PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Anatpong (ranked 2964 p4p, 0 weight class) and Syco Souirrel (ranked 2947 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcus Anatpong looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Anatpong
vs
Souirrel

173 cm
26
156 lbs
5 - 14 - 0

185 cm
27
159 lbs
10 - 23 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 5 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcus Anatpong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 23 - 0, fighting out of New York, Syco Souirrel!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Joseph Jones and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anatpong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Souirrel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Anatpong fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Anatpong darts in looking for a takedown but Souirrel gets double underhooks and turns Anatpong into the cage.
Souirrel doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Souirrel misses with a jab, cross combination.
No luck for Anatpong with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Anatpong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Anatpong wants to clinch up but Souirrel keeps it at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Souirrel.
Anatpong changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Anatpong doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Souirrel counters by clinching up.
Anatpong is breathing heavily.
Souirrel landing knees to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souirrel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Anatpong is looking to break free of the clinch but Souirrel has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Souirrel manages to break the clinch.
Anatpong wants to clinch.
Anatpong with a poor takedown

and Souirrel holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Anatpong tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Souirrel pushes Anatpong back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Anatpong is working for takedown but Souirrel is calmly controlling the position for now.

Souirrel ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Souirrel no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Anatpong avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Souirrel looking for a sweep. Not yet Souirrel, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Souirrel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Anatpong defends it easily.

Souirrel pushes Anatpong off and scrambles back to his feet.
Anatpong tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Souirrel defends well and Anatpong ends up having to push Souirrel into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Souirrel. No joy for Anatpong on that attempt.
Souirrel swats away the attempt to clinch by Anatpong.
Marcus Anatpong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anatpong moves in looking to clinch but Souirrel pushes him off.
Anatpong changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Souirrel tries to avoid it but Anatpong manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Souirrel to the ground. Souirrel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souirrel lands with a slapping head kick.
Souirrel is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Souirrel tries for a takedown but Anatpong sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Anatpong changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Souirrel tries to avoid it but Anatpong manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Souirrel to the ground. Souirrel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Souirrel rushes Anatpong and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Anatpong prevents a takedown attempt there.

Souirrel breaks the clinch.
Anatpong wants to clinch.

Souirrel darts in and clinches Anatpong up against the cage.
Souirrel prevents a body shot from Anatpong.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Souirrel ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Souirrel no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Souirrel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Anatpong preventing the sweep.
Anatpong would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Syco Souirrel dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Anatpong closes this distance looking for a takedown but Souirrel circles away.

Anatpong gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Souirrel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Souirrel won't allow Anatpong to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anatpong wants to get back to his feet but Souirrel passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souirrel trying to control the action but Anatpong is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Souirrel stands up from half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Anatpong looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Anatpong with a lazy takedown attempt

and Souirrel holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Souirrel lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The referee calls for Souirrel to work.
Souirrel gets underhooks to prevent Anatpong's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Anatpong. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Souirrel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Souirrel looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Anatpong is fending him off so far but Souirrel persists. Nope, Anatpong circles away and we're back to standing.
Anatpong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Anatpong darts in trying to clinch
and Souirrel counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anatpong tries to close the distance and clinch but Souirrel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Anatpong is looking to clinch.
Souirrel is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Anatpong shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Souirrel sprawls well. Souirrel wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Anatpong gets slowly back to his feet.
Anatpong shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Souirrel pinned against the cage. Souirrel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Souirrel fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Anatpong avoids it really well and circles away.
Anatpong fails with an attempt to clinch.
Souirrel shoots in for a double leg but Anatpong sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anatpong fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Anatpong showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Souirrel.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Anatpong.
Souirrel lands a two punch combo.
Anatpong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Souirrel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Anatpong moves in looking to clinch but Souirrel pushes him off.
Anatpong fails with an attempt to clinch.
Souirrel throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Anatpong's waist but Anatpong gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Souirrel off to one side.
Anatpong shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Souirrel but Souirrel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Souirrel shoots in but no luck this time.
Anatpong tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anatpong fails to land the takedown.

Souirrel clinches up against the cage.

Souirrel pulls guard successfully.
Souirrel has a closed guard, preventing Anatpong from standing up.
Souirrel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Souirrel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Anatpong wants to stand but Souirrel is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Syco Souirrel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Souirrel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Souirrel now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Souirrel closes the distance and clinches up with Anatpong, looking for a takedown. Souirrel pushes Anatpong against the cage but Anatpong circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Anatpong tries to close the distance and clinch but Souirrel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Anatpong tries to clinch
and Souirrel counters with a left to the body.
Souirrel stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Souirrel wants it to stay on the feet.
And Souirrel tries to counter it with a takedown but Anatpong pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Anatpong fails in his attempt to clinch.
Anatpong fails in his attempt to clinch.
Souirrel shoots for a takedown but Anatpong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Anatpong has his takedown stuffed

and Souirrel counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Souirrel.

Souirrel decides to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souirrel controlling Anatpong's posture.
Souirrel has a closed guard, preventing Anatpong from standing up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souirrel has his hands on Anatpong's head, controlling the position.
Anatpong wanted to stand there but Souirrel had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Souirrel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Anatpong doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Anatpong manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Syco Souirrel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Anatpong doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Souirrel holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Anatpong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souirrel is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Anatpong is defending well.
Anatpong tries for a takedown. No joy.
Anatpong is trying to force a seperation but Souirrel has the dominant position.
Souirrel is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Anatpong is defending well.
Anatpong is trying to pull guard but Souirrel has him pressed against the cage.
Anatpong wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Souirrel looking for a takedown.
Anatpong is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Souirrel pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Souirrel stalling.
Anatpong wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Souirrel has him pressed against the cage.

Souirrel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Anatpong doesn't manage to clinch there - Souirrel circles away.
Anatpong is looking to clinch but Souirrel is avoiding it.
Anatpong fails in his attempt to clinch.
Anatpong fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Souirrel tries to score a power double leg takedown but Anatpong sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Souirrel somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Anatpong looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Anatpong dives in for a single leg takedown but Souirrel sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Anatpong gets caught flat footed, as Souirrel shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Souirrel is standing up over Anatpong. Anatpong looks to escape but Souirrel dives into side control.

Souirrel is looking to take a break and control but Anatpong is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Souirrel is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Anatpong knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Syco Souirrel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Souirrel has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Syco Souirrel!