PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sal Gorchev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raji Viutz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gorchev
vs
Viutz

200 cm
22
148 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sal Gorchev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Raji Viutz!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Viutz doesn't manage to clinch there - Gorchev circles away.
Viutz just misses with a punch to the body.
Gorchev darts in trying to clinch

and Viutz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gorchev's guard.
Viutz throws a strike but Gorchev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gorchev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Viutz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gorchev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gorchev looking to pass the guard.

Gorchev stands up and waves to Viutz to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viutz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Viutz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Viutz looks gassed!

Gorchev throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Viutz shoots in and drives through. Gorchev sprawls well.
Gorchev connects with a solid leg kick.
Gorchev looks for a takedown but Viutz sprawls well.
Viutz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gorchev tries to clinch up but Viutz circles away and keeps his distance.
Gorchev cracks a nice hook into Viutz's ribs.
Gorchev pushes Viutz away with a front kick.

Gorchev shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Viutz's guard.
Viutz looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viutz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gorchev advances position into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Viutz tries to improve position but can't.
Viutz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Gorchev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Viutz is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Viutz tries to bench press Gorchev off him but Gorchev keeps the position.
Gorchev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Viutz keeps working.
Gorchev just content to control the position.
Gorchev really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gorchev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Viutz keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gorchev pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Viutz with a poor takedown
and Gorchev counters with a body kick that stops Viutz in his tracks momentarily.
Sal Gorchev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raji Viutz.
Gorchev lands a head kick!

Viutz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Viutz grinds an elbow into Gorchev's temple.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gorchev is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Viutz's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Gorchev pushes Viutz off and gets back to his feet.

Gorchev clinches up with Viutz and pushes him back against the cage.

Gorchev manages to break the clinch.
Viutz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Gorchev closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Well, if Gorchev is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Viutz actively working from the bottom here.
Gorchev is pressing down on Viutz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Viutz is holding on for now.

Gorchev escapes and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gorchev throws a series of punches but Viutz moves out of range.
Gorchev wants to clinch but Viutz slips to the side

and Viutz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gorchev is trying to control the position but Viutz postures up.
Viutz wants to stand but Gorchev has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gorchev is on top in guard.
Viutz wants to sweep here but Gorchev controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sal Gorchev will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gorchev wants to clinch up but Viutz keeps it at a distance.
Viutz blocks a head kick by Gorchev.

Viutz closes the distance and clinches.
Viutz is trying to break free.
Viutz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gorchev has him pressed against the cage.
Viutz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gorchev has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A head punch on the inside from Viutz fails to land.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Viutz pulls guard.
Viutz looking to control.
Gorchev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Viutz is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gorchev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Viutz is breathing heavily.
Viutz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gorchev slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorchev works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Viutz is trying to get back to full guard.
Viutz manages to get to full guard.
Gorchev scoring with punches to the head and body.
Viutz 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.

Viutz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gorchev gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Gorchev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice takedown defense from Gorchev. No joy for Viutz on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viutz throws a predictable looking body shot

so Gorchev counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gorchev pushing down on Viutz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gorchev is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Gorchev is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Viutz is surviving well by controlling Gorchev's body position as best he can.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gorchev trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Viutz has given up his back here.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
I really don't envy Viutz right now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gorchev doesn't have the hooks in and Viutz manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viutz trying to move into half guard but instead Gorchev has managed to sweep!
Viutz trying to keep a closed guard but Gorchev is proving a slippery customer.
Gorchev wants to control from the top but Viutz keeps moving.
Viutz wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Gorchev manages to pass to side control.
Gorchev passes the guard and advances to mount!
Gorchev controlling from the full mount.
Gorchev wants to control the pace but Viutz is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Viutz has given up his back here.
Gorchev slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Viutz is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Viutz tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gorchev counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Viutz is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Gorchev pulls his head out easily.
Ground and pound from Gorchev.
Viutz regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gorchev scoring with some ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gorchev sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gorchev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Viutz is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sal Gorchev dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Viutz throws a right hand that Gorchev ducks under and follows up with a left that Gorchev also avoids with ease.

Viutz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Gorchev regains half guard.
Gorchev trying to control from the bottom.
Gorchev gets back to full guard.
Gorchev trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Viutz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Viutz trying to control but Gorchev is working from the bottom.
Gorchev controlling Viutz's posture.
Viutz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Viutz looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorchev trying to keep a closed guard but Viutz is proving a slippery customer.
Viutz trying to control but Gorchev is working from the bottom.
Sal Gorchev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Viutz postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Gorchev is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Viutz, into his guard.
Gorchev content to stall in guard here.

Viutz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gorchev stopping the sweep attempt from Viutz.
Viutz trying to control the position.

That's two 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.
Gorchev wants to control from the top but Viutz keeps moving.
Viutz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gorchev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Viutz 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Viutz tries to clinch but Gorchev is having none of it.

Viutz gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Viutz goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Gorchev has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Viutz but great work by Gorchev.
Viutz looking for a sweep but Gorchev has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Viutz is trying desperately to improve position.
Raji Viutz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Gorchev stands up from mount. Strange move.
Gorchev with a poor takedown

and Viutz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gorchev's guard now.
Gorchev lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
Gorchev trying to control the position.
Gorchev keeping full guard, as Viutz tries to pass.
Viutz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gorchev keeping full guard, as Viutz tries to pass.
Gorchev pulls Viutz in to control the position.
Viutz passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Viutz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gorchev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gorchev wants to control but Viutz postures up.
Gorchev prevents Viutz from moving into mount.

Viutz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Viutz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gorchev manages to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raji Viutz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gorchev 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sal Gorchev!