PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Phol Boxaaja (ranked 1168 p4p, 157 weight class) and Nejuis Bardamont (ranked 1331 p4p, 178 weight class). Phol Boxaaja had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Boxaaja
vs
Bardamont

180 cm
20
188 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
190 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Sportivité

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Phol Boxaaja!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nejuis Bardamont!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boxaaja uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bardamont.
Boxaaja changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Boxaaja throws a lazy right hand but Bardamont sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bardamont unleashes a big counter combination but Boxaaja bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Bardamont lands a jab to Boxaaja's midsection.
Boxaaja throws a body shot but no joy.
Bardamont appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Bardamont misses the body punch
and Boxaaja counters with a nice uppercut.

Boxaaja clinches up with Bardamont and pushes him back against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Boxaaja lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bardamont backwards.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Boxaaja.
I was talking to Boxaaja's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Boxaaja lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bardamont backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boxaaja avoiding damage.
Boxaaja stalling the fight.
Bardamont tries to break free but Boxaaja pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Bardamont's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Boxaaja goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Bardamont breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bardamont throws a right hand that Boxaaja ducks under and follows up with a left that Boxaaja also avoids with ease.

Boxaaja moves into range and clinches up with Bardamont.
Bardamont tries to break free but Boxaaja pushes him back against the cage.

Boxaaja successfully pulls guard.

Boxaaja looking for a guillotine here but Bardamont defends easily.

Boxaaja looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Boxaaja has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bardamont can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Bardamont got a little sloppy there for a moment and Boxaaja has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bardamont has managed to get both his arms back between Boxaaja's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Boxaaja is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Boxaaja is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bardamont is aware though and is defending well.

Boxaaja throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Boxaaja working for a triangle but Bardamont defends it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Boxaaja working for a triangle but Bardamont defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boxaaja keeping moving, preventing Bardamont from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boxaaja trying to control the position.
Boxaaja looking for a sweep. Not yet Boxaaja, not yet.
Bardamont pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Boxaaja is keeping the position for now.
Bardamont controlling from the top position.

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.

Boxaaja looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bardamont passes into half guard.
Bardamont wants to control but Boxaaja is keeping him busy.
Boxaaja wants to control but Bardamont is keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Boxaaja looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Boxaaja actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phol Boxaaja dominated that round.
That's time! Boxaaja's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bardamont connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Bardamont swings for the body but Boxaaja moves out of range.
Bardamont keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
An inside leg kick from Boxaaja misses.
Boxaaja sets himself, and Bardamont steps forward looking for the clinch! Boxaaja avoids it this time.
Bardamont fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Boxaaja jabs Bardamont to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Bardamont lands with a nice combination. Boxaaja backs away looking to recover.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Boxaaja.
Phol Boxaaja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bardamont displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Boxaaja throws out the jab.
Bardamont scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Boxaaja throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Boxaaja lands a nice shot to the body.
Bardamont looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Boxaaja wants to clinch up but Bardamont keeps it at a distance.
Boxaaja sets himself, and Bardamont steps forward looking for the clinch! Boxaaja avoids it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boxaaja connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Boxaaja has a takedown stuffed.
Bardamont jabs Boxaaja to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Bardamont throws a body shot but no joy.
Boxaaja lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Boxaaja is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bardamont can do to turn this around?
A jab lands there for Boxaaja.
Boxaaja throws a right hand that misses
and Bardamont counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bardamont is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Boxaaja rather than just go for the knockout.
Boxaaja missing with a left hand there. Bardamont was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Boxaaja throws out a leg kick but Bardamont moves out of range and Boxaaja only half commits.
Boxaaja takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bardamont misses with a hook
and Bardamont takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nejuis Bardamont is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bardamont avoids the body shot from Boxaaja.
Bardamont dodges the punch combination from Boxaaja.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Boxaaja misses with a left hand
and Bardamont counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bardamont ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Boxaaja cracks Bardamont with an open hand slap.
Boxaaja cracks Bardamont with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Bardamont misses with a looping right.
Bardamont defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Boxaaja.
Bardamont scores with a shot to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Boxaaja.
Boxaaja thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bardamont looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bardamont on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boxaaja misses with a lunging right hand
and Bardamont counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Boxaaja misses with the combination.
Bardamont throws a jab when Boxaaja was well out of range.
Bardamont throws a right and a left that both miss.
A lazy left from Bardamont finds it's target.
Boxaaja swings for the body but Bardamont moves out of range.
Bardamont tries to counter with a clinch but Boxaaja shakes him off and moves away.
Bardamont moves out of range of the strikes.

