PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hank Flowers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Branton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Flowers
vs
Branton

180 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hank Flowers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Branton!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flowers has his takedown stuffed
and Branton counters with a nice uppercut.

Flowers tries to keep at a distance but Branton has taken the fight into the clinch.
Branton is working for takedown but Flowers is calmly controlling the position for now.

Branton has clasped his hands together around Flowers's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Branton trying to control the action but Flowers is working from the bottom.
Flowers is looking to regain half guard here but Branton keeps moving and retains side control.
Flowers is being controlled here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flowers managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Branton.
Branton lands some shots froms side control.
Flowers is not content to let Branton control the position.
The referee asks Branton politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Branton prefers to stall for the moment though.
Flowers tries to improve position but can't.
Flowers might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Branton taking a breather here.
Branton's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Billy Branton was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Flowers shoots in looking for a takedown but Branton manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Flowers's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Branton fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Flowers sprawls well initially but Branton persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Branton trying to pass the guard but Flowers defending well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Branton trying to control the pace.
Branton is looking to advance position but Flowers won't allow it.
Branton is taking a breather. Flowers says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flowers is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Billy Branton.
Branton is looking to chop away at Flowers's legs.
Flowers fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hank Flowers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Branton looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Branton tries to clinch but Flowers is having none of it.

Branton feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Flowers looking to hit a scissor sweep but Branton is one step ahead there.
Branton trying to control but Flowers is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branton throwing strikes from guard but Flowers blocks nicely.
Branton preventing the sweep.
Branton tries to free his leg and advance position but Flowers is retaining full guard.
Branton controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Flowers controls Branton momentarily but Branton frees himself.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Flowers shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Branton defends it nicely.
Flowers is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Branton slaps away a takedown attempt from Flowers, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Branton dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Branton turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Branton lands with a slapping head kick.
Flowers has his takedown stuffed

and Branton counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Flowers's guard now.
Branton controlling from the top position.
Branton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Branton forces his way into half guard.
Branton wants to take a breather but Flowers is having none of it.
Branton slows the pace down in half guard.
Branton prevents Flowers from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branton wants to control but Flowers is keeping him busy.
Branton wants to free his trapped foot but Flowers is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Flowers is refusing to be controlled, as Branton sits in half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Billy Branton wasn't active enough on the ground.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Flowers working hard to break the clinch.
Branton tries to score a body lock takedown but Flowers shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Branton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Branton throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Flowers fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Branton avoids it really well and circles away.
Flowers shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Branton sprawls well. Branton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Flowers gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hank Flowers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Branton throws a head kick but Flowers moves out of range.
Branton fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Flowers fails with the takedown
and Branton makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Flowers really felt that one!
Flowers stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Flowers wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flowers shoots and misses

and Branton counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Branton seems to be working for a kimura but Flowers defends the submission attempt.
Branton slows the pace down in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Billy Branton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Branton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Branton tries to pass the half guard into mount. Flowers knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flowers tries to get to full guard but Branton has control of the leg.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Billy Branton wasn't active enough on the ground.
Branton wants to clinch.
Flowers with a lazy takedown attempt
and Branton counters with a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Branton shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Branton lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Branton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Branton feints and as Flowers raises his hands in defense, Branton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Branton stops Flowers from standing up.
Flowers managing to control the position.
Flowers is trying to control the position but Branton postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Hank Flowers wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Branton shoots in and bounces Flowers off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Branton wants to pass the guard but Flowers is keeping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branton trying to control the position from guard on top but Flowers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Branton is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Billy Branton.

Branton drives through and clinches with Flowers against the cage.
Flowers tries to land knees in the clinch but Branton avoids the damage to the body.
Flowers prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flowers is trying to pull guard but Branton turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Flowers looking for a takedown.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Flowers changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Branton fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hank Flowers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Branton drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Branton engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Flowers tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Flowers is keeping the position for now.
Branton sitting in guard, not really doing much.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Billy Branton is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Billy Branton hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Branton pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Flowers back to the cage. Branton follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Horrible takedown by Flowers or perhaps it was just good defense by Branton which made him look bad.
Branton just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Branton throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Flowers was covering up waiting for the punch and Branton finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Branton's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Branton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Flowers swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Branton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Branton showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hank Flowers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Branton tries to free his leg and advance position but Flowers is retaining full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Branton lands a couple of elbows.
Branton wants to control from the top but Flowers keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Branton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Branton has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Branton!