PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joao Gabriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taton Mickael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joao Gabriel had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Gabriel
vs
Mickael

188 cm
18
198 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joao Gabriel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Taton Mickael!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Alyssa Summers and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gabriel fails to land the takedown.
Mickael should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Nice sprawl there from Mickael as Gabriel shoots in.

Mickael scores with a takedown into Gabriel's guard.
Mickael postures up and lands a big shot to Gabriel's brow.
Mickael trying to control but Gabriel is working from the bottom.
Gabriel is trying to keep Mickael in close.
Mickael trying to control the position from guard on top but Gabriel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mickael is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mickael thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gabriel keeping moving, preventing Mickael from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabriel working a defensive guard here.
Mickael trying to control but Gabriel is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gabriel shoots and misses

and Mickael counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mickael.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Gabriel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gabriel wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gabriel is breathing heavily.
Gabriel trying to control the position.
Gabriel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mickael is one step ahead there.
Mickael wants to control from the top but Gabriel keeps moving.

Mickael drops back looking for a leg! Gabriel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gabriel manages to kick Mickael off! Mickael jumps back into Gabriel's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mickael 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.

Mickael drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gabriel dives on top into guard.
Gabriel controls from within his opponent's guard.

Mickael is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gabriel postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel wants to control from the top but Mickael keeps moving.

Mickael is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gabriel is aware though and is defending well.
Gabriel passes Mickael's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Mickael actively working from the bottom here.

Gabriel is trying to work for a kimura but Mickael is defending well.
Gabriel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Gabriel seems to be looking for submissions.

Gabriel looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gabriel is pressing down on Mickael's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mickael is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mickael defending well though.
Gabriel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mickael tries to kick Gabriel off but Gabriel keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Mickael is trying to control but can't.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gabriel has his takedown stuffed

and Mickael counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Mickael seems to be working for a kimura but Gabriel defends the submission attempt.

Gabriel actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taton Mickael dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mickael changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gabriel tries to avoid it but Mickael manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gabriel to the ground. Gabriel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gabriel misses with a takedown attempt

and Mickael counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gabriel's guard now.
Mickael in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Gabriel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gabriel 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.
Mickael lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gabriel will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mickael loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taton Mickael has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gabriel trying to strike off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mickael working some strikes from top position.
Gabriel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mickael accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mickael wants to get up but he can't break Gabriel's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Gabriel throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Mickael drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mickael trying to control but Gabriel is working from the bottom.
Mickael is fighting to break Gabriel's control of his arms but Gabriel is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gabriel bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mickael's guard.

Mickael is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gabriel trying to control but Mickael is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mickael wants to sweep here but Gabriel controlling him for the moment.

Mickael is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gabriel defends well.
Gabriel trying to control the position from guard on top but Mickael is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gabriel has gone for a leg lock! Mickael slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gabriel's guard.
Mickael scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel has momentary wrist control but Mickael slips an elbow through the middle.

Gabriel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mickael can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mickael trying to control the position from guard on top but Gabriel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gabriel looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gabriel wants to sweep but no luck.
Mickael looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Mickael trying to control but Gabriel is working from the bottom.

That's four 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mickael!

Gabriel gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mickael to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Gabriel striking off his back but it's not causing Mickael any problems.
Mickael lands a couple of elbows.
Gabriel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mickael is one step ahead there.

Gabriel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mickael can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taton Mickael showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mickael gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Gabriel counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Mickael wriggles free and stands up.

Mickael shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Mickael is trying to work for a kimura but Gabriel is defending well.
Mickael throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gabriel is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mickael's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mickael's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mickael looking very determined here, making life difficult for Gabriel.
Mickael trying to control the position but Gabriel manages to sink in the hooks.

Gabriel is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Mickael covering up well and avoiding damage.
Mickael prevents Gabriel from getting a body triangle.
Gabriel has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Mickael.
Mickael manages to reverse the position and now he's in Gabriel's guard. Nice work there by Mickael.
Mickael landing with the ground and pound.
Gabriel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel wants to free his trapped foot but Mickael is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Mickael looking for submissions off his back.
Gabriel is thwarting Mickael's attempts to control the position.

Gabriel seems to be working for a kimura but Mickael defends the submission attempt.
Mickael tries to get to full guard but Gabriel has control of the leg.
Gabriel scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Mickael tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Mickael is defending against the submission attempts here by Gabriel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mickael manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gabriel trying to control the position from guard on top but Mickael is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mickael looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mickael wants to sweep but no luck.
Taton Mickael is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Mickael is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gabriel wants to control from the top but Mickael keeps moving.
Gabriel looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gabriel won't allow Mickael to sweep him here.
Gabriel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mickael utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mickael gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gabriel counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mickael!
Gabriel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mickael is looking to escape.
Mickael blocking the ground and pound.
Mickael is in all sorts of trouble here.
Mickael is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Joao Gabriel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gabriel scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Mickael?

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Gabriel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mickael 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taton Mickael!