PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Riley Gaffney (ranked 4420 p4p, 4771 weight class) and Just Da (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gaffney
vs
Da

180 cm
18
161
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
160
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Riley Gaffney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Just Da!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Da walks into a straight right hand from Gaffney.
A jab from Gaffney does it's job there.
A bone on bone clash there as Da blocks the leg kick.
Da throws a head kick but Gaffney moves out of range.
Gaffney with a hook.
Da looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gaffney tries to land a leg kick but Da saw it coming and moves away.
Gaffney throws a leg kick but Da moved away.
Riley Gaffney seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Da drives through with a takedown into guard.
Da controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Da decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gaffney, up you get!
A jab lands there for Gaffney.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gaffney gets caught flat footed, as Da shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Da thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Da throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da prevents Gaffney from getting back to his feet.
Gaffney keeping full guard, as Da tries to pass.

Da stands up from Gaffney's guard - Da perhaps looking for a knockout.
Da scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like Riley Gaffney has been cut.
Da fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Da walks into a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da avoids the body shot from Gaffney.
Da moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Gaffney is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Da looks for a takedown but Gaffney sprawls well.
Gaffney seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Riley Gaffney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Just Da.
Gaffney connects with a body shot that sends Da's belly button to the back.
Gaffney dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Da fails to land with a series of punches.
Da with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gaffney to score with a decent uppercut.
Da throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gaffney wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Gaffney scores with a hook to the body. Da takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Da throws a leg kick which misses Gaffney's front leg but catches the back leg as Gaffney tries to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gaffney tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Da is able to avoid easily.
Gaffney darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Da closes the distance and clinches up with Gaffney, looking for a takedown. Da pushes Gaffney against the cage but Gaffney circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gaffney misses with a shot to the body
and Da counters with a left and a right that stings Gaffney.
Gaffney is looking to score with low kicks.
Da swats away the attempt to clinch by Gaffney.
Gaffney tries to work over Da's front leg with a kick but Da checks it.
Gaffney fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Da is out of range.
Da gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gaffney.

Da darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gaffney avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Da.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da slows the pace down in half guard.
Gaffney pushes Da off looking to stand but Da dives back in and keeps control.
Da is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gaffney is in trouble now - Da has advanced to mount!

Da is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Gaffney is surviving well by controlling Da's body position as best he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Riley Gaffney will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Riley Gaffney's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gaffney connects with a body shot.
Da takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Da moves into the clinch.
Da lands a left hand.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Da tries for a takedown but Gaffney manages to get underhooks.
Da blocks an uppercut.

Da pulls guard successfully.
Da controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gaffney's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Da is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Da sitting in guard here, content to control.
Da prevents Gaffney from getting back to his feet.

Da drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gaffney manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Da has Gaffney in his guard.

Da pulls Gaffney in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Da manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gaffney manages to get himself to full guard.

Gaffney is looking to stand up but Da isn't so interested in that idea.
Da is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Da is continuing to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Just Da has got the better of the ground game so far.

Da decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gaffney, up you get!
A looping hook to the body misses from Gaffney. Da does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gaffney misses with a right hand

and Da moves into the clinch.

Da breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gaffney throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
As Gaffney backs off Da throws a huge counter combo but Gaffney manages to avoid it all.
Just Da is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Da is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gaffney sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Da keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gaffney.
Da shoots in for a takedown but Gaffney shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Riley Gaffney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Just Da.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaffney scores with a jab to the head.

Da clinches.
Da cracks Gaffney with a nice body shot.
Gaffney is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Da is keeping busy.

Da is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Gaffney can't fight it off and eventually Da manages to take the fight to the floor. Gaffney looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gaffney is looking to stand back up but Da counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Gaffney.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Da performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Just Da showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Riley Gaffney's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Da on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Da takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Da tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Da is defended easily by Gaffney.
Gaffney pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Da manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gaffney on his heels. He'll look to pass Gaffney's guard now, I'm sure.
Gaffney wants to get back to his feet but Da is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Da working the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Da has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Riley Gaffney is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Da on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Gaffney. No joy for Da on that attempt.
A good leg kick by Gaffney.
A bone on bone clash there as Da blocks the leg kick.
A combination from Da does no damage.

Da has managed to clinch.
Gaffney can't find room to land a body shot as Da controls the action.

Da's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gaffney cracks Da with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A head kick from Da lands but Gaffney takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Gaffney tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Da was well out of range. Poor timing from Gaffney.
Da throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gaffney's waist but Gaffney gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Da off to one side.
Riley Gaffney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Just Da.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gaffney lands a nice looking body shot.
Da on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Da swinging wildly here.
Da takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gaffney scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gaffney throws a leg kick

and Da decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gaffney's guard.
Da trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Da is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gaffney working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Da.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaffney wants to stand and escape but Da is having none of it.

Da stands and steps away. Gaffney gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Riley Gaffney is winning the standup battle so far.
Gaffney jabs Da right on the nose. Da blinks but takes it well.
Da avoids the head kick by Gaffney.
Gaffney throws a leg kick that is checked

and Da counters by moving into the clinch.

Da jumps guard.
Da is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Da's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Da has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Gaffney has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Da pulls guard.
Da looking for a sweep. Not yet Da, not yet.

Da is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gaffney defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Just Da.
I think Da has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Just Da!
Just Da was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.