PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dom Wicliffe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forest Beckford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Wicliffe
vs
Beckford

190 cm
23
199 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
195 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Convicted

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dom Wicliffe!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Forest Beckford!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wicliffe scores with a body shot.
Wicliffe misses with an uppercut. Beckford saw that one coming.
Wicliffe just misses with a punch to the body.

Beckford scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Wicliffe is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Wicliffe on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Wicliffe tries to get out of the position.
Wicliffe is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Beckford has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Wicliffe is not content to let Beckford control the position.
Wicliffe struggling a bit here.
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.
A lull in the action here as Beckford stalls from top position.
Wicliffe tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wicliffe stops Beckford from passing to mount.
Beckford tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Wicliffe looks to land a left hand but Beckford moved out of range nicely.
Wicliffe missing with a left hand there. Beckford was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Wicliffe looks to score with a jab to the body but Beckford is just out of range.
A big right from Wicliffe misses.
Wicliffe throws an overhand right that lands on Beckford's shoulder, as Beckford tries to avoid the shot.

Beckford has Wicliffe up against the cage in a clinch.
Wicliffe tries to break free but Beckford pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Wicliffe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Beckford keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Wicliffe's efforts to push away.
Beckford can't get the takedown.

Beckford gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Wicliffe is trying to get back to full guard.
Wicliffe is refusing to be controlled, as Beckford sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckford is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Beckford missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Beckford seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wicliffe does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Beckford tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wicliffe knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Still in half guard, Beckford seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Wicliffe trying to control but Beckford postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Wicliffe stuffs the takedown attempt from Beckford. Beckford gets slowly back to his feet.

Beckford closes the distance and clinches.
Beckford tries to score a body lock takedown but Wicliffe shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dom Wicliffe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Forest Beckford.
Wicliffe is trying to force a seperation but Beckford has the dominant position.
Beckford dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Beckford fails to pull guard.
Beckford goes for a takedown in the clinch but Wicliffe prevents it.
Beckford working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Forest Beckford will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Wicliffe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Beckford defending well as Wicliffe loads up on a big left hand.
Wicliffe takes a swing at Beckford's ribcage but misses.
Beckford ducks under a wild hook from Wicliffe.
A punch combination from Wicliffe misses.
Wicliffe throws out a loose jab but Beckford uses good head movement to avoid it.
A big left from Wicliffe misses.
Beckford uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wicliffe.
Wicliffe misses with a straight left.

Beckford closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Beckford lands in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beckford thows a big elbow that misses.
Beckford trying to control but Wicliffe is working from the bottom.
Beckford stops Wicliffe from standing up.
Wicliffe keeping full guard, as Beckford tries to pass.
Wicliffe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Beckford is one step ahead there.

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.
Beckford wants to control from the top but Wicliffe keeps moving.
Wicliffe wants to get back to his feet but Beckford is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Wicliffe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Wicliffe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wicliffe throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Beckford avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wicliffe lands with a nice body punch.
Wicliffe looks to land a right hand but Beckford moved out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Beckford 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Wicliffe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Beckford moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wicliffe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wicliffe fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Wicliffe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wicliffe swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Beckford fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Wicliffe, pushing him back against the cage.
Beckford drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beckford tries for a takedown. No joy.
Beckford has Wicliffe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Wicliffe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dom Wicliffe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Forest Beckford.

Beckford manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Wicliffe throwing strikes but missing.
Beckford avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Wicliffe wants to control from the top but Beckford keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wicliffe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wicliffe tries to stand but Beckford is controlling from the bottom.
Wicliffe wants to control from the top but Beckford keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Wicliffe dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Wicliffe misses with a hook. Beckford ducked under it nicely.
Wicliffe throws a body punch but Beckford moves out of range.
Wicliffe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Beckford manages to avoid it.
Wicliffe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Beckford was well out of range. Poor timing from Wicliffe.
Beckford closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wicliffe circles away.
Wicliffe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wicliffe misses with a hook.
Beckford uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wicliffe.
Wicliffe changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beckford avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Beckford feints and as Wicliffe raises his hands in defense, Beckford changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Beckford trying to control the position from guard on top but Wicliffe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wicliffe looking for a sweep. Not yet Wicliffe, not yet.
Wicliffe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Wicliffe keeping full guard, as Beckford tries to pass.
Beckford postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Beckford postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Beckford connects with a couple of short punches.
Beckford working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Beckford moves out of range of the strikes.
Beckford moves out of range of the strikes.
Wicliffe misses with a body shot.
Dom Wicliffe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wicliffe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Beckford bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Check out the look on Beckford's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckford landing a few strikes.
Beckford has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Beckford working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Wicliffe looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Beckford! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Forest Beckford!
Forest Beckford is the new middleweight champion!