PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sam Raymond (ranked 4462 p4p, 4648 weight class) and Manuel Gonzalez (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.

Raymond
vs
Gonzalez

176 cm
24
135
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
130
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Raymond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Manuel Gonzalez!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, John Kavanagh and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raymond looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gonzalez lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Raymond looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As Raymond backs off Gonzalez throws a huge counter combo but Raymond manages to avoid it all.
Sam Raymond seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raymond stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Raymond wants it to stay on the feet.
Raymond shoots in looking for a takedown but Gonzalez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Raymond's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Raymond. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gonzalez gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gonzalez shoots in for a takedown but Raymond shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Raymond really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gonzalez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gonzalez showed some decent athleticism there.
Raymond is refusing to be controlled, as Gonzalez sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez trying to mount his opponent but Raymond defends it.
Raymond wants to get back to his feet.
Gonzalez wants to take a breather but Raymond is having none of it.
Gonzalez is pressing down on Raymond's thigh, looking to free his foot. Raymond is holding on for now.
Raymond is concentrating on defense, preventing Gonzalez from advancing position.
Gonzalez lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raymond trying to hold on to Gonzalez's head to control him but Gonzalez postures up.

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.
Gonzalez controlling the action here.

Raymond makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Raymond throws a jab when Gonzalez was well out of range.

Raymond drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Gonzalez pushes Raymond off and gets back to his feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gonzalez or perhaps it was just good defense by Raymond, which made it look bad.
Raymond lands a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raymond misses with an uppercut. Gonzalez saw that one coming.
Raymond throws a series of punches but Gonzalez moves out of range.

Gonzalez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Gonzalez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Raymond on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Raymond tries to get out of the position.
Raymond struggling a bit here.
Gonzalez in side control, throwing shots but Raymond defends.
Gonzalez is looking to take a break and control but Raymond is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Raymond sneaks out the side door and pushes Gonzalez away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Raymond misses.
Gonzalez shoots and misses
enabling Raymond to counter with a crisp jab.
Gonzalez defending well as Raymond loads up on a big left hand.
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!
Raymond shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Raymond swats away the attempt to clinch by Gonzalez.
Gonzalez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Raymond tries to avoid it but Gonzalez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Raymond to the ground. Raymond escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gonzalez looks winded!
Gonzalez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Raymond.
Gonzalez throws a counter combo.
Raymond misses with an uppercut. Gonzalez saw that one coming.
Gonzalez tries to clinch there but Raymond circles away.
Raymond tries for a takedown but Gonzalez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Raymond throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Raymond misses with an attempted mid kick.
Despite the aggression on Gonzalez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
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 Sam Raymond will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Raymond throws out a leg kick but Gonzalez moves out of range and Raymond only half commits.
Gonzalez takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gonzalez misses with a series of wild punches.
Raymond slaps away a takedown attempt from Gonzalez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Raymond drops down looking for a counter takedown but Gonzalez sprawls and moves away.
Gonzalez shoots in for a double leg but Raymond sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sam Raymond is winning the standup battle so far.

Gonzalez tries to keep at a distance but Raymond has taken the fight into the clinch.

Raymond breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raymond throws a low kick but Gonzalez avoids it.
Gonzalez is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

Raymond looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gonzalez!
Manuel Gonzalez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raymond is staying tight to Gonzalez's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raymond stands up and beckons Gonzalez to his feet.
Gonzalez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Raymond swivels and escapes.
Sam Raymond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Gonzalez.
Gonzalez is breathing heavily.
Raymond fails to land with a series of punches.
Gonzalez tries to clinch but Raymond is having none of it.

Raymond is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gonzalez's half guard.
Gonzalez wants to get back to his feet.
Gonzalez tries to get to full guard but Raymond has control of the leg.

Raymond decides to stand and escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raymond has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Gonzalez.
Raymond fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Raymond scores with the left hand. Gonzalez knows he should have avoided that one.

Gonzalez is rocked!
A head kick misses from Raymond.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raymond shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gonzalez defends it nicely.

Gonzalez gets tackled into the cage by Raymond. Raymond maintains the clinch.
Raymond is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raymond pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gonzalez trying to control but Raymond is working from the bottom.
Gonzalez won't allow Raymond to get back to his feet.
Raymond trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Gonzalez wants to control from the top but Raymond keeps moving.
Raymond lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Raymond is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raymond wants to pass the guard but Gonzalez is keeping the position.

Gonzalez throws his legs up looking for a submission but Raymond uses it to pass to side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raymond has control of an arm but Gonzalez manages to advance to Raymond's back!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Raymond dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Gonzalez takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gonzalez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Raymond defends it nicely.
Raymond is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gonzalez can do to turn this around?

Raymond shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Raymond was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Gonzalez explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Sam Raymond is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raymond scores with a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice sprawl there from Gonzalez as Raymond shoots in.
Gonzalez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gonzalez goes for a double leg but Raymond avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Raymond continues to drive forward.
Raymond tries to land a front kick but Gonzalez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gonzalez looks for a takedown but Raymond sprawls well.
Sam Raymond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Gonzalez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez stuffs the takedown attempt from Raymond. Raymond gets slowly back to his feet.

Raymond takes the fight into the clinch.

Raymond manages to break the clinch.

Gonzalez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Raymond lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Gonzalez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Raymond pulls his head out easily.

Raymond is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gonzalez is just riding it out for now. Raymond eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raymond working over Gonzalez with some ground and pound. Gonzalez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Raymond works his way into side control.
Raymond works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Raymond lands a few punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raymond decides to stand back up.
Gonzalez takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gonzalez is still on wobbly legs! Can Raymond finish him?
Raymond misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Raymond cracks Gonzalez with a big right hand that sees him stumbling back against the cage! Gonzalez falls to his knees and Raymond doesn't need a second invitatation - he rushes in and fires off several unanswered shots that force the referee to stop the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sam Raymond!