PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Woo Kidd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lebogang Phiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kidd
vs
Phiri

190 cm
21
200 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

190 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid 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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Woo Kidd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lebogang Phiri!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Santiago Holmes and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phiri fails with a takedown attempt.
Kidd keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Phiri keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kidd.
Kidd stuffs the takedown.
Phiri gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Phiri keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kidd throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A jab from Kidd misses.
Kidd leaves Phiri with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Woo Kidd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lebogang Phiri.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phiri tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kidd swivels and escapes.
Phiri looks for a takedown but Kidd sprawls well.
Kidd lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kidd bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Phiri is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kidd looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Phiri tries to counter by closing the distance.
Kidd lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Phiri takes the fight into the clinch.
Phiri slowing the pace effectively.
Kidd is trying to break the clinch but Phiri is controlling him.
Phiri tries to pull guard but Kidd won't allow it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Phiri takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kidd is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Phiri manages to pull guard.
Kidd is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kidd trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Phiri being controlled here, momentarily.

Phiri working for submissions but it's allowed Kidd to get to half guard.
Kidd missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kidd with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kidd jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Phiri shoots in but Kidd avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kidd fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kidd swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kidd throws a combination that misses

and Phiri counters by clinching up.
Phiri lands a shoulder strike.
Phiri is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phiri has Kidd pressed against the cage, preventing Kidd from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Phiri is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kidd gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Phiri lands a nice shot to the body.

Phiri escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck for Phiri with that takedown attempt.
Kidd ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Phiri moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Phiri tries to pull guard but Kidd forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kidd is trying to push Phiri away but Phiri has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Phiri tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kidd just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Woo Kidd dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kidd throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Woo Kidd is winning the standup battle so far.
Kidd darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Phiri shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kidd pinned against the cage. Kidd gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kidd shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Phiri eats them both and turns towards Kidd to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Phiri rushes Kidd and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Phiri is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kidd to keep the fight standing.
Phiri is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Woo Kidd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lebogang Phiri.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kidd avoiding damage as Phiri throws knees to the body.
Phiri tries for a takedown but Kidd manages to get underhooks.
Phiri tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Phiri.
Phiri tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kidd smiles and moves away.
Phiri looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A quick step to the side and Kidd tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kidd misses with a wild body shot.
Phiri looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kidd misses with a jab to the body
and Phiri counters with a series of strikes. Kidd will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kidd scores with a body shot.
Kidd throws a right hand that Phiri ducks under and follows up with a left that Phiri also avoids with ease.
Kidd jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Phiri moves forwards but Kidd connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Woo Kidd is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Phiri closes the distance and clinches.
Phiri has Kidd pressed against the cage, preventing Kidd from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Phiri changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kidd fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kidd scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kidd throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kidd misses with a wild combination.
Phiri walks into a jab.
Phiri closes the distance and clinches up with Kidd, looking for a takedown. Phiri pushes Kidd against the cage but Kidd circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Phiri shoots in but no luck this time.
Kidd throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kidd throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Phiri stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kidd scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Kidd throws a right and a left that both miss.
Phiri tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Phiri gets a clinch.
Phiri fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kidd tries to break the clinch but Phiri is controlling the position.
Phiri throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kidd blocks it with crossed arms.
Kidd can't break the clinch.
Kidd can't break the clinch.
Phiri stalling the fight.
Phiri is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kidd avoiding damage as Phiri throws knees to the body.

Phiri breaks from the clinch.
Kidd throws a lazy right hand but Phiri sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kidd throws a body shot but no joy.
Kidd tries to bum rush Phiri with a series of wild strikes but Phiri uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Phiri moves into the clinch successfully.

Phiri jumps into guard, dragging Kidd to the mat.
Phiri wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Kidd is now in half guard.
Still in half guard, Kidd seems content to control.
Kidd uses his free foot to push down on Phiri's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Phiri.
Phiri is working to get back to half guard.
Kidd controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Woo Kidd dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Phiri fails with the takedown.
Kidd scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kidd misses with a wild combination.
Phiri doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Kidd falls off balance throwing a combination

and Phiri counters by clinching up.
Phiri tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kidd smiles and moves away.
Kidd throws a body shot but no joy.
Phiri throws a series of punches but Kidd avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kidd throws a nice looking combination but Phiri bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kidd ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kidd swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Phiri pushes Kidd up against the cage in a clinch.
A hook to the body from Phiri.
Lebogang Phiri seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phiri tries to work over Kidd's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Phiri slows down the pace here.
Phiri is trying to pull guard but Kidd turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Woo Kidd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lebogang Phiri.
Kidd is looking to break free of the clinch but Phiri has double underhooks.
Phiri wants a takedown but no success here.
Kidd wants to break free but Phiri has control.
Kidd is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Phiri can do to turn this around?

Phiri gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Kidd pushes Phiri off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phiri shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kidd but Kidd pushes him off and we're back to square one.
It looked like Kidd wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kidd is looking to wear down Phiri with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kidd dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kidd jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Phiri wants to counter with a clinch but Kidd pushes him away.

Phiri has managed to clinch.
Kidd wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Phiri breaks from the clinch.
Kidd tests Phiri's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kidd misses with a body shot.
Kidd tests Phiri's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kidd misses with a left hand
and Phiri counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kidd scores with a jab.
Kidd moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phiri shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Phiri moves into the clinch.
Kidd gets underhooks to prevent Phiri's takedown attempt.
Phiri takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kidd is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kidd looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Phiri goes for a takedown attempt but Kidd pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A jab from Kidd misses.
Phiri closes the distance and clinches up with Kidd, looking for a takedown. Phiri pushes Kidd against the cage but Kidd circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kidd ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Phiri moves away.
Kidd throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kidd scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Phiri takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Phiri uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kidd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kidd's jab looks to have found its range, popping Phiri under the eye.
Woo Kidd is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kidd fails to land with a series of punches.
Phiri drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kidd defends it well.
Kidd fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Phiri throws a counter combo.
Kidd throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Phiri stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Phiri dives in for a single leg takedown but Kidd sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kidd misses with a combination

and Phiri counters by clinching up.
Kidd is pressed up against the cage. Phiri has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kidd down to the mat. Kidd avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kidd misses with a hook to the body

and Phiri counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Phiri is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kidd pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Phiri is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Lebogang Phiri has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A right hand to the body from Phiri.

And that's the end of the fight!
Woo Kidd showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kidd, 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Woo Kidd!
Our winner, Woo Kidd, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.