PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Carlie Phelps (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Semenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Phelps might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Dixie. Semenko has chosen Sure Fire Winners as his entrance music. Steven Semenko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Phelps
vs
Semenko

170 cm
28
140 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

150 cm
25
145 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carlie Phelps!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steven Semenko!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Semenko keeps the fight on the outside.

Semenko shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Phelps manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Semenko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phelps throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Phelps will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Phelps working for a triangle but Semenko defends it easily.
Phelps keeping moving, preventing Semenko from controlling successfully.

Semenko drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Phelps manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Semenko has Phelps in his guard.

Semenko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Phelps sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Semenko throws his legs up looking for a submission but Phelps uses it to pass to side control.
Phelps tries to advance to mount but Semenko denies him.

Phelps has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Semenko shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Phelps manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Phelps looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Phelps trying to strike off his back.
Semenko landing some decent shots from guard.
Semenko is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Phelps keeping moving, preventing Semenko from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Semenko wants to pass the guard but Phelps is keeping the position.
Semenko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Phelps keeping moving, preventing Semenko from controlling successfully.
Phelps throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Phelps trying to strike off his back.
Semenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Phelps is keeping the position for now.
Phelps has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Semenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Phelps has wrist control.
Phelps trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Phelps looking to hit a scissor sweep but Semenko is one step ahead there.
Semenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Phelps is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Phelps working for a triangle but Semenko defends it easily.
Phelps is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phelps looking to hit a scissor sweep but Semenko is one step ahead there.

Semenko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Phelps wants to stand and escape but Semenko is having none of it.
Semenko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Semenko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Phelps's head.
Semenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Phelps is retaining full guard.
Semenko scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Phelps throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Semenko chips away with some ground and pound.
Semenko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Semenko landing some decent shots from guard.
Semenko trying to control but Phelps is working from the bottom.

Semenko is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Semenko lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Semenko seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Phelps working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Semenko.

Semenko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Semenko trying to control but Phelps is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steven Semenko will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Phelps throws a head kick that misses.

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

Semenko 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.
Semenko throwing shots but Phelps is blocking nicely.
Phelps tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Semenko blocks the strikes from Phelps.
Phelps tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Semenko is breathing heavily.
Phelps tries to roll over but Semenko keeps him under control.
Phelps flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Semenko is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Phelps sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phelps throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Phelps is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Semenko's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Semenko's back!
Semenko is trying to break free.
Phelps trying to control.
Semenko is really stuck here.
Phelps just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Phelps is looking to control Semenko but Semenko is wriggling around and keeping busy.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Semenko trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Semenko wants to escape the position.
Semenko trying to control but not successfully.
Semenko is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Phelps.
Semenko covering up well under a series of strikes from Phelps.
Semenko trying to control the hands but Phelps won't let him.
Phelps wants to control but Semenko is keeping busy.
Semenko tries to break free.
Semenko just trying to survive but Phelps is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Semenko prevents Phelps from getting a body triangle.
Semenko is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phelps has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Semenko has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Semenko rolls, trying to escape but Phelps keeps control of the position.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Phelps wants to control but Semenko is keeping busy.
Semenko wants to control his opponent's hands but Phelps gets his hands free.
Semenko is in bad spot here.
Semenko trying to control the hands but Phelps breaks the grip.
Phelps just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

That's four 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.
Semenko prevents Phelps from getting a body triangle.
Phelps avoiding Semenko 's attempts to control his hands.

Phelps working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Phelps has got his arm under Semenko's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Semenko has spun round into Phelps's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Semenko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Semenko is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlie Phelps dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Phelps with a lazy takedown attempt

and Semenko counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Phelps is trying to keep Semenko in close.
Semenko landing with the ground and pound.
Semenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Phelps swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Semenko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Steven Semenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Semenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Semenko drops back, looking for a kneebar! Phelps looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Phelps looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Phelps!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Semenko is looking for a sweep.
Phelps happy to just control the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Phelps tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Semenko is not content to let Phelps control the position.
Semenko struggling a bit here.
Who's going to make the next move?
Phelps working away.

That's two 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.
Phelps trying to control the action but Semenko is working from the bottom.
Semenko prevents Phelps from moving into mount.
Phelps working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

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

Semenko drags the fight down to the ground.
Semenko wants to sweep here but Phelps controlling him for the moment.

Semenko looking for a guillotine here but Phelps defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phelps is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Semenko doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Semenko looking for a guillotine here but Phelps defends easily.

Semenko looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Phelps passes into half guard.
Semenko trying to control from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Phelps is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Phelps seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Semenko does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Semenko has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Phelps is working away from the top position though.

Semenko looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Semenko throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Phelps manages to pass to side control.
Semenko being controlled for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Steven Semenko.
I think Semenko 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!