PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James May (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Gannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

May
vs
Gannon

180 cm
21
192 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

172 cm
22
185 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Black Skull Clothing
Black Skull Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James May!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Gannon!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gannon tries to close the distance and clinch but May swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
May closes the distance but Gannon moves to the side

and Gannon counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Gannon drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and May dives on top into guard.
Gannon is trying to keep May in close.

Gannon is working an open guard so May takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gannon shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says May as he avoids it easily.

May closes the distance and clinches.
Gannon drops to a knee looking for a takedown but May gets the underhooks and prevents it.
May wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gannon has him pressed against the cage.

Gannon manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Gannon looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gannon decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Gannon scores with a takedown into May's guard.
May bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gannon's guard.

May gets to his feet - Gannon follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
May tries to clinch

so Gannon counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gannon lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gannon throws a strike but May rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

May stands and steps away. Gannon gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gannon will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
James May has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Gannon.
Gannon circles away from the clinch attempt

and Gannon moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gannon goes for a takedown attempt but May pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Gannon dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

May wants to clinch but Gannon slips to the side

and Gannon counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
May makes his way to full guard. A much better position for May.
May controlling Gannon's posture.

Gannon has gone for a leg lock! May slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gannon's guard.
May 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gannon is trying to keep May in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
May seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Gannon is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
May wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Gannon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
May tries to clinch but Gannon moves away
and Gannon counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
May blocks a low kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gannon tries to clinch but May moves out of range.
A low kick from May is predictable there

and Gannon moves into the clinch.
May blocking some punches.

Gannon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gannon tries to clinch but May moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gannon wants to clinch up but May keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Gannon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gannon looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Paul Gannon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A low kick from May misses
and Gannon counters with a straight right hand.
Gannon moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Gannon keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
May looks to clinch

and Gannon counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gannon wants to pass to mount but May is defending the position.
May is trying to stand up here but Gannon is controlling him well.
Gannon throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
May wants to get back to his feet.
Gannon trying to control the action but May is working from the bottom.
May wants to control but Gannon is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gannon trying to control the action but May is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
May wants to get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Gannon closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gannon lands in his opponent's guard.
May looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
May is looking to sweep but instead, Gannon has passed into half guard.

Gannon seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gannon wants to control but May is keeping him busy.
Gannon missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
May wants to get back to his feet.
Gannon thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gannon not doing much here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A low kick from May misses

and Gannon counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gannon lands a nice uppercut.
Gannon misses with a short punch on the inside.
May wants to break free but Gannon has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gannon lands with a right to the head.
Gannon changes levels and goes for a takedown here. May fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gannon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A low kick from May misses

and Gannon counters with a nice double leg into side control. May won't be happy with that.
May manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gannon is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and May reverses the position - he's now on top in Gannon's guard.
May controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Gannon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gannon has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Gannon!