PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tony Swofford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Callaway (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.

Swofford
vs
Callaway

180 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes comics

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tony Swofford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rufus Callaway!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Callaway throws a front kick that sends Swofford stumbling back into the cage.
Callaway keeps Swofford at a distance using the push kick.
Callaway throws a head kick that misses.

Callaway looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Swofford!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The strikes coming from Callaway are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Swofford regains half guard.
Swofford blocking the ground and pound attempt from Callaway.
Callaway wants to stand up but Swofford has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Swofford makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Swofford.
Swofford bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Callaway's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Swofford wants to get up but he can't break Callaway's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Callaway can do anything to dispel that myth.
Callaway wants to stand and escape but Swofford is having none of it.
Swofford is pushing down on Callaway's leg trying to pass to half guard. Callaway is fighting to maintain full guard but Swofford has managed to sneak the leg through.
Callaway really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Swofford. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swofford prevents Callaway from standing back up.

Swofford stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Callaway to get to his feet.
Swofford shoots in but no luck this time.
Swofford tries to score a power double leg takedown but Callaway sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Swofford somewhat.
Callaway keeps the fight on the outside.
Callaway throws a head kick but Swofford moves out of range.
Callaway looks winded!
Swofford fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Swofford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swofford looks for a takedown but Callaway sprawls well.
Callaway has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swofford circles away from the clinch attempt
and Swofford makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Callaway really felt that one!

Swofford gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Callaway throws an elbow that misses. Swofford uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Callaway's guard. Nice move by Swofford!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Swofford controlling from the top position.

Swofford 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.
Swofford won't allow Callaway to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callaway keeping moving, preventing Swofford from controlling successfully.
Swofford prevents Callaway from getting back to his feet.
Swofford advances to half guard.

Swofford is looking for a kimura here.
Callaway is looking to escape.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Swofford is trying to control. Callaway wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Swofford prevents Callaway from standing back up.

Swofford is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Callaway sees it coming and defends easily.
Callaway should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Callaway tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Swofford manages to move to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swofford controlling from mount.

Swofford is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Rufus Callaway seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Swofford shoots in and drives through. Callaway sprawls well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Callaway is looking to clinch but Swofford is avoiding it.
Swofford keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Swofford forces Callaway back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tony Swofford will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Callaway tries a head kick but it misses.
Swofford looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Callaway is fending him off so far but Swofford persists. Nope, Callaway circles away and we're back to standing.
Callaway is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Swofford avoids the head kick by Callaway.
Callaway throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Swofford's waist but Swofford gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Callaway off to one side.
Swofford avoids the head kick by Callaway.
An inside leg kick from Swofford misses.
Callaway looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Swofford is fending him off so far but Callaway persists. Nope, Swofford circles away and we're back to standing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Swofford.
Swofford shoots in looking for a takedown. Callaway tries to sprawl out of it but Swofford keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Callaway manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Swofford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Callaway blocks a head kick by Swofford.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swofford shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Callaway pinned against the cage. Callaway gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Swofford drives through and clinches with Callaway against the cage.
Swofford keeps control of Callaway as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Swofford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Swofford drives through with a takedown into Callaway's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Swofford trying to control but Callaway is working from the bottom.
Callaway wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Swofford manages to pass to side control.
Swofford stops Callaway from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Swofford stands up from half guard.
Callaway slaps away a takedown attempt from Swofford, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Callaway shoots in and drives through. Swofford sprawls well.
Callaway leaves Swofford with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Callaway leaves Swofford with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Swofford misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
No luck for Callaway with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callaway throws a left and a right that both miss

and Swofford counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Swofford drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Swofford jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Swofford is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Callaway keeping full guard, as Swofford tries to pass.
Callaway is looking to stand back up but Swofford counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Callaway.
Swofford looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Callaway taking some punishment here, with Swofford in his half guard.
Callaway wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swofford passes to side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Callaway is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Swofford has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Swofford wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Callaway, who protects the arm well.

Swofford decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Callaway lands with a kick to the ribs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Swofford decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Callaway is trying to stand up here but Swofford is controlling him well.
Swofford seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Callaway pushes Swofford off looking to stand but Swofford dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Swofford dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Swofford!
Swofford avoids a punch combination nicely.
Swofford shoots in for a takedown but Callaway shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Callaway stuffs the takedown.
Callaway tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Callaway lands a nice leg kick that just misses Swofford's sensitive parts.
Callaway lets loose with a powerful body kick. Swofford will feel that in the morning.
Callaway shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Swofford moves into the clinch successfully.

Swofford breaks the clinch.
Swofford closes this distance looking for a takedown but Callaway circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Swofford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A solid body kick from Callaway.
Swofford moves in looking to clinch but Callaway pushes him off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Callaway misses with the combination.

Callaway drives through with a takedown into guard.
Callaway with a flurry of punches that miss.
Callaway must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Swofford has his foot on Callaway's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Callaway works his way back into a safe position though.
Swofford manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Callaway manages to get himself to full guard.
Swofford slips nicely into half guard.
Swofford trying to control the action but Callaway is working from the bottom.
Swofford wants to pass the guard but Callaway is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Callaway pushes Swofford off looking to stand but Swofford dives back in and keeps control.
Swofford wants to control but Callaway is keeping him busy.
Callaway is trying to stand up here but Swofford is controlling him well.
Swofford tries to pass to full mount but Callaway defends it.
Callaway wants to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tony Swofford wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Callaway misses with a head kick.
Callaway shoots in for a takedown but Swofford shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Swofford shoots for a double leg takedown but Callaway sprawls well. He's pushed Swofford's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Swofford closes the distance looking to clinch
and Callaway makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Swofford really felt that one!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callaway throws a head kick but Swofford moves out of range.

Swofford moves into the clinch.
Swofford tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Callaway's elbow.

Swofford manages to break the clinch.
Swofford fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Callaway shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Swofford sprawls well. Swofford wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Callaway gets slowly back to his feet.
Swofford blocks a head kick by Callaway.
A nice inside leg kick there by Callaway. That's going to slow Swofford down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swofford shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Callaway but Callaway pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Swofford tries to clinch up but Callaway circles away and keeps his distance.
Swofford throws a right and a left that both miss.
Swofford looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Callaway is fending him off so far but Swofford persists. Nope, Callaway circles away and we're back to standing.
Callaway fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Swofford avoids it really well and circles away.
Callaway throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Callaway stuffs the takedown attempt from Swofford. Swofford gets slowly back to his feet.
Callaway tries a head kick but it misses.
Rufus Callaway has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tony Swofford is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Callaway pulls out of a head kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tony Swofford.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Swofford, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Swofford!