PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Myles Boone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Oliver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh Oliver told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Boone
vs
Oliver

194 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Myles Boone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Oliver!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Bruno Lombardi and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boone lands with an uppercut that bounces Oliver off the cage and back into range.

Oliver looking to score a takedown here. Boone is defending well but Oliver drives through and ends up in Boone's guard.
Boone can't keep his opponent in guard - Oliver advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Oliver not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Oliver throwing shots but Boone is blocking nicely.
Boone keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Oliver stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Boone to get to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Oliver as Boone shoots in.

Oliver throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Boone tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Oliver is in Boone's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Oliver trying to control the position from guard on top but Boone is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boone controls Oliver momentarily but Oliver frees himself.
Oliver wants to pass the guard but Boone is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boone is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Boone is trying to control the position from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Oliver shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Boone is trying to defend but Oliver finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Boone is staying active underneath Oliver, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Oliver in particular looking to stall.
Boone is staying active underneath Oliver, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Boone keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Josh Oliver was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Boone tries to sprawl but Oliver drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Boone is trying to maintain the position but Oliver is very close to passing his half guard.
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!
Oliver is keen to just control but Boone is a slippery customer.
Boone is trying to get back to full guard.

Oliver is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Boone has managed to free his arm - good work.
Oliver working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Boone's thigh. Boone counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliver sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Oliver slips nicely into half guard.
Oliver not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Oliver tries to pass to full mount but Boone defends it.

Boone is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Oliver pulls his head out easily.

Oliver decides to return to a standing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliver tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Boone manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Oliver feints and as Boone raises his hands in defense, Oliver changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Oliver wants to pass the guard but Boone is keeping the position.
Boone keeping moving, preventing Oliver from controlling successfully.
Oliver looks winded!
Oliver is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oliver in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Boone preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Boone holds on and takes a little breather.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Josh Oliver hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Oliver swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Oliver dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Oliver closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Boone's guard.
Boone looking to control.
Oliver wants to pass the guard but Boone is keeping the position.
Boone wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Oliver is now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oliver tries to stand but can't do so whilst Boone controls his leg.
Oliver trying to control from half guard but Boone is working away.
Boone keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Oliver passes to side control.
Josh Oliver has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boone struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boone tries to buck Oliver off but Oliver is having none of it.
Oliver has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Oliver has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Oliver tries to clinch up but Boone circles away and keeps his distance.

Oliver drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Oliver controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Oliver is breathing heavily.
Oliver postures up.
Boone is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Oliver is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boone wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Oliver misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Oliver tries to close the distance and clinch but Boone swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Oliver scores with a takedown into Boone's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Boone preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Oliver looking to pass the guard.
Boone is trying to keep Oliver in close.
Oliver forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliver tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Boone.
Boone trying to hold on to Oliver's head to control him but Oliver postures up.
Oliver is keen to just control but Boone is a slippery customer.
Oliver tries to pass the half guard into mount. Boone knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Boone trying to hold on to Oliver's head to control him but Oliver postures up.
Oliver wants to control but Boone is keeping him busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Josh Oliver was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Oliver misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boone shoots in for a takedown but Oliver shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Boone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Oliver pinned against the cage. Oliver gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Oliver shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Oliver is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Oliver throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Boone has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Oliver is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Oliver showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Oliver tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Oliver throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Oliver instigates a clinch.
Boone looking for a takedown.

Oliver has clasped his hands together around Boone's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Oliver working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Boone tries to bench press Oliver off him but Oliver keeps the position.
Boone really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Oliver working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Boone tries to bench press Oliver off him but Oliver keeps the position.
Oliver wants to control but Boone is keeping him busy.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Boone is trying to escape the position but Oliver is controlling the position.
Oliver has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Oliver takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Josh Oliver hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Oliver is looking to clinch but Boone is avoiding it.

Boone has closed the distance and engaged Oliver in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boone has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Oliver avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Boone has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Oliver after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Myles Boone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boone has had enough of the clinch but Oliver keeps him there for the moment.
Boone tries to pull guard but Oliver forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Oliver turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Oliver just content to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Oliver decides to stand back up. Oliver steps back and let's Boone get back to his feet.
Boone moves in looking to clinch but Oliver pushes him off.
Boone shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Boone fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Oliver feints and as Boone raises his hands in defense, Oliver changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Oliver drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Oliver jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Boone trying to control the position.
Oliver postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Oliver wanted to stand there but Boone had control of the position.
Oliver trying to control but Boone is working from the bottom.
Boone pulls Oliver in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliver stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Boone swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Boone tries to land a sweep but no joy.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Josh Oliver hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Oliver tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Boone paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Oliver works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Oliver shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Oliver showed some decent athleticism there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Boone wants to control but Oliver is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Oliver comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Oliver winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Oliver!