PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between JJ Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Super Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garcia comes to the cage accompanied by Amorphosis. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Garcia
vs
Phoenix

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

185 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, JJ Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Super Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia tries to clinch up.
Garcia fails in his attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Phoenix.
Phoenix fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Phoenix avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Garcia fails in his attempt to clinch.
Garcia tries to clinch up but Phoenix circles away and keeps his distance.
Garcia tries to clinch up but Phoenix circles away and keeps his distance.

Phoenix closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Garcia to the mat! Garcia manages to get full guard.
Phoenix slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garcia tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Phoenix looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Phoenix advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix with shots to the head and body - Garcia looks very uncomfortable down there.
Garcia sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Garcia manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Phoenix trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Garcia working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Phoenix doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Phoenix manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Phoenix won't allow Garcia to sweep him here.

Garcia is looking for a triangle but Phoenix pushes his legs off easily.
Garcia is breathing heavily.
Phoenix stopping the sweep attempt from Garcia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Phoenix accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Garcia looking for a guillotine here but Phoenix defends easily.

Phoenix stands and steps away. Garcia gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garcia tries to keep at a distance but Phoenix has taken the fight into the clinch.
Phoenix has had enough of the clinch but Garcia keeps him there for the moment.

Phoenix has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Garcia uses from the top position.
Phoenix lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Garcia!
Phoenix working the ground and pound effectively.
Phoenix is landing with some decent strikes but Garcia is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Phoenix looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Garcia working to try and regain half guard.
Phoenix takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is working to get back to half guard.
Phoenix tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phoenix can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Garcia is looking to escape.
Garcia is trying desperately to improve position.
Phoenix looking to finish Garcia with some ground and pound. This is bad for Garcia!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Super Phoenix dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Phoenix fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Garcia is out of range.

Phoenix has Garcia up against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Garcia.
Phoenix is working for takedown but Garcia is calmly controlling the position for now.
Garcia has a couple of punches blocked by Phoenix.

Phoenix jumps into guard, dragging Garcia to the mat.
Phoenix trying to control the position.
Phoenix keeping full guard, as Garcia tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Phoenix working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Garcia doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Garcia manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Garcia looking to pass the guard.
Phoenix is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia stopping the sweep attempt from Phoenix.
Garcia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Phoenix is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Garcia scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Garcia fails to land.
Garcia swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Garcia.
Garcia working aggressively here.
Phoenix tries for a takedown. No joy.
Phoenix blocking some punches.
Garcia fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Garcia misses with a hook from the clinch.
Phoenix blocking some punches.

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.
Garcia has a couple of punches blocked by Phoenix.
Phoenix blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Phoenix wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Garcia lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Phoenix backwards.
Phoenix blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Phoenix blocks an uppercut.
Phoenix stalls.
Phoenix drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Garcia gets the underhooks and prevents it.
JJ Garcia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Super Phoenix.
A head punch on the inside from Garcia fails to land.
Garcia swings wildly with an uppercut but Phoenix uses good head movement to avoid it.
Garcia misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Phoenix.
A head punch on the inside from Garcia fails to land.
Garcia swings wildly with an uppercut but Phoenix uses good head movement to avoid it.
Garcia swings wildly with an uppercut but Phoenix uses good head movement to avoid it.
Phoenix blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia prevents the takedown attempt.
Phoenix tries to score a body lock takedown but Garcia shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Garcia working aggressively here.
Garcia misses with a punch on the inside.
Garcia misses with some punches.
Phoenix is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Garcia gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Phoenix lands with a right to the head.
Phoenix tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Garcia smiles and moves away.
Garcia closes the distance looking to clinch

and Phoenix counters by clinching up.
Garcia swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Garcia misses with a short punch on the inside.
Garcia misses with a short punch on the inside.
Garcia misses with the head strike.
Phoenix is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Phoenix wants a takedown but no success here.
Garcia gets underhooks to prevent Phoenix's takedown attempt.
Garcia misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Garcia fails to land.
Garcia throws a punch but it's blocked by Phoenix.
Garcia lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia misses with the head strike.
Garcia throws a punch but it's blocked by Phoenix.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Phoenix.
Phoenix wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Garcia misses with a punch on the inside.
A body shot lands from Phoenix.
Garcia has a couple of punches blocked by Phoenix.
Phoenix blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Garcia creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Garcia misses with some punches.
Phoenix drops down looking for an ankle pick but Garcia pulls his leg out and moves away.
Phoenix will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Phoenix circles away from the clinch attempt
and Phoenix counters with a nice uppercut.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Garcia tries to clinch but Phoenix moves away

and Phoenix counters by moving into the clinch.
Garcia scores with a shot to the side of Phoenix's head.
Phoenix fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Super Phoenix will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Garcia clinches but Phoenix breaks the clinch

and Phoenix counters with a takedown into side control.
Garcia is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Phoenix wants to control but Garcia is keeping him busy.
Garcia gets back to half guard.
Garcia tries to roll over but Phoenix keeps him under control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia manages to get to full guard.

Garcia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Phoenix slips nicely into half guard.
Super Phoenix has got the better of the ground game so far.
Garcia has hold of Phoenix's hands but Phoenix slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Phoenix working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Garcia is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Phoenix winds up and cracks Garcia with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Garcia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Garcia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Garcia tries to get to full guard but Phoenix has control of the leg.

Garcia actively working from the bottom here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Phoenix scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Phoenix gets a takedown into half guard.
Garcia tries to roll over but Phoenix keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phoenix escapes and gets back to his feet.

Garcia gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Phoenix wants to pass the guard but Garcia is keeping the position.
Garcia 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.
Phoenix trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Phoenix loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Phoenix decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Garcia, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia wants to clinch but Phoenix slips to the side

and Phoenix counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Garcia wants to sweep but no luck.

Garcia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Garcia wants to sweep but no luck.
Phoenix must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Garcia working for a triangle but Phoenix defends it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Garcia has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Phoenix is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Garcia.
JJ Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Super Phoenix is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Phoenix lands some shots froms side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Super Phoenix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Phoenix 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Super Phoenix!