Boxaaja closes the distance and pushes Bardamont back into the cage.
Bardamont wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bardamont is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Boxaaja lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Bardamont or not.

Bardamont breaks the clinch.
Boxaaja misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bardamont lands with a cross.
No joy there for Bardamont, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Boxaaja clinches up with Bardamont and pushes him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bardamont is trying to break free.
Boxaaja throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bardamonts head.

Bardamont breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nejuis Bardamont is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boxaaja cracks a nice hook into Bardamont's ribs.
Bardamont misses with a hook. Boxaaja ducked under it nicely.
Boxaaja misses with a wild body shot.
Bardamont looks to land a left hand but Boxaaja moved out of range nicely.

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

Bardamont is defending against the submission attempts here by Boxaaja.
Boxaaja trying to mount his opponent but Bardamont defends it.
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 Phol Boxaaja will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bardamont takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Boxaaja swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Boxaaja missing with a left hand there. Bardamont was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Boxaaja bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Boxaaja drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bardamont sprawls and moves away.
Boxaaja tries to clinch but Bardamont moves out of range.
Bardamont swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bardamont jabs at Boxaaja's body.
A shot to the body from Boxaaja misses
and Bardamont connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boxaaja just misses with a punch to the body.

Boxaaja shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bardamont manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Boxaaja looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boxaaja sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bardamont's guard.
Boxaaja wants to take a breather but Bardamont is having none of it.

Boxaaja is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bardamont is just riding it out for now. Boxaaja eventually gives up the hold.
Bardamont is positioning himself well to prevent Boxaaja advancing to mount.

Boxaaja is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bardamont sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Boxaaja is looking for a kimura here.
Bardamont is doing well to control the position and prevent Boxaaja from advancing to side control.
Boxaaja prevents Bardamont from improving his position.
Bardamont is holding on to half guard well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Boxaaja is looking for a kimura here.

Boxaaja is looking for a kimura but Bardamont is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Boxaaja to get the leverage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bardamont can do anything to dispel that myth.

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

Boxaaja is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bardamont sees it coming and defends easily.
Bardamont is trying to stand.

Boxaaja is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bardamont is just riding it out for now. Boxaaja eventually gives up the hold.

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.

Boxaaja wants to work for an arm triangle but Bardamont is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Boxaaja is looking for a kimura here.

Boxaaja is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bardamont wants to get back to full guard but Boxaaja has passed into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phol Boxaaja clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Boxaaja thows a leg kick but Bardamont checks it
and Bardamont counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Boxaaja throws a head kick that misses.
Boxaaja is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bardamont looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Boxaaja throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Boxaaja throws a hook but Bardamont blocks it.
Bardamont appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Boxaaja walks into a stiff left hand from Bardamont.
Bardamont displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Boxaaja throws out the jab.
Bardamont wants to counter the offense by Boxaaja and move into the clinch position.
Boxaaja throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bardamont counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boxaaja swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Boxaaja takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Boxaaja fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bardamont appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Boxaaja is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bardamont.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bardamont dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Boxaaja misses with a wild body shot.
Bardamont misses with a double jab

and Boxaaja counters by clinching up.
Bardamont is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Boxaaja dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Boxaaja misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bardamont looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Boxaaja presses Bardamont against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Bardamont blocks a body shot from Boxaaja.
Bardamont can't break the clinch.
Boxaaja stalls.

Boxaaja has hold of one of Bardamont's legs. Bardamont is fighting the takedown attempt but Boxaaja gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Bardamont keeping moving, preventing Boxaaja from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boxaaja advances position into side control!
Boxaaja slows the pace down.
Bardamont is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Boxaaja looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Boxaaja is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bardamont sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bardamont is defending against the submission attempts here by Boxaaja.
Boxaaja seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bardamont does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Boxaaja is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Boxaaja works his way into full mount!
Bardamont has given up his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bardamont is trying to defend against the choke here but Boxaaja has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Boxaaja Tightens the hold and Bardamont taps out furiously! Boxaaja displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Phol Boxaaja!
Phol Boxaaja is the new middleweight champion!
Nejuis Bardamont spoke after the fight, saying 'Charlie Hickings is great fighter. Will see competition real soon when I have more skill.'.