PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dmitry Badaz (ranked 4932 p4p, 4931 weight class) and Pedro Phillips (ranked 397 p4p, 396 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Badaz
vs
Phillips

178 cm
25
151
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
143
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dmitry Badaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pedro Phillips!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Daniel Franklin and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phillips tries to close the distance and clinch up but Badaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Phillips moves into range and clinches up with Badaz.
Badaz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Phillips avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Phillips is looking to control Badaz's arms but Badaz gets an underhook and turns him. Now Phillips has his back to the cage.
Phillips misses with a punch to the body.
Phillips prevents the takedown attempt.

Badaz gets control of Phillips's arms and successfully pulls guard. Badaz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Phillips wants to stand but Badaz is controlling his posture from full guard.
Badaz has Phillips pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips trying to control the position from guard on top but Badaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Phillips avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Badaz working for a triangle but Phillips defends it easily.
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.
Phillips wants to control from the top but Badaz keeps moving.
Phillips throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Phillips would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Phillips wants to control from the top but Badaz keeps moving.
Phillips really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Badaz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Phillips won't allow Badaz to sweep him here.
Phillips is looking to stand up but Badaz won't let him.

Badaz isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Phillips stacks Badaz 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 Phillips!

Phillips decides to stand up, so the ref orders Badaz to his feet.

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.

Phillips gets the takedown into side control.
Badaz is not content to let Phillips control the position.
Badaz is looking to reverse the position.
Badaz regains half guard.
Phillips sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Badaz gets full guard.
Badaz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Phillips manages to get himself to full guard.

Badaz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Badaz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Phillips is looking to stand up but Badaz isn't so interested in that idea.

Badaz postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Phillips is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Badaz, into his guard.

Badaz looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Phillips passes into side control.
Badaz is breathing heavily.
Phillips looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Badaz is avoiding damage well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Badaz is looking for a sweep.
Badaz manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Badaz tries to get to full guard but Phillips has control of the leg.
Badaz is refusing to be controlled, as Phillips sits in half guard.
Badaz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Badaz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Badaz keeping moving, preventing Phillips from controlling successfully.
Badaz is pulling down on Phillips's head. It's preventing any offense from Phillips, at least for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Badaz trying to keep a closed guard but Phillips is proving a slippery customer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pedro Phillips will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Phillips closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Phillips stands up and beckons Badaz to his feet.

Phillips drives through with a takedown into guard.
Phillips controls from within his opponent's guard.
Phillips stopping the sweep attempt from Badaz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips trying to control but Badaz is working from the bottom.

Badaz looking for subs off his back but Phillips has passed one foot through into half guard.
Phillips throwing shots but Badaz is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Badaz is refusing to be controlled, as Phillips sits in half guard.
Phillips tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Badaz.
Badaz works his way to full guard. Good work.

Badaz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Badaz looking for a guillotine here but Phillips defends easily.

Badaz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Phillips can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pedro Phillips has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Badaz trying to control the position.
Phillips wants to control from the top but Badaz keeps moving.
Badaz has a closed guard, preventing Phillips from standing up.
Phillips tries to free his leg and advance position but Badaz is retaining full guard.
Phillips trying to control the position from guard on top but Badaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Badaz is looking to sweep but instead, Phillips has passed into half guard.
Badaz wants to improve his position but Phillips is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Phillips is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Badaz tries to get to full guard but Phillips has control of the leg.
Phillips throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Badaz is trying to get back to full guard.
Badaz trying to hold on to Phillips's head to control him but Phillips postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Phillips slows the pace down in half guard.
Badaz is trying to control but can't.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Phillips scores with a takedown into Badaz's guard.
Phillips trying to control the position from guard on top but Badaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Phillips might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Badaz haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Badaz looking for a sweep. Not yet Badaz, not yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro Phillips showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Phillips fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Badaz, pushing him back against the cage.

Phillips decides to pull guard.
Badaz wants to pass the guard but Phillips is keeping the position.
Badaz postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Phillips looking to control.
Phillips has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Badaz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Badaz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Badaz postures up.
Badaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Phillips is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Phillips trying to keep a closed guard but Badaz is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Phillips looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Phillips takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Badaz advances to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Badaz controlling the action here.
Phillips is trying to get back to full guard.
Badaz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

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.
Well, if Badaz is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Badaz wants to pass the guard but Phillips is defending well.
Badaz with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Phillips tries to roll over but Badaz keeps him under control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Badaz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips passes Badaz's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Badaz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Phillips's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Phillips's back!
Badaz biding his time, controlling Phillips.

Phillips defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Badaz's arms.
Badaz is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips rolls, trying to escape but Badaz keeps control of the position.

Phillips preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Badaz.
Phillips tries to escape but Badaz has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Badaz lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Phillips looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Dmitry Badaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pedro Phillips is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Badaz punches the canvas rather than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dmitry Badaz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Phillips has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pedro Phillips!
A very excited looking Pedro Phillips 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.