PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between August Derleth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felix Gaeta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gaeta is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: B.Y.O.B.. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Derleth
vs
Gaeta

176 cm
27
135 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

170 cm
26
145 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, August Derleth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Felix Gaeta!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaeta has a takedown stuffed.
Derleth throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Gaeta moves forwards but Derleth connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gaeta fails with an attempt to clinch.
August Derleth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Derleth does no damage.

Derleth gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gaeta tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A frustrated look appears on Derleth's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Derleth connects with a knee to the head.
Gaeta unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Gaeta decides to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gaeta throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Derleth decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gaeta, up you get!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gaeta is defended easily by Derleth.
Gaeta fails with the takedown.
August Derleth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felix Gaeta.

Derleth gets caught flat footed, as Gaeta shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Derleth controls Gaeta momentarily but Gaeta frees himself.
Derleth really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gaeta throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gaeta stands up from Derleth's guard - Gaeta perhaps looking for a knockout.
August Derleth is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gaeta wants to clinch but Derleth slips to the side

and Derleth holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gaeta misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Derleth.
Gaeta blocks an elbow strike.
Derleth tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Derleth tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gaeta is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Derleth lands an elbow inside.
A body shot lands from Derleth.
Gaeta looks gassed!
Derleth throws a head punch that misses.
Gaeta takes an elbow to the forehead.
Derleth with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gaeta tries to pull guard but Derleth holds him up against the cage and eventually Gaeta drops back down to his feet.
Derleth throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gaeta unloads a knee to the mid-section. Derleth lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gaeta wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Derleth stalling.
Gaeta tries to land knees in the clinch but Derleth avoids the damage to the body.
Derleth is trying to force a seperation but Gaeta has the dominant position.
Derleth with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Felix Gaeta has been cut.
Derleth gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gaeta.
Derleth working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Derleth lands an elbow inside.
Gaeta wants to stall.
Derleth lands a hook that snaps the head of Gaeta backwards.
Derleth digs a right hand underneath Gaeta's ribcage. Gaeta let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Derleth with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Derleth gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gaeta.
Gaeta tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gaeta takes a knee right on the jaw!
Derleth lands a shoulder strike.

Derleth escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gaeta keeps the fight on the outside.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Derleth scores with a head kick.
Derleth tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gaeta takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
No luck for Gaeta with that takedown attempt.
Derleth lands with a kick to the temple. Gaeta shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Gaeta looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Derleth has Gaeta up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Derleth connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gaeta's face.
Derleth lands an uppercut.
Gaeta looking for a takedown.

Derleth manages to break the clinch.

Derleth instigates a clinch.
Derleth stalling.
Derleth using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gaeta has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Gaeta tries to circle away but Derleth has him pinned against the cage.

Derleth escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Derleth pushes Gaeta up against the cage in a clinch.
Gaeta wants a takedown but no success here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Derleth.
Gaeta has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Derleth avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Derleth lands with a right to the head.
Derleth misses with a knee strike.
Derleth lands an elbow inside.
Derleth working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Derleth.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Derleth lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gaeta is trying to drag Derleth to the mat but Derleth just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Derleth.
Gaeta is trying to break free.

Derleth breaks from the clinch.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Derleth, as that shot connected.
Gaeta has his takedown stuffed

and Derleth counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Derleth lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Derleth with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Derleth lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gaeta has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Derleth is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Derleth breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Derleth forces Gaeta back against the cage and clinches.
Gaeta is looking to break free of the clinch but Derleth has double underhooks.
Derleth lands a nice elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Derleth lands an elbow inside.

Derleth breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gaeta keeps the fight on the outside.
Derleth stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Derleth wants it to stay on the feet.
Derleth throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gaeta.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

August Derleth dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Felix Gaeta's cut.
That's time! Derleth's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Derleth throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Gaeta misses with a low kick.
Gaeta shoots in for a takedown but Derleth shows good takedown defense.
Gaeta doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Derleth counters by clinching up.
Derleth with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Derleth lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Derleth lands a damaging elbow.
Derleth lands an elbow that stopped Gaeta in his tracks for a moment.

Derleth breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Derleth scores with a kick to the midsection.

Derleth pushes Gaeta up against the cage in a clinch.

Derleth breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Derleth drives through and clinches with Gaeta against the cage.
Derleth lands an elbow just above Gaeta 's eye.
Derleth softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Derleth throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gaeta blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A knee to the head by Derleth.
Derleth softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gaeta tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Derleth just stands there and leans against the cage.
August Derleth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felix Gaeta.
Gaeta is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Derleth pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Derleth breaks from the clinch.
Gaeta doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Derleth cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Derleth pushes Gaeta up against the cage in a clinch.

