PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Felix Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and ZyD XV (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). ZyD XV has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Phoenix
vs
XV

184 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Decent wrestler
Good elbows
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Felix Phoenix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, ZyD XV!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
XV tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Phoenix manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

XV clinches up against the cage.
XV misses with a knee strike.
XV is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Phoenix is defending well for now.
XV misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Phoenix jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as XV walks away with a smile on his face. Phoenix gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Phoenix throws a right hand that misses

and XV counters by moving into the clinch.
XV working aggressively here.
Phoenix tries to circle away but XV has him pinned against the cage.
Phoenix takes an elbow to the temple.
Phoenix tries to break free but XV pushes him back against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Phoenix breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Phoenix gets tackled into the cage by XV. XV maintains the clinch.
Phoenix is trying to break the clinch but XV is controlling him.
XV prevents Phoenix from breaking the clinch.
Phoenix tries to pull guard but XV won't allow it.
Phoenix tries to break free but XV pushes him back against the cage.
XV displaying some good clinch control by pressing Phoenix up against the cage.
XV lands a nice elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix has had enough of the clinch but XV keeps him there for the moment.
Phoenix is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Phoenix. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phoenix tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
XV just leaning against Phoenix, taking a breather.
XV has Phoenix pressed against the cage, preventing Phoenix from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Phoenix takes an elbow to the forehead.
XV gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
XV misses with a hook to the ribs.
A frustrated look appears on Phoenix's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
XV lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
XV looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A short body shot lands from XV as the two fighters clinch.
XV lands a nice uppercut.
Phoenix is trying to break free.
Phoenix takes an elbow to the forehead.
XV stalling the fight.

Phoenix gets control of XV's arms and successfully pulls guard. Phoenix will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
XV stopping the sweep attempt from Phoenix.
Phoenix keeping moving, preventing XV from controlling successfully.
XV must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
XV is stalling in the full guard.
Phoenix wants to get back to his feet but XV is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
XV is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ZyD XV dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sloppy strikes from Phoenix. Those never looked like landing.

XV closes the distance and pushes Phoenix back into the cage.
XV stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
XV receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Phoenix drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
XV will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Phoenix up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix working hard to break the clinch.
XV is pushing Phoenix up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by ZyD XV.
Phoenix keeps the fight on the outside.

XV moves into the clinch.
XV's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
XV keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Phoenix's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
XV controlling the action here for a moment.
XV throws a head punch that misses.
XV tries a knee to the head but Phoenix blocks it.
XV lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix is trying to break the clinch but XV has him pressed against the cage.
XV keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Phoenix's efforts to push away.
XV keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Phoenix's efforts to push away.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Phoenix.
Phoenix drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Phoenix looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix wants to get back to striking at distance but XV won't allow it.
XV is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Phoenix is defending well for now.
Phoenix wants to break free but XV has control.
XV comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Phoenix tries to pull guard but XV won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Phoenix. That's going to take a lot out of him.
XV is struggling to control the position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Phoenix.
Phoenix wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ZyD XV showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Phoenix misses with an uppercut
and XV counters with a series of strikes. Phoenix will be more careful next time no doubt.
XV moves in looking to clinch but Phoenix pushes him off.
XV is looking to clinch but Phoenix is avoiding it.
XV wants to clinch up but Phoenix keeps it at a distance.
XV connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

XV closes the distance and clinches.
XV is pushing Phoenix up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Phoenix is trying to break the clinch but XV has him pressed against the cage.
XV lands a left hand.
Phoenix is trying to break the clinch but XV has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
XV with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
XV stalling against the cage.
Phoenix wants to break free but XV has control.
XV is struggling to control the position.
Phoenix has had enough of the clinch but XV keeps him there for the moment.
XV tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
XV's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Phoenix wants to get back to striking at distance but XV won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
XV lands an elbow inside that Phoenix shrugs off.
Phoenix tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. XV smiles and moves away.
Phoenix lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but XV circles away quickly and effectively.
Phoenix throws a nice looking combination but XV bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Phoenix throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Phoenix takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
XV tries to clinch but Phoenix moves out of range.
Phoenix ducks under a wild hook from XV.
Phoenix throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
XV doesn't manage to clinch there - Phoenix circles away.
XV doesn't manage to clinch there - Phoenix circles away.

Phoenix gets tackled into the cage by XV. XV maintains the clinch.
XV prevents the takedown attempt.
XV working aggressively here.
XV tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
XV stalls.
XV has a couple of punches blocked by Phoenix.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
XV prevents Phoenix from breaking the clinch.
XV comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Phoenix fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Phoenix. That's going to take a lot out of him.
XV stalls.
XV lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
ZyD XV comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well XV 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight for ZyD XV!
Judge Josh West scores the fight for ZyD XV!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight for ZyD XV!

ZyD XV wins by unanimous decision!