PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Pheonix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Theo Royle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paul Pheonix has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Pheonix
vs
Royle

169 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
21
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Pheonix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Theo Royle!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Bruno Lombardi and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Pheonix as Royle shoots in.
Royle thows a body shot but no joy.
Royle fails to land the takedown.
Pheonix fails with the takedown.
Royle doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Pheonix decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Royle's guard.
Paul Pheonix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theo Royle.
Pheonix not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Royle is pulling down on Pheonix's head. It's preventing any offense from Pheonix, at least for the moment.
Royle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pheonix.
Pheonix landing some decent shots from guard.
Royle is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Royle has a closed guard, preventing Pheonix from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pheonix wants to control from the top but Royle keeps moving.
Royle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pheonix has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pheonix trying to control the position from guard on top but Royle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pheonix scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Royle doesn't seem bothered though.
Royle is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Pheonix.
Pheonix shoots for a takedown but Royle saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pheonix looks for the body kick but Royle saw that one coming.
Royle moves in looking to clinch but Pheonix pushes him off.
Royle blocks a head kick by Pheonix.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Royle throws a series of punches but Pheonix moves out of range.
Pheonix throws a head kick that Royle semi-blocks.
Royle blocks a low kick nicely.
Pheonix is looking to land body kicks.

Pheonix scores a takedown into full mount!
Royle looks gassed!
Pheonix throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Royle because Pheonix loaded up on that one.
Pheonix punching from mount but Royle doing a good job of avoiding damage.
A nice elbow there by Pheonix.
Royle taking shots to the head.
Pheonix punching from mount but Royle doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Royle is trying desperately to improve position.
Pheonix looking to finish Royle with some ground and pound. This is bad for Royle!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pheonix with a couple of short strikes.
Pheonix punching from mount but Royle doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Pheonix pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Royle blocking the ground and pound.
Royle is desperately trying to improve his position but Pheonix has a good base and remains in mount.
Pheonix wants to control the pace but Royle is squirming around nicely.
Royle is bucking up trying to escape but Pheonix cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Royle wants to control but Pheonix is having none of it.
Pheonix looking to control but Royle is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Pheonix lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Royle hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pheonix lands a big shot there that rocks Royle but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Pheonix misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Pheonix punishing his opponent with strikes.
Royle is squirming around, avoiding Pheonix's attempts to control the action.
Pheonix lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Pheonix avoids the attempt from Royle to control.
Pheonix lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Pheonix working Royle over with strikes here.
Pheonix in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pheonix tests Royle's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Royle tries to clinch but Pheonix is having none of it.
Royle tries to clinch but Pheonix is having none of it.

Royle rushes Pheonix and presses him up against the cage.
Royle tries to break the clinch but Pheonix is controlling the position.

Royle breaks the clinch.
Pheonix misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fighters circle momentarily. Pheonix darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Paul Pheonix is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Royle tries to clinch but Pheonix moves out of range.
Royle lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Pheonix ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Royle moves away.
Royle is breathing heavily.
Royle gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Pheonix counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pheonix missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pheonix trying to control from half guard but Royle is working away.
Pheonix seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Pheonix scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Pheonix tries to pass to full mount but Royle defends it.
Royle pushes Pheonix off looking to stand but Pheonix dives back in and keeps control.
Royle keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Pheonix shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Pheonix was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Pheonix cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Royle tries to lock up and control but Pheonix gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Royle is looking to improve his position but Pheonix isn't that keen on the idea.
Royle in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Royle gets back to half guard.
Royle is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pheonix's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pheonix's back!

Royle tightening his grip on Pheonix, looking for the choke.
Pheonix trying to get back to his feet but Royle is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pheonix is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Royle.
Pheonix looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

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.
Pheonix is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Royle gets his hands free as Pheonix looks to control.
Royle lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

Royle is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Pheonix is defending well though. Royle let's go of the attempt for now.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Royle's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Pheonix dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Royle tries for a takedown but Pheonix circles away easily

and Pheonix counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Pheonix looking to pass the guard.
Royle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pheonix with a flurry of punches that miss.
Royle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Royle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pheonix.
Pheonix tries to free his leg and advance position but Royle is retaining full guard.
Pheonix loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Pheonix gets to his feet. Royle looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Royle misses with a takedown attempt

and Pheonix counters with a shoot takedown. Royle fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pheonix trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pheonix pushing down on Royle's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Royle kicks Pheonix off and gets back to his feet.
Royle throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Pheonix will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Royle fails with the takedown

and Pheonix counters with a nice double leg into side control. Royle won't be happy with that.
Paul Pheonix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theo Royle.
Royle tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pheonix looks up at the clock and then as Royle takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Pheonix smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Royle is pushing Pheonix's head away, looking to escape. Pheonix manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pheonix misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Royle sneaks back into half guard.

Royle manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Royle looks for a takedown but Pheonix sprawls well.

Pheonix shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Royle is trying to defend but Pheonix finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pheonix throwing shots but Royle is blocking nicely.
Pheonix throws a strike but Royle avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Pheonix wants to pass the guard but Royle is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pheonix throwing strikes but missing.
Royle wants to sweep but no luck.
Pheonix trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Royle manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Royle controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pheonix keeping moving, preventing Royle from controlling successfully.
Pheonix knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Royle on the ground.
Royle stops Pheonix from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pheonix misses with a body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Royle throws a series of punches but Pheonix avoids them all with ease.
Royle with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pheonix decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Royle's guard.
Theo Royle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paul Pheonix is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pheonix looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Pheonix showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pheonix, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Pheonix!