PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alfred Shaheim Leigh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eric Phillips has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shaheim Leigh
vs
Phillips

178 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alfred Shaheim Leigh!
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, Eric Phillips!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Bruno Lombardi and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leigh stuffs the takedown.

Phillips pushes Leigh up against the cage in a clinch.
Phillips missing with knees to the body.
Phillips stops a takedown attempt from Leigh.
Phillips stops a takedown attempt from Leigh.
Leigh could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Phillips manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Leigh trying to control the position from guard on top but Phillips is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Phillips looking to control.
Phillips keeping full guard, as Leigh tries to pass.
Phillips keeping moving, preventing Leigh from controlling successfully.
Leigh pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Phillips is keeping the position for now.
Leigh is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Leigh shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Phillips counters with a shoot takedown. Leigh fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alfred Shaheim Leigh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leigh is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Leigh is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Phillips trying to hold on to Leigh's head to control him but Leigh postures up.

Leigh is looking for a kimura here.

Leigh is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Leigh is breathing heavily.

Leigh 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Phillips missing with punches from the bottom.
Phillips wants to control but Leigh is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Leigh is looking for a kimura but Phillips is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Leigh to get the leverage.
Phillips wants to get back to full guard.

Leigh seems to be working for a kimura but Phillips defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Leigh is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leigh is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Phillips tries to roll over but Leigh keeps him under control.

Leigh is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Phillips doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Leigh.

Leigh is working for a kimura but Phillips is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Phillips keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Leigh fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Phillips avoids it really well and circles away.
Leigh avoids the head kick by Phillips.
Alfred Shaheim Leigh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horrible takedown by Leigh or perhaps it was just good defense by Phillips which made him look bad.
Leigh shoots and misses

and Phillips decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Leigh's guard.
Phillips postures up and lands a big shot to Leigh's brow.
Phillips throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Phillips looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Phillips dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Phillips shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Leigh but Leigh pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Phillips decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Leigh looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Leigh moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phillips trying to control the position from guard on top but Leigh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Leigh looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Leigh is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips postures up.

Leigh is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Phillips defends well.

Leigh looking for a guillotine here but Phillips defends easily.
Phillips preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Leigh 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.

Leigh throws his legs up looking for a submission but Phillips uses it to pass to side control.
Phillips working away.
Leigh tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Phillips wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Leigh's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leigh is looking to reverse the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Leigh misses with a takedown

and Phillips counters with a takedown into side control.
Phillips working away.
Phillips tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Leigh prevents Phillips from improving position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leigh wants to control but Phillips postures up.
Leigh is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Phillips is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Phillips wants to take a breather but Leigh manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Phillips.

Leigh working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Phillips doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Leigh is tightening it up a little... Phillips has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Phillips reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Phillips taps out! nice BJJ there by Leigh!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Alfred Shaheim Leigh!