PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Weidan Gong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Gasques (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gong
vs
Gasques

160 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

170 cm
23
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Weidan Gong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Gasques!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Radbod Blank and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gasques lands a nice shot to the body.
Gong uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gasques.
Gong steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gasques.
Gasques dodges the punch combination from Gong.

Gasques shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gasques controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Gong throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gasques controlling from the top position.
Gasques lands a couple of digs.
Gasques must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gasques's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Gong escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gasques gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gong is trying to hold Gasques in close to prevent damage but Gasques has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gong has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gasques is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gong looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gong wants to improve his position but Gasques is controlling well.

Gong is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gasques pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gasques slows the pace down in half guard.
Let's hope that Gasques 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 two 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.
Gong on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gong wants to get back to his feet.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gasques in particular looking to stall.

Despite being in the dominant position, Joe Gasques just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Gasques shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gong is trying to defend but Gasques finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gasques trying to advance position but Gong counters by regaining guard.
Gasques 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.
Gong is trying to keep Gasques in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gong looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gasques is one step ahead there.
Gasques controlling from the top position.
Gong is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gasques controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gong not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gasques controlling from the top position.
I looks like Gasques 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.

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.
Gong throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Gasques's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Gong is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gasques is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Gong looking for a guillotine here but Gasques defends easily.
Gasques stays in close to Gong's body and controls the position.
Gong looking for a sweep. Not yet Gong, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Gasques dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Some wild striking there from Gasques.
Gong moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Gong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gong tries to clinch up but Gasques circles away and keeps his distance.
Gong gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gasques counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gong's guard now.
Gong 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.

Gong throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gasques looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Joe Gasques just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gasques lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gong backs up against the cage.
Gong closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gasques counters with a stiff right hand.
Gong tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gasques counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gong shoots and misses

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

Gong escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gasques gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gasques postures up.
Gong wants to sweep but no luck.
Gong is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gasques sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gong is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gasques is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gong working a defensive guard here.
Gong can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gasques controls the pace.
Joe Gasques has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gong trying to control the position.
Gong looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Gong working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gasques doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gasques manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gasques 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.

Gasques stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gong throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Gasques misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Gong darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gong thows a huge punch but Gasques dodges it nicely.
Gong looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gong with the ground and pound but Gasques uses the opportunity to regain guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gong looking to sit in guard and control but Gasques gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gasques 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Gasques 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! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gasques gets a takedown into half guard.
Gong is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gasques looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Still in half guard, Gasques seems content to control.
Gong wants to control the action here but instead Gasques manages to pass to full mount!
Gasques controlling from the full mount.
Gong tries to hold on but Gasques pushes him away.
Gasques takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gong is desperately trying to improve his position but Gasques has a good base and remains in mount.
Gasques controlling from mount.
Gong tries to hold on but Gasques pushes him away.
Gasques content just to control the position here.
Gasques wants to control the pace but Gong is squirming around nicely.
Gong can't escape the position.
Gasques controlling his opponent.
Gong can't escape the position.
Gasques controlling from the full mount.
Gong manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gong wants to improve his position but Gasques is controlling well.
Gasques throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Weidan Gong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gong trying to control here.
Gasques controlling the action here.
Gasques prevents Gong from improving his position.
Gong wants to control but Gasques is keeping busy.
Gasques working the head and body with strikes.
Gasques trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gong throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gasques.
Gong fails to land the takedown.
Gong gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gasques counters by clinching up.
Gasques stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Gong drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gasques pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Weidan Gong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gong tries to clinch but Gasques moves away

and Gasques counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gong!
Gasques landing strikes, looking to finish!
Gasques looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gasques landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gong is desperately trying to improve his position but Gasques has a good base and remains in mount.
Gasques controlling from mount.
Joe Gasques is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gasques landing punches.
Gasques lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gong is desperately trying to improve his position but Gasques has a good base and remains in mount.
Gasques content just to control the position here.
Gong is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Gasques comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gasques 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Gasques!