PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bimbo Slaissi (ranked 243 p4p, 441 weight class) and Oscar Gage (ranked 37 p4p, 72 weight class). Bimbo Slaissi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Slaissi
vs
Gage

180 cm
26
212
15 - 4 - 0

180 cm
30
206
22 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

NARCOS
Northern Zombie

Shadow Realm Apparel
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bimbo Slaissi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Oscar Gage!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Alexandre Firmino and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slaissi throws the left hand but Gage avoids the punch easily.
Gage throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Slaissi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Oscar Gage has been cut.
Good exchange - Slaissi coming out on top.
Gage tests Slaissi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Slaissi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gage scores with a jab to the jaw.
A telegraphed right hand from Slaissi misses the target.
Gage scores with a shot to the body.
Gage misses with a two punch combination.
Slaissi misses with a wild body shot.
Gage falls off balance throwing a combination
and Slaissi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gage decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gage wants to lay and pray for a moment but Slaissi keeps working.
Slaissi is trying to get back to full guard.
Slaissi is holding on to half guard well.

Gage is trying to work for a kimura but Slaissi is defending well.
Gage thows a huge punch but Slaissi dodges it nicely.
Gage controlling the action here.
Slaissi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gage is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Slaissi is doing well to control the position and prevent Gage from advancing to side control.
Gage looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Gage wants to lay and pray for a moment but Slaissi keeps working.
Gage controlling the action here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Slaissi is refusing to be controlled, as Gage sits in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gage shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Slaissi eats them both and turns towards Gage to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Gage misses with a body punch
and Slaissi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gage misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Slaissi.
Slaissi takes one on the button.
Slaissi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Gage tries to bum rush Slaissi with a series of wild strikes but Slaissi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
It looked like Slaissi was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Gage.
Gage scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Slaissi doesn't seem bothered though.
Slaissi just misses with a punch to the body.
Gage fails to land the takedown.
Slaissi moves forwards but Gage connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Donk. Gage catches Slaissi right on the button with a cross.
Some wild striking there from Gage.
Nice defenses there by Gage.
Gage is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Gage lands a glancing blow to the side of Slaissi's head.
Slaissi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Slaissi swings widly with a right hand

and Gage counters by clinching up.
Slaissi misses with a hook from the clinch.

Slaissi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Slaissi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gage.
Gage dives in and grabs Slaissi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Slaissi pushes down on Gage's head and hops out.
Slaissi appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Gage shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Slaissi but Slaissi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Oscar Gage dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Oscar Gage's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Slaissi connects with an inside leg kick.
Gage throws a poor cross that misses
and Slaissi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gage shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Slaissi defends it nicely.
A swing and a miss from Gage.
Gage swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gage takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gage scores with a one two! Slaissi had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
We've been told by Slaissi's head coaches at MMA Training and Sparring Buddies that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gage misses with a left hand
and Slaissi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gage throws a body punch but Slaissi moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Slaissi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Slaissi slips under a jab.
Slaissi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Gage throws a jab when Slaissi was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slaissi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gage misses with a wild body shot.
Gage blocks a jab.
Bimbo Slaissi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gage loads up on a big right hand but Slaissi slips the punch.
An attempted straight right counter from Slaissi misses the target.
Gage jabs Slaissi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Gage shoots in for a takedown but Slaissi shows good takedown defense.
Gage looks to land a right hand but Slaissi moved out of range.

Gage gets the takedown into side control.
Slaissi gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Gage misses with a head shot.
Slaissi is squirming around, avoiding Gage's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gage throws a sloppy strike and Slaissi uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Slaissi has ended up in Gage's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Slaissi won't allow Gage to sweep him here.
Slaissi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Slaissi stopping the sweep attempt from Gage.
Slaissi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Gage is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Slaissi is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gage wants to sweep here but Slaissi controlling him for the moment.
Slaissi content to stall in guard here.

Gage looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gage tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Slaissi is posturing up here but Gage has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Slaissi tries to roll out but it's too tight and Slaissi has to tap! Slick submission there by Gage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Oscar Gage!
An out of breath Oscar Gage thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.