PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lee Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Fletcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phillips's entrance music is Tarantula. A fine choice. Fletcher comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Gallows - London is the reason kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Johnny Fletcher has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Phillips
vs
Fletcher

190 cm
23
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

186 cm
20
201 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Lee Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Johnny Fletcher!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phillips scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Fletcher showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Phillips.

Fletcher forces Phillips back against the cage and clinches.
Phillips keeps control of Fletcher as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Phillips pushes Fletcher back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Fletcher looks gassed!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Phillips lands a right hand.
Phillips lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Phillips breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Phillips misses with a double jab.
Phillips throws a left and a right that both miss

and Fletcher counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fletcher looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Fletcher is trying to control the action in half guard but Phillips is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Fletcher 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 Fletcher.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fletcher is trying to control the action in half guard but Phillips is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Fletcher is just content to waste time from the top position. Phillips takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Phillips is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Fletcher jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Phillips walks away with a smile on his face. Fletcher gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Phillips fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Phillips misses with a combination
and Fletcher counters with a big head kick but Phillips shrugs it off.
Fletcher takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Phillips defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fletcher.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips cracks Fletcher with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Phillips's corner calls for a 1-2. Phillips obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Fletcher avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Phillips lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Fletcher backs up against the cage.
Some wild striking there from Phillips.
Fletcher looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Phillips is fending him off so far but Fletcher persists. Nope, Phillips circles away and we're back to standing.
Lee Phillips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Fletcher.

Fletcher closes the distance and clinches.
Good body shot from Phillips.
Phillips presses Fletcher against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Fletcher wants to stall.
Phillips lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Phillips pulls guard effortlessly.
Fletcher 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.
Phillips keeping moving, preventing Fletcher from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fletcher is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Phillips pushes Fletcher off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Phillips tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fletcher paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Phillips misses with a wild body shot.
Phillips throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Fletcher counters with a leg kick.
Fletcher connects with a right hand. Phillips shakes it off.

Fletcher looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fletcher thows a huge punch but Phillips dodges it nicely.
Fletcher thows a huge punch but Phillips dodges it nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Fletcher stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Fletcher instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fletcher tries to pull guard but Phillips won't allow it.
Phillips misses with a hook from the clinch.
Phillips works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Phillips jumps guard but Fletcher stands there with Phillips around his waist. Phillips gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Phillips misses with some punches.
Phillips lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Fletcher or not.

Fletcher breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fletcher is looking to clinch.
The crowd cheers as Fletcher lands an impressive looking overhand right. Phillips doesn't seem phased though.

Fletcher closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fletcher lands in his opponent's guard.
Fletcher trying to control but Phillips is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fletcher throws a strike but Phillips rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Fletcher is looking to sweep but instead, Phillips has passed into half guard.
Fletcher tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

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.

Phillips decides to stand and escape the position.
Phillips fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lee Phillips is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Phillips swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Fletcher counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fletcher.
Phillips has Fletcher pressed against the cage, preventing Fletcher from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Fletcher is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Fletcher goes for a takedown attempt but Phillips pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Lee Phillips seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phillips misses with a series of wild punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Fletcher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Fletcher changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Phillips tries to avoid it but Fletcher manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Phillips to the ground. Phillips escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Phillips throws a nice looking combination but Fletcher bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Phillips closes the distance and clinches.
Nice body punch from Phillips.
Phillips tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fletcher looking to slow down the pace here.
Phillips fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fletcher tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Phillips just stands there and leans against the cage.
Fletcher tries to pull guard but Phillips won't allow it.
Lee Phillips has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Fletcher.
A short right from Phillips on the inside.
Fletcher tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Phillips tries to pull guard but Fletcher won't allow it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Phillips pushes Fletcher back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Phillips tries to pull guard but Fletcher won't allow it.
Fletcher prevents a body shot from Phillips.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Phillips escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Fletcher feints and as Phillips raises his hands in defense, Fletcher changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Phillips preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Phillips wants to stand and escape but Fletcher is having none of it.
Fletcher looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Phillips wants to stand up but Fletcher is controlling him.
Fletcher in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fletcher gets to his feet - Phillips follows without any prompting.
Phillips misses with a double jab

and Fletcher counters by clinching up.

Phillips pulls Fletcher into guard.
Fletcher 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.
Phillips preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fletcher trying to control but Phillips is working from the bottom.
Fletcher is looking to work some ground and pound but Phillips has wrist control.
Fletcher trying to control but Phillips is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Fletcher working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Phillips keeping moving, preventing Fletcher from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Fletcher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fletcher 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Fletcher!