PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blake Phoenix (ranked 1598 p4p, 226 weight class) and Pablo Spezziale (ranked 1400 p4p, 203 weight class). Spezziale has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Phoenix
vs
Spezziale

194 cm
20
211 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

200 cm
20
209 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Forge Clothing Co.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blake Phoenix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pablo Spezziale!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Winston Howard and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spezziale shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Phoenix eats them both and turns towards Spezziale to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Blake Phoenix has been cut.
Phoenix digs a good body shot into Spezziale's ribs.
Spezziale connects with a right hand. Phoenix shakes it off.
Phoenix staying out of range there.
Spezziale with a hook.
Phoenix avoids a punch combination nicely.
Spezziale lands a jab to the nose.
Phoenix misses the jab.
A little jabbing left from Spezziale on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Phoenix throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Spezziale scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Spezziale lands a slapping body shot.
Phoenix misses with a hook.
Spezziale throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Phoenix counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Phoenix pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Spezziale throws the left hand but Phoenix avoids the punch easily.
Spezziale looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Spezziale misses
and Phoenix counters with a left to the body.
Spezziale lands with a good body shot.
Phoenix moves out of range as Spezziale strikes.
Phoenix is looking to counter punch.
Phoenix has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Blake Phoenix's Champion Factory in the buildup to the fight.
Phoenix misses with a hook. Spezziale ducked under it nicely.
Phoenix gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Spezziale takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Phoenix uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Spezziale.
Phoenix steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Spezziale.
Phoenix was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Spezziale misses with a lunging right hand
and Phoenix counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A big right from Phoenix misses.
Spezziale swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Spezziale throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Phoenix counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Phoenix slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Spezziale swings widly with a right hand
and Phoenix counters with a left to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spezziale throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Phoenix.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix slips under a jab.
Spezziale throws a lazy right hand but Phoenix sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Spezziale might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Phoenix throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Spezziale lands with a hook. Phoenix tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Spezziale misses with a jab, cross combination.
Spezziale lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Spezziale rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Phoenix counters with a nice uppercut.
Spezziale missing with a left hand there. Phoenix was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Phoenix misses with an uppercut.
Spezziale throws an overhand right that lands on Phoenix's shoulder, as Phoenix tries to avoid the shot.
A counter left hand to the body from Phoenix misses its target.
Spezziale takes a swing at Phoenix's ribcage but misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Phoenix. Spezziale does a little dance to reset his feet.
Spezziale throws out a counter right but Phoenix avoids it with no problem.
A big right from Spezziale misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Phoenix misses its target.
Spezziale misses with an uppercut
and Phoenix cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Phoenix uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Spezziale.
An attempted straight right counter from Phoenix misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix slips a straight right by Spezziale.
Spezziale avoids the body shot from Phoenix.
It seemed like Spezziale was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Phoenix loads up on a big right hand but Spezziale slips the punch.
Spezziale walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Spezziale slips a straight right by Phoenix.
Spezziale misses with an uppercut
and Phoenix counters with a left to the body.
Nice defenses there by Spezziale.
Spezziale misses with a body shot.
Spezziale throws a combination that misses
and Phoenix counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Phoenix throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Phoenix misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Spezziale counters with a nice uppercut.
Phoenix throws a hook but Spezziale avoids it easily.
Phoenix misses the shot to the body.
It seemed like Spezziale was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Phoenix takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Phoenix lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spezziale throws out a loose jab but Phoenix uses good head movement to avoid it.
Spezziale fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Phoenix manages to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spezziale slips under a jab.
A nice side step and Spezziale releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Spezziale thows a left - swing and a miss!
A big right from Phoenix misses.
Nice defenses there by Spezziale.
Phoenix misses with a looping left.
Spezziale throws a body punch but Phoenix moves out of range.
Phoenix throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Spezziale sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A little jabbing left from Spezziale on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Spezziale throws a lazy uppercut
and Phoenix cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Spezziale connects with a crisp jab.
Spezziale defending well as Phoenix loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spezziale moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Phoenix displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Spezziale throws out the jab.
Phoenix moves out of range of the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pablo Spezziale will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Blake Phoenix's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Spezziale tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Phoenix was well out of range. Poor timing from Spezziale.
Spezziale thows a left - swing and a miss!
A swing and a miss from Spezziale.
Phoenix throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Spezziale to counter with a crisp jab.
Spezziale misses with a body shot.
Spezziale jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Spezziale misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Phoenix throws a lazy right hand but Spezziale sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Spezziale thows a left - swing and a miss!
Phoenix misses with a looping left.
Spezziale swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Phoenix swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Spezziale lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Phoenix throws a hook but Spezziale avoids it easily.
Phoenix swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Spezziale steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Phoenix.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix ducks under a wild hook from Spezziale.
Phoenix is looking to counter punch.
Spezziale blocks a jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Spezziale! But no joy.
Spezziale works the jab nicely.
Phoenix waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Spezziale.
Phoenix swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Spezziale tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Phoenix was well out of range. Poor timing from Spezziale.
Phoenix swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A little jabbing left from Spezziale on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Phoenix takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Spezziale lands with a hook. Phoenix tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Spezziale throws a poor cross that misses
and Phoenix counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Spezziale scores with a nice head shot.