Derleth manages to break the clinch.

Gaeta looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gaeta stops Derleth from getting back to his feet.
Gaeta with the ground and pound but Derleth uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Gaeta lands a couple of elbows.
Derleth is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gaeta is controlling him.
Derleth is adopting a defensive guard.
Gaeta throws a strike but Derleth rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gaeta has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gaeta escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Derleth gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Derleth stands and steps away. Gaeta gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gaeta looks to land a combination but Derleth avoids it well.
Derleth looks to clinch

and Gaeta counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gaeta loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Derleth is pulling down on Gaeta's head. It's preventing any offense from Gaeta, at least for the moment.
Gaeta postures up and lands a big shot to Derleth's brow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gaeta drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Derleth dives on top into guard.

Derleth gets to his feet. Gaeta looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Derleth has closed the distance and engaged Gaeta in a clinch.
Derleth scores with a knee to the head.
Gaeta with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gaeta tries a knee to the head but Derleth blocks it.
A short right from Derleth on the inside.

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

Derleth moves into the clinch successfully.
Gaeta looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Derleth comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Derleth tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gaeta drops down looking for an ankle pick but Derleth pulls his leg out and moves away.
Derleth tries to clinch but Gaeta moves away

and Gaeta counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Derleth's guard now.
Derleth trying to control the position.
Gaeta postures up in Derleth's guard and throws a big left but Derleth blocks it.
Felix Gaeta has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaeta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Derleth is keeping the position for now.
Derleth working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gaeta.
Gaeta tries to free his leg and advance position but Derleth is retaining full guard.

Derleth scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Derleth forces Gaeta back against the cage and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gaeta being controlled against the cage.
Gaeta using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Derleth has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gaeta tries for a takedown. No joy.
Derleth lands with a short head shot on the inside.

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

Derleth gets a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that August Derleth will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Felix Gaeta's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Derleth lands with a cross.
Gaeta shoots in for a takedown but Derleth shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Derleth rushes Gaeta and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gaeta fails to pull guard.
Derleth lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Gaeta is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
August Derleth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felix Gaeta.

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

Derleth has Gaeta up against the cage in a clinch.
Derleth lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Derleth lands with a light punch inside.
Derleth with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Derleth throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gaetas head.
Derleth lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Derleth gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Gaeta effectively controlling the action here.

Derleth breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Derleth throws a nice head kick!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gaeta fails with the takedown

and Derleth counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Derleth dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Gaeta takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaeta misses with a knee strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Derleth breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Derleth tries to clinch up but Gaeta circles away and keeps his distance.
Gaeta tries to clinch
and Derleth counters with a nice uppercut.
Gaeta swats away the attempt to clinch by Derleth.
Derleth tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gaeta swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Derleth clinches with his opponent.
Derleth trying to control the position but instead, Gaeta has worked for underhooks and has pushed Derleth into the cage.
Gaeta scores a nice knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Derleth.
Derleth tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gaeta tries to pull guard but Derleth won't allow it.

Derleth breaks from the clinch.
Gaeta scores with a spinning back kick!
Derleth stuffs the takedown.

Derleth moves into the clinch successfully.
Derleth trying to stall but Gaeta improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Derleth makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Gaeta tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Derleth just stands there and leans against the cage.
Derleth wants to stall.
August Derleth has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gaeta drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Derleth gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gaeta as Derleth tries to tie him up.
Derleth lands an elbow just above Gaeta 's eye.
Derleth tries to land a knee to the head but Gaeta blocks with his arms.

Gaeta is trying to trip Derleth. He has hold of a leg but Derleth is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Gaeta persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Derleth looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gaeta is one step ahead there.
Gaeta postures up and lands a big shot to Derleth's brow.
Gaeta landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaeta lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gaeta throwing strikes but missing.
Derleth wants to stand but Gaeta is controlling the position.
Gaeta missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Derleth scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Derleth darts in and clinches Gaeta up against the cage.
Gaeta looking to throw knees to the head but Derleth is blocking nicely.
Derleth lands a left hand.
Derleth gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gaeta.
Derleth lands a nice elbow.
Felix Gaeta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Derleth.
Derleth lands a hook to the side of the head.
Derleth holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Gaeta tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Derleth lands a damaging elbow.

Derleth manages to break the clinch.

Derleth has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gaeta trying to land knees to the body.
Derleth connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gaeta's face.

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

Derleth clinches up with Gaeta and pushes him back against the cage.
Gaeta takes an elbow to the forehead.

Gaeta ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gaeta no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Derleth would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Derleth is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Derleth passes into half guard.
August Derleth is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Gaeta actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
August Derleth showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Derleth, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... August Derleth!