PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kelly French (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Freddie Fists (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Freddie Fists has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

French
vs
Fists

164 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
235 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kelly French!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Freddie Fists!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fists throws a nice looking combination but French bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Fists clinches with his opponent.
French taking a breather.

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

Fists moves into the clinch successfully.
French really is a fat lump.
French is trying to drag Fists to the mat but Fists just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
French has Fists pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Fists manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Fists breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

French tries to keep at a distance but Fists has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
French wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kelly French. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fists is pressed up against the cage. French has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Fists down to the mat. Fists avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Fists clinches with his opponent.
Fists is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. French is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Fists.
French is trying to maintain a safe position but Fists gets an underhook and turns French into the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Fists.
Fists is defending well against a takedown attempt.
French is breathing heavily.
French drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fists gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Fists pulls guard.
French throwing strikes from guard but Fists blocks nicely.

Fists escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. French gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fists is trying to control the position but French postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
French won't allow Fists to sweep him here.
French won't allow Fists to get back to his feet.
Fists keeping moving, preventing French from controlling successfully.
French throwing strikes from guard but Fists blocks nicely.

Fists wriggles free and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fists as he avoids it easily.
Fists pushes French away with a front kick.
Fists stuffs the takedown attempt from French. French gets slowly back to his feet.

Fists forces French back against the cage and clinches.
French tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fists avoids it.

Fists manages to pull guard.
French working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
French preventing the sweep.

Fists is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. French presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
French looking to slow down the pace here.
We've been informed that Fists has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
French takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Kelly French has been cut.

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

Fists clinches up with French and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Fists has picked French up - he's going for a ride! Fists dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
French has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fists is working away from the top position though.

French actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddie Fists dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kelly French's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

French shoots in and gets a takedown into Fists's guard.
French trying to control the position from guard on top but Fists is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
French has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
French throws a big right hand that misses.

French drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Fists manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now French has Fists in his guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
French can't keep his opponent in guard - Fists advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Fists is breathing heavily.
Fists is keen to just control but French is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French trying to control here.
French might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
French on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
French pushes Fists off looking to stand but Fists dives back in and keeps control.
French trying to control here.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Fists. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
French tries to roll over but Fists keeps him under control.

French looking for submissions off his back.
French missing with punches from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Fists lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
French flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Fists lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
French is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Fists scores with a couple of nice shots.

French is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fists pulls his head out easily.

Fists decides to return to a standing position.

Fists clinches.
French goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fists prevents it.

Fists breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Fists clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French wants to take the fight to the mat but Fists manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Fists has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Fists jumps into guard, dragging French to the mat.
French throws an elbow that misses. Fists uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in French's guard. Nice move by Fists!

Fists slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Fists drops back looking for a leg! French is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and French manages to kick Fists off! Fists jumps back into French's guard.
Fists postures up.
French keeping moving, preventing Fists from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

French is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
French trying to keep a closed guard but Fists is proving a slippery customer.
Fists content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

French working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Fists has passed into half guard!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Fists in particular looking to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Fists seems to be looking for submissions.
French trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddie Fists showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kelly French's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Fists gets the takedown into side control.
What's French going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
French wants to control but Fists postures up.
French tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
French is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fists has the hooks in. French is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Fists connects with a big shot to the side of French's head.
Fists controlling well, preventing French from escaping the position.

French fending off the submission attempt from Fists.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
French trying to control the hands but Fists won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French prevents Fists from getting a body triangle.
French trying to get back to his feet but Fists is in full control for now.

Fists patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
French trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
French breaks Fists's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

French 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.

French has gone for a leg lock! Fists slips out almost immediately though and dives into French's guard.

Fists stands up over French, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

French looking for a guillotine here but Fists defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

French looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fists chips away with some ground and pound.
French trying to control the position.
Fists trying to control the position from guard on top but French is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

French working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fists doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fists manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Fists lands a couple of elbows.

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.
French is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
French can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fists controls the pace.
French looking for a sweep. Not yet French, not yet.

French looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Fists passes into half guard.
French is trying to control but can't.
Freddie Fists is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fists perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
French is looking to control Fists's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can French avoid being mounted?

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kelly French has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Fists has French up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Freddie Fists comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Fists 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Freddie Fists!