PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ari Celeste (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and American Spirit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Celeste
vs
Spirit

180 cm
22
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

215 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ari Celeste!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, American Spirit!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Celeste scores a takedown into full mount!
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.
Celeste blocks Spirit's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Spirit is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Celeste working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Spirit slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Spirit is trying to stand back up but Celeste is controlling him
Celeste wants to stand up but Spirit is controlling the position.
Spirit wants to get back to his feet.
Celeste throws a strike but Spirit avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Celeste throwing strikes from guard but Spirit blocks nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Spirit throws a nice looking combination but Celeste bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Celeste throws a half hearted mid kick.
American Spirit seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spirit stuffs the takedown.
A combination from Spirit does no damage.
Celeste avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Spirit slaps away a takedown attempt from Celeste, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Danga de danga de dang - Spirit scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Ari Celeste has been cut.
Spirit fails to land with a series of punches.
Spirit avoids a kick to the body.
Spirit misses with a series of wild punches.
A combination from Spirit does no damage.
Celeste avoids a punch combination nicely.
Spirit gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Celeste counters by clinching up.
Spirit is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Spirit pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Spirit doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Spirit moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Celeste tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spirit swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Spirit digs a good body shot into Celeste's ribs.

Celeste has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Spirit breaks from the clinch.
Celeste fails with an attempt to clinch.
Spirit fails with the takedown

and Celeste counters with a takedown into side control.
Spirit looks gassed!

Celeste is trying to get an arm triangle but Spirit is defending well.
Celeste remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Celeste working the ground and pound but Spirit is defending the strikes.
Celeste misses with the ground and pound.
Celeste has knee on belly momentarily but Spirit bucks him off and regains half guard.
Celeste trying to control the pace.
Spirit looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Celeste wants to stand up but Spirit has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Celeste is looking to pass Spirit's guard but actually Spirit recovers to full guard.
Celeste won't allow Spirit to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but American Spirit will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ari Celeste's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice defenses there by Celeste.
Celeste avoids the head kick by Spirit.
Ari Celeste is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Celeste throws a sloppy head kick
and Spirit counters with a straight right hand.

Celeste gets a clinch.
Nice body punch from Spirit.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Spirit breaks the clinch.
Spirit avoids the body shot from Celeste.
Spirit swinging wildly here.
Spirit will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Spirit tries to bum rush Celeste with a series of wild strikes but Celeste uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Celeste throws a body kick the misses
and Spirit counters with a stiff right hand.
Spirit leaves Celeste with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Spirit misses with a two punch combination.
Spirit avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Spirit misses with a double jab.

Celeste clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spirit jumps into guard, dragging Celeste to the mat.
Celeste throws a strike but Spirit rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Celeste working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Spirit.
Spirit is looking to stand up but Celeste won't let him.
Celeste knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Spirit on the ground.
Celeste trying to control the position here.
Spirit trying to stand up but can't free himself from Celeste's guard.
Spirit is breathing heavily.
Celeste is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Spirit trying to control but Celeste is working from the bottom.

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.
Spirit throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Celeste works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Spirit wants to stand but Celeste is controlling his posture from full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Celeste is looking to clinch but Spirit is avoiding it.
Spirit scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Celeste doesn't seem bothered though.
Celeste fails in his attempt to clinch.
A combination from Spirit does no damage.

Celeste closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Spirit to the mat! Spirit manages to get full guard.
Celeste wants to control from the top but Spirit keeps moving.
Celeste might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Celeste trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Spirit manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Spirit preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spirit decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Celeste, up you get!
Spirit closes this distance looking for a takedown but Celeste circles away.
Spirit swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Celeste counters with a single leg into guard. Spirit didn't expect that.
Spirit keeping full guard, as Celeste tries to pass.
Celeste stays in close to Spirit's body and controls the position.

Spirit pushes Celeste off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Spirit circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Celeste moves into range and clinches up with Spirit.

Spirit's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Spirit defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Celeste.
Spirit tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Celeste counters with a single leg into guard. Spirit didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Spirit is trying to keep Celeste in close.
Celeste trying to control the position from guard on top but Spirit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Celeste prevents Spirit from getting back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spirit looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

American Spirit showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ari Celeste's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Spirit misses with a two punch combination.
A combination from Spirit does no damage.
Spirit doesn't manage to clinch there - Celeste circles away.
Celeste throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Spirit's waist but Spirit gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Celeste off to one side.
Spirit takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Spirit looks to land a combination but Celeste avoids it well.
Spirit tries to bum rush Celeste with a series of wild strikes but Celeste uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Spirit moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Ari Celeste's cut is getting worse.
Spirit swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Celeste fails in his attempt to clinch.
Spirit throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Celeste moves into the clinch.
Celeste slows down the pace here.
Spirit has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Spirit takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Spirit prevents Celeste from breaking the clinch.
Spirit tries to pull guard but Celeste won't allow it.
Celeste fails to pull guard.
Spirit is trying to force a seperation but Celeste has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Celeste.

Spirit manages to break the clinch.

Celeste closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Spirit did well to prevent Celeste getting side control.
Celeste is controlling the pace.

Celeste 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.
Spirit won't allow Celeste to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spirit tries to kick Celeste off but Celeste keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Celeste seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Spirit does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Spirit tries to kick Celeste off but Celeste keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Celeste is looking to pass Spirit's guard but actually Spirit recovers to full guard.
Spirit keeping full guard, as Celeste tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Spirit lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Celeste backs up against the cage.
Celeste keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Spirit.
Celeste is looking to clinch.
Spirit rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Celeste moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Celeste shoots in and bounces Spirit off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Celeste drops back, looking for a kneebar! Spirit looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Spirit looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Spirit!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Spirit decides to stand back up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Celeste shoots for a double leg takedown but Spirit sprawls well. He's pushed Celeste's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ari Celeste. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Celeste slaps away a takedown attempt from Spirit, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Spirit throws a head kick that misses.
Spirit with a poor takedown

and Celeste counters with a shoot takedown. Spirit fights it but they end up in guard.
Spirit looking to control.
Celeste trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spirit is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Celeste is controlling him.
Ari Celeste has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
American Spirit is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to American Spirit.
I've got Spirit 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... American Spirit!