PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Scott Gabel (ranked 4324 p4p, 4457 weight class) and Mason McNamara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mason McNamara has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Scott Gabel's chin.

Gabel
vs
McNamara

172 cm
22
178
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
22
170
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Scott Gabel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mason McNamara!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McNamara looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gabel is fending him off so far but McNamara persists. Nope, Gabel circles away and we're back to standing.
McNamara doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gabel counters with a straight right hand.

Gabel closes the distance and clinches.

McNamara gets control of Gabel's arms and successfully pulls guard. McNamara will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McNamara working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gabel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gabel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gabel would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gabel trying to control the position from guard on top but McNamara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gabel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McNamara on the ground.
Gabel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNamara 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.
McNamara is looking to stand up but Gabel isn't so interested in that idea.
McNamara trying to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Gabel instigates a clinch.
McNamara jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gabel walks away with a smile on his face. McNamara gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Scott Gabel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mason McNamara.
McNamara throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gabel's waist but Gabel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McNamara off to one side.
A jab from Gabel finds it's way through McNamara's defenses.
The fighters circling - Gabel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Gabel drives through and clinches with McNamara against the cage.
Gabel misses with the head strike.
Gabel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Gabel working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNamara blocking some punches.
Gabel stalling against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from McNamara.
McNamara misses with a punch to the body.
Gabel leaning his opponent against the cage.
McNamara is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gabel to keep the fight standing.
McNamara is looking for a takedown.
McNamara prevents a body shot from Gabel.
Gabel pushes McNamara back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gabel definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

McNamara jumps guard and drags Gabel to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNamara has a closed guard, preventing Gabel from standing up.
McNamara wants to sweep but no luck.

McNamara has an active guard here but Gabel has managed to pass into half guard.
McNamara looks winded!
McNamara tries to get to full guard but Gabel has control of the leg.
McNamara trying to hold on to Gabel's head to control him but Gabel postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Gabel dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McNamara takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

McNamara instigates a clinch.
Gabel leaning his opponent against the cage.

McNamara manages to break the clinch.
McNamara fails with a takedown attempt.
Gabel is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McNamara shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gabel sprawls well. Gabel wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McNamara gets slowly back to his feet.

Gabel gets the takedown into side control.
McNamara tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNamara really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McNamara throwing hammer fists to the chest of Gabel. What's that going to do exactly?
McNamara really wants to buck Gabel off and get back to his feet.
McNamara is trying desperately to improve position.
McNamara is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gabel looking to control and managing it successfully.
McNamara tries to hold on but Gabel postures up.
Gabel controlling his opponent.
McNamara is looking to improve his position but Gabel isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabel controlling from mount.
McNamara really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
McNamara tries to hold on but Gabel postures up.
Gabel trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McNamara is trying desperately to improve position.
Gabel controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Gabel dominated that second round.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McNamara takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
McNamara shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gabel as he avoids it easily.
McNamara tries for a takedown but Gabel circles away easily
and Gabel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Gabel pushes McNamara up against the cage in a clinch.
McNamara stalling in the clinch but Gabel improves position.
Gabel lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gabel tries to throw a body punch but McNamara avoids it by throwing Gabel back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gabel stalling in the clinch.
McNamara fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McNamara tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gabel just stands there and leans against the cage.
Scott Gabel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mason McNamara.
A shot in the inside from Gabel.
McNamara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gabel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabel throws a punch but it's blocked by McNamara.

McNamara breaks from the clinch.

Gabel clinches.
McNamara is trying to pull guard but Gabel turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gabel is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gabel lands with a short shot to the head.

McNamara breaks from the clinch.
Scott Gabel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gabel tries to close the distance and clinch up but McNamara swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Gabel takes the fight into the clinch.
Gabel stalling against the cage.

McNamara breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McNamara tries to keep at a distance but Gabel has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gabel is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
McNamara throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gabel blocks it with crossed arms.
A nice left hand lands by Gabel.
Gabel is leaning against McNamara and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Gabel.
Gabel content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Gabel stalling the fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gabel is stalling here.
Gabel seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Scott Gabel.

Gabel closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. McNamara did well to prevent Gabel getting side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabel controlling the action here.
Gabel trying to pass the guard but McNamara defending well.
Scott Gabel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gabel is taking a breather. McNamara says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
McNamara punching from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
McNamara strikes from the bottom but Gabel passes into mount!
McNamara sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

McNamara looking for subs from the bottom but Gabel mounts him!

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Gabel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gabel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Gabel!
Scott Gabel bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.