg lock! Brooksbank slips out almost immediately though and dives into John's guard.

Brooksbank trying to control the position from guard on top but John is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
John trying to keep a closed guard but Brooksbank is proving a slippery customer.
Brooksbank slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
John controls Brooksbank momentarily but Brooksbank frees himself.
Brooksbank wants to control from the top but John keeps moving.
Brooksbank wants to pass the guard but John is keeping the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

John tries to keep at a distance but Brooksbank has taken the fight into the clinch.
John lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Brooksbank managing to block the knees to the body from John.
John lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Brooksbank takes an elbow to the temple.
John lands an elbow just above Brooksbank 's eye.
John stalling.

Brooksbank has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics John uses from the top position.
Brooksbank not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brooksbank wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and John is now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brooksbank makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Brooksbank.

Brooksbank looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
John controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
John wants to control from the top but Brooksbank keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dave Brooksbank will probably get the nod.
That's time! John's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Brooksbank closes the distance and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Brooksbank manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
John trying to control the position from guard on top but Brooksbank is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brooksbank pulls John in close to prevent any damage.
Brooksbank has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Brooksbank trying to control the position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Brooksbank holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Brooksbank has a closed guard, preventing John from standing up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
John wants to control from the top but Brooksbank keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
John keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from John. Brooksbank does a little dance to reset his feet.
John moves out of range of the body kick from Brooksbank.
John was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
John takes a swing at Brooksbank's ribcage but misses.
And Brooksbank tries to counter it with a takedown but John pushes his down on his head and steps out.

John clinches.

Brooksbank pulls guard effortlessly.

Brooksbank is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. John is aware though and is defending well.
Brooksbank is trying to keep John in close.
John is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Brooksbank isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. John stacks Brooksbank on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by John!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooksbank tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but John presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Brooksbank is looking to improve his position but John isn't that keen on the idea.
Brooksbank is squirming around, avoiding John's attempts to control the action.
John avoids the attempt from Brooksbank to control.

That's four 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.
John tries to control but Brooksbank wriggling away.
John tries to stand up but Brooksbank had a hold of his arm and he's managed to perform a nice reversal, into half guard.
John trying to control here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
John is staying active underneath Brooksbank, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Brooksbank showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

John clobbers Brooksbank with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Brooksbank misses with a jab, cross combination.
Brooksbank uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by John.
Brooksbank pulls out of a head kick attempt.
John tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Brooksbank was well out of range. Poor timing from John.
John ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
John ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Brooksbank moves away.

Brooksbank shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. John is trying to defend but Brooksbank finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
John trying to control from the bottom.

John looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Brooksbank wants to pass the guard but John is defending well.
Dave Brooksbank has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brooksbank is working for a kimura but John is defending it quite comfortably.
Brooksbank looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
John is looking for a sweep. Brooksbank is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
John tries to kick Brooksbank off but Brooksbank keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Brooksbank is just content to waste time from the top position. John takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Brooksbank trying to control the position from guard on top but John is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.

Brooksbank got a little sloppy there for a moment and John has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Brooksbank has managed to get both his arms back between John's legs - danger averted.
Brooksbank slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Brooksbank tries to move into full mount but can't pass John's legs.
John tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Brooksbank wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
John tries to get to full guard but Brooksbank has control of the leg.

John manages to escape and get back to his feet!

John tries to sprawl but Brooksbank drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Brooksbank passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for John!
John is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Brooksbank prevents John from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
John is just holding on here. Brooksbank manages to take his back.
Brooksbank controlling well, preventing John from escaping the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
John is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Brooksbank's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
John trying to control the hands but Brooksbank breaks the grip.
Brooksbank is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
John trying to control but not successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dave Brooksbank.
I've got Brooksbank 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight for Dave Brooksbank!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Dave Brooksbank!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Dave Brooksbank!

Dave Brooksbank wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Dave Brooksbank made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.