Phoenix tests Spezziale's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Spezziale loads up on a big right hand but Phoenix slips the punch.
Pablo Spezziale seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Spezziale lands a glancing blow to the side of Phoenix's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Spezziale misses with a hook.
Spezziale missing with a left hand there. Phoenix was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Spezziale with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Phoenix throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Spezziale to counter with a crisp jab.
Spezziale rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Phoenix makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Phoenix keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Phoenix just misses with a punch to the body.
Spezziale is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Phoenix lands the left hand.
Spezziale closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Phoenix throws a hook but Spezziale avoids it easily.
Spezziale connects with a crisp jab.
Spezziale slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Spezziale fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Phoenix manages to avoid it.
Spezziale takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Spezziale.
Spezziale looks to score with a jab to the body but Phoenix is just out of range.
A slow jab from Spezziale misses its intended target.
No joy there for Spezziale, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Spezziale feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Phoenixs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Phoenix uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Spezziale.
Phoenix connects with a jab.
Spezziale swings away with a body shot that misses
and Phoenix cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A jab from Phoenix finds it's way through Spezziale's defenses.
Phoenix moves out of range of the strikes.
Spezziale throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Spezziale missing with a left hand there. Phoenix was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A jab lands there for Phoenix.
Nice defenses there by Phoenix.
Phoenix misses with a looping right.
Spezziale swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Spezziale is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Phoenix misses with an uppercut.
Spezziale dips to his left and cracks Phoenix with an uppercut!
Spezziale connects with a body shot.
Spezziale scores with a shot to the body.
Phoenix loads up on a big right hand but Spezziale slips the punch.
Phoenix avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Phoenix takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Spezziale throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Phoenix on the side of the head.
Pablo Spezziale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phoenix throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Spezziale throws out a loose jab but Phoenix uses good head movement to avoid it.
Spezziale misses with a lunging right hand
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
and Phoenix counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Spezziale throws a big shot that misses.
Spezziale bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Spezziale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Blake Phoenix's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Spezziale throws a body shot but no joy.
Phoenix takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Phoenix slips a jab from Spezziale.
Spezziale ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Phoenix moves away.
A little feinted left hand from Phoenix on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Phoenix looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Spezziale misses with an uppercut
and Phoenix counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Phoenix lands a really nice looking cross but Spezziale seems unphased.
Spezziale throws a shot from downtown. Phoenix moves away and avoids it.
Phoenix keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Phoenix was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Spezziale throws a sloppy body shot
and Phoenix counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Phoenix moves out of range as Spezziale strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Spezziale. That snapped Phoenix's head back.
Spezziale misses with an uppercut
and Phoenix counters with a right hand to the body.
Spezziale lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Phoenix circles away quickly and effectively.
Spezziale steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Phoenix.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix slips a straight right by Spezziale.
Spezziale scores with a body shot.
Spezziale just misses with a punch to the body.
Spezziale loads up on a big right hand but Phoenix slips the punch.
Phoenix takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Spezziale throws a left and a right that both miss
and Phoenix counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Phoenix lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Phoenix is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Spezziale.
Spezziale throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Phoenix.
Phoenix swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Spezziale fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Spezziale tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Phoenix was well out of range. Poor timing from Spezziale.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Phoenix might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Spezziale uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Phoenix.
Phoenix keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Phoenix connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix cracks Spezziale with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phoenix bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Phoenix slips under a jab from Spezziale.
Phoenix was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Spezziale just misses with a punch to the body.
A big left from Spezziale misses.
Phoenix defending well as Spezziale loads up on a big left hand.
Phoenix throws a looping overhand right but Spezziale ducks down to avoid it.
Spezziale throws out a counter right but Phoenix avoids it with no problem.
Spezziale throws a hook to the side of Phoenix's head but Phoenix sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Phoenix misses with a hook.
Spezziale misses with a lunging right hand
and Phoenix counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Phoenix ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Spezziale lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Spezziale swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Phoenix counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Spezziale cracks Phoenix with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Phoenix ducks under a wild hook from Spezziale.
Phoenix lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Phoenix throws a lazy right hand but Spezziale sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Spezziale misses with a right hand
and Phoenix counters with a nice uppercut.
Spezziale scores with a body shot.
Phoenix looks to land a right hand but Spezziale moved out of range.
Phoenix defending well as Spezziale loads up on a big left hand.
Phoenix fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Spezziale manages to avoid it.
Spezziale misses with a straight left.
Spezziale slips a straight right by Phoenix.
Spezziale avoids the body shot from Phoenix.
A looping hook to the body misses from Spezziale. Phoenix does a little dance to reset his feet.
A big left from Spezziale misses.
Blake Phoenix has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix slips under a jab.
Phoenix throws a body shot but no joy.
Spezziale lands a nice shot to the body.
Phoenix looks to land a right hand but Spezziale moved out of range.
A slow jab from Spezziale misses its intended target.
Phoenix with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Spezziale to score with a decent uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Phoenix keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Spezziale.
Phoenix fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Spezziale manages to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Spezziale throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Phoenix throws an overhand right that lands on Spezziale's shoulder, as Spezziale tries to avoid the shot.
Phoenix has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Phoenix there as he acknowledges the shot.
Left hook, right uppercut from Spezziale.
Spezziale lands a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Spezziale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Spezziale 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Spezziale!
Pablo Spezziale tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.