PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wilbert Phillips (ranked 8988 p4p, 0 weight class) and Merlin Mykchur (ranked 6087 p4p, 707 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Phillips
vs
Mykchur

182 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
23
222 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Wilbert Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Merlin Mykchur!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mykchur pushes Phillips up against the cage in a clinch.
We've been informed that Mykchur has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Phillips pulls guard successfully.
Phillips is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mykchur is controlling him.
Phillips trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Phillips really is a fat lump.
Mykchur wants to stand but Phillips has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Phillips is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mykchur is controlling him.
Phillips will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Mykchur wants to get up but he can't break Phillips's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Phillips pushes Mykchur off and gets back to his feet.
Merlin Mykchur seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mykchur will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mykchur enables Phillips to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mykchur manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Mykchur manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips keeps control of Mykchur as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Mykchur pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Phillips has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mykchur finds it's way round the side to connect with Phillips's head.
Mykchur fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mykchur tries to close the distance and clinch but Phillips swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Phillips changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Mykchur scores with a jab to the body.
Mykchur misses with a double jab.
Phillips misses with a takedown attempt - Mykchur sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mykchur throws a body shot but no joy.
Phillips misses with a takedown attempt
and Mykchur counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Phillips tries to move into range but Mykchur moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Phillips is defended easily by Mykchur.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wilbert Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mykchur tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Phillips gets caught napping as Mykchur dives in and scores a takedown. Phillips manages to retain guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Phillips uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Mykchur looks winded!
A punch combination from Mykchur misses.
Phillips feinted with a counter takedown.

Phillips rushes Mykchur and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mykchur is trying to break the clinch but Phillips has him pressed against the cage.

Phillips has Mykchur pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Phillips pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Mykchur tumbling to the mat - Phillips dives into Mykchur's guard.
Mykchur is looking to stand back up but Phillips counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mykchur.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mykchur taking some punishment here, with Phillips in his half guard.
Phillips has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Phillips decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Mykchur shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Phillips manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Phillips is looking to stand up but Mykchur isn't so interested in that idea.
Phillips throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Mykchur must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Phillips is looking to stand up but Mykchur isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mykchur stopping the sweep attempt from Phillips.
Phillips wants to stand up but Mykchur is controlling him.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mykchur looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mykchur fails to land with a series of punches.
Phillips shoots in but no luck this time.
Mykchur tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Phillips was well out of range. Poor timing from Mykchur.
Mykchur is looking to clinch.
Phillips shoots in and drives through. Mykchur sprawls well.
Phillips keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Phillips shoots for a takedown but Mykchur saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mykchur throws a series of punches but Phillips moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merlin Mykchur dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Phillips.
Mykchur now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Mykchur scores with a four punch combination!
Phillips has a takedown stuffed.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mykchur!
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Mykchur. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Mykchur lands a glancing blow to the side of Phillips's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mykchur bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Mykchur is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mykchur working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Phillips is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mykchur has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Wilbert Phillips overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mykchur trying to control the action but Phillips is working from the bottom.
Phillips sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Phillips missing with punches from the bottom.
Phillips gets full guard.
Phillips thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Phillips looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Phillips throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.
Phillips wants to stand but Mykchur is controlling the position.
Phillips is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Phillips is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Phillips is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Phillips drops an elbow to the side of Mykchur's head.
Mykchur is looking for a sweep. Phillips is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Phillips seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Phillips drops an elbow to the side of Mykchur's head.
Mykchur looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips winds up and cracks Mykchur with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mykchur has hold of Phillips's hands but Phillips slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Phillips lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Phillips decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Phillips shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Phillips stands up over Mykchur, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Phillips chips away with some ground and pound.
Phillips lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Phillips scoring with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Phillips's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Phillips keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mykchur's head.

Phillips stands and steps away. Mykchur gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mykchur stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wilbert Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mykchur tries to sprawl but Phillips drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Phillips is nestled in close to Mykchur, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Phillips working Mykchur over with strikes.
Phillips seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wilbert Phillips dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Phillips looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mykchur is fending him off so far but Phillips persists. Nope, Mykchur circles away and we're back to standing.
Mykchur looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Phillips gets a takedown into half guard.
Phillips takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Phillips landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Mykchur has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Phillips is on him like a limpet, forcing Mykchur back against the cage.
Phillips is trying to pull guard but Mykchur has him pressed against the cage.
Mykchur takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Phillips is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wilbert Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Phillips jumps guard.
Phillips has a closed guard, preventing Mykchur from standing up.
Phillips wants to get back to his feet but Mykchur is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mykchur wants to control from the top but Phillips keeps moving.

Mykchur decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Phillips, up you get!
The fight stays on the outside here - Mykchur looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mykchur misses with a double jab

and Phillips counters with a single leg into guard. Mykchur didn't expect that.
Mykchur is looking to stand back up but Phillips counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Mykchur.

Mykchur looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips working over Mykchur with some ground and pound. Mykchur looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Phillips seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Phillips working Mykchur over with strikes.

Phillips stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Phillips goes for a double leg but Mykchur avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mykchur continues to drive forward.

Mykchur closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Phillips's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Phillips bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mykchur's guard.

Phillips chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Phillips gets to his feet - Mykchur follows without any prompting.
Phillips changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mykchur tries to avoid it but Phillips manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mykchur to the ground. Mykchur escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Phillips shoots for a double leg takedown but Mykchur sprawls well. He's pushed Phillips's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mykchur throws a right and a left that both miss.

Phillips shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mykchur manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Mykchur manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Mykchur scores with a hook to the body. Phillips takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Phillips has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mykchur closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Phillips is trying to pull guard but Mykchur turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Mykchur turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Mykchur manages to end up in side control.
Mykchur creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Phillips sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Phillips sneaks back into half guard.

Phillips looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Phillips regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Mykchur.

Phillips pushes Mykchur off and scrambles back to his feet.

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 Wilbert Phillips.
I think Phillips has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!