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Stepping Stone 86 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Tokyo, with a TWGC record of 6 wins and 9 losses; Matt Spanks! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Los Angeles, with a TWGC record of 16 wins and 2 losses; Gino Gambini!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Robert Twigg.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Gambini changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Spanks tries to avoid it but Gambini manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Spanks to the ground. Spanks escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gambini shoots for a takedown but Spanks saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Spanks shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Spanks (2) vs (0) Gambini
Gambini keeping full guard, as Spanks tries to pass.
Gambini is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gambini controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spanks wants to control from the top but Gambini keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gambini is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spanks trying to control the position from guard on top but Gambini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gambini managing to control the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gambini 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.
Spanks wants to control from the top but Gambini keeps moving.
Spanks is really struggling to control Gambini but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Gambini pulls Spanks in to control the position.
Spanks looking to pass the guard.
Spanks is working hard here to advance position.
Gambini is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spanks pushing down on Gambini's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gambini works his way to full guard. Good work.
Spanks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gambini is keeping the position for now.
Gambini is controlling Spanks's posture.
Spanks wants to pass the guard but Gambini is keeping the position.
Gambini manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Spanks manages to get himself to full guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Spanks (2) vs (2) Gambini
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gambini controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gambini's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Spanks looking to control.
Gambini is stalling in the full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spanks looking to control.
Spanks pulls Gambini in close to his closed guard and prevents Gambini from doing any damage or advancing position.
Gambini is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Spanks might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gambini looking to pass the guard.
Spanks looking for a sweep. Not yet Spanks, not yet.
Gambini is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Spanks pulls Gambini in close to prevent any damage.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Gambini content to stall in guard here.
Spanks wants to sweep here but Gambini controlling him for the moment.
We've been informed that Gambini has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Gambini pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spanks is keeping the position for now.
Gambini keeps trying to improve his position.
Spanks is trying to control the position but Gambini postures up.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Spanks tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gambini slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Spanks looking to control.
Gambini controls from within his opponent's guard.
More stalling from Gambini.
It looks like Gambini might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Spanks looking for a sweep. Not yet Spanks, not yet.
Gambini trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gambini controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Spanks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gambini slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Spanks wants to sweep here but Gambini controlling him for the moment.
Gambini is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Gambini stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Spanks swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Spanks controls Gambini momentarily but Gambini frees himself.
Spanks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gambini defends it easily.
Gambini won't allow Spanks to sweep him here.
Gambini looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Spanks working for a triangle but Gambini defends it easily.
Gambini content to stall in guard here.
Spanks is looking to sweep but instead, Gambini has passed into half guard.
Gambini with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Gambini wants to pass to mount but Spanks is defending the position.
Spanks keeping hold of Gambini's head, controlling as best he can.
Gambini not doing much here.
Gambini is thwarting Spanks's attempts to control the position.
Gambini looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Gambini with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Gambini trying to pass the guard but Spanks defending well.
Gambini is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Spanks wants to improve his position but Gambini is controlling well.
Gambini perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Let's hope that Gambini has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Spanks wants to control but Gambini is keeping busy.
Gambini content to control rather than advance.
Spanks is looking for a sweep. Gambini is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Spanks trying to control from the bottom.
Gambini looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Gambini wants to pass the guard but Spanks is defending well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Spanks manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gambini stopping the sweep attempt from Spanks.
Gambini slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Spanks working a defensive guard here.
Gambini passes easily into side control. Nice work. Score +3 for passing guard: Spanks (2) vs (5) Gambini
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Spanks trying to remain calm as Gambini controls from the top position.
Spanks is trying to control Gambini's posture but Gambini avoids it.
Gambini is staying tight to Spanks's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gambini working away.
Gambini in side control, just content to control the action for now.
And that's the end of the fight!
Gambini wins on points by 5 to 2.
After winning the bout, Gino Gambini thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility. |
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