PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zahir Gado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Hovi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zahir Gado has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gado
vs
Hovi

186 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

183 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zahir Gado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seppo Hovi!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hovi has managed to clinch.
Hovi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gado.
Gado avoiding damage as Hovi throws knees to the body.
Gado trying to land knees to the body.

Hovi breaks from the clinch.
Hovi lands with a thumping leg kick.

Gado takes the fight into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gado keeps control of Hovi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stalling in the clinch from Hovi.
Hovi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gado has him pressed against the cage.
Gado with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hovi tries a knee to the head but Gado blocks it.
Gado tries to land knees in the clinch but Hovi avoids the damage to the body.
Hovi looking to throw knees to the head but Gado is blocking nicely.
Gado with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gado prevents Hovi from breaking the clinch.
Gado is trying to stall.
Hovi content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Gado lands a knee to the body.
Gado managing to block the knees to the body from Hovi.
Hovi tries to land a knee to the head but Gado blocks with his arms.
Hovi is trying to break the clinch but Gado has him pressed against the cage.

Hovi breaks from the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Gado. No joy for Hovi on that attempt.
Hovi circles away from the clinch attempt

and Hovi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hovi looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gado working a defensive guard here.
Gado tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gado controls Hovi momentarily but Hovi frees himself.
Hovi 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.

Gado working for a triangle but Hovi defends it easily.
Gado preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hovi trying to control the position from guard on top but Gado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hovi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gado works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hovi tries to bum rush Gado with a series of wild strikes but Gado uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gado wants to clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gado.
Gado tries to clinch there but Hovi circles away.
Gado shoots in but no luck this time.
Hovi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gado is looking to clinch.

Gado has closed the distance and engaged Hovi in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gado misses with a knee strike.
Gado lands an elbow inside that Hovi shrugs off.
Gado avoids the elbow strike from Hovi, against the cage.
Gado tries to stall but Hovi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gado on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hovi is trying to maintain a safe position but Gado gets an underhook and turns Hovi into the cage.
Hovi is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gado lands a left hand.
Hovi is looking to break free of the clinch but Gado has double underhooks.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hovi misses with a knee strike.
Gado tries to land a knee to the head but Hovi blocks with his arms.
Hovi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hovi can't break the clinch.
Hovi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hovi missing with knees to the body.
Hovi is trying to break free.
Hovi gets underhooks to prevent Gado's takedown attempt.
Knees to the body from Gado.
Gado using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hovi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hovi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hovi tries to land a knee to the head but Gado blocks with his arms.
Gado connects with a knee to the head.
Gado tries to land a knee to the head but Hovi blocks with his arms.
Hovi wants to get back to striking at distance but Gado won't allow it.
Hovi takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gado tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hovi can't break the clinch.
Gado connects with a knee to the head.
Gado is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hovi will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gado up against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hovi.
Hovi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gado using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hovi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gado is trying to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hovi missing with knees to the body.
Gado misses with a knee to the head.
Hovi wants to break free but Gado has control.
Hovi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gado blocks it with crossed arms.
Gado with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hovi looking to throw knees to the head but Gado is blocking nicely.
Gado keeps control of Hovi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gado is working for takedown but Hovi is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zahir Gado. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hovi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

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

Gado has his foot on Hovi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hovi works his way back into a safe position though.
Gado trying to keep a closed guard but Hovi is proving a slippery customer.
Gado keeping moving, preventing Hovi from controlling successfully.
Gado looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hovi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gado swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Hovi gets to his feet - Gado follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Hovi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hovi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Hovi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hovi wants to control but Gado is keeping him busy.
Gado manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gado trying to control from Hovi's half guard. Hovi has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Gado thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hovi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hovi is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Gado has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gado manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovi trying to control but Gado is working from the bottom.
Gado not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hovi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hovi controlling from the top position.

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.
Gado trying to control the position.
Hovi advances to half guard.
Hovi lands with a punch from half guard.
Gado wants to control but Hovi is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gado is not content to let Hovi control the position.
Gado has hold of Hovi's hands but Hovi slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hovi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hovi is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Gado!
Hovi lands a nice shot to the head.
Hovi avoids the attempt from Gado to control.
Hovi controlling the position easily from mount.
Gado wants to control but Hovi is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hovi punishing his opponent with strikes.
Hovi looking to control but Gado is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gado is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hovi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hovi working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Gado is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gado is in a horrible position here. Hovi smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hovi lands a heavy elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Hovi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gado is looking to slow Hovi down with leg kicks.

Gado gets a clinch.
Hovi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hovi lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Gado misses with a knee strike.
Hovi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gado is trying to maintain a safe position but Hovi gets an underhook and turns Gado into the cage.
Hovi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gado misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hovi.
Gado prevents Hovi from breaking the clinch.
Hovi is looking to break free of the clinch but Gado has double underhooks.
Nice elbow from Hovi.
Gado on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gado tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Hovi manages to break the clinch.
Gado wants to clinch up but Hovi keeps it at a distance.
Gado is looking to clinch.

Gado gets a clinch.
Hovi tries to break the clinch but Gado is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gado using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Hovi breaks from the clinch.
Hovi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gado fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gado moves in looking to clinch but Hovi pushes him off.
A big right from Hovi misses.
Hovi throws a sloppy head kick and Gado moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gado tries to clinch up.
Gado throws a nice head kick!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hovi.
Gado wants to clinch up but Hovi keeps it at a distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hovi.

Hovi has taken the fight to the clinch.

Hovi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jab from Hovi.
Gado tries to close the distance and clinch but Hovi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hovi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gado's waist but Gado gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hovi off to one side.

Gado gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hovi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Seppo Hovi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gado keeping moving, preventing Hovi from controlling successfully.
Gado controls Hovi momentarily but Hovi frees himself.
Hovi wants to control from the top but Gado keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gado trying to control the position here.
Hovi won't allow Gado to sweep him here.
Gado is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hovi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gado not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Gado has taken the fight to the clinch.

Hovi breaks the clinch.

Gado gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gado throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hovi blocks it with crossed arms.
Gado tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hovi just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gado is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Hovi breaks from the clinch.

Hovi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gado gets back to full guard.
Hovi wants to control from the top but Gado keeps moving.
Gado is trying to keep Hovi in close.

Hovi decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gado, up you get!
Hovi circles away from the clinch attempt

and Hovi counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gado!
Gado tries to lock up and control but Hovi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hovi landing strikes from the mount.
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!
Gado tries to hold on but Hovi pushes him away.
Hovi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gado throwing hammer fists to the chest of Hovi. What's that going to do exactly?
Hovi prevents Gado from getting the reversal.
Zahir Gado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A nice elbow there by Hovi.
Gado wants to hold on but Hovi pushes him away.
Gado is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gado can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seppo Hovi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hovi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seppo Hovi!