PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gregory Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robin Gaia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gaia has chosen Manowar- Battle Hymn as his entrance music. Gregory Black has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Black
vs
Gaia

193 cm
25
293 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

225 cm
27
300 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gregory Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Robin Gaia!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Mauricio Rocha and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black slaps away a takedown attempt from Gaia, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Black shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Black showed some decent athleticism there.
Black trying to advance position but Gaia counters by regaining guard.

Gaia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Black defends well.
Black chips away with some ground and pound.
Black has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Black scoring with punches to the head and body.
Black is looking to work some ground and pound but Gaia has wrist control.
Black working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gaia's head.
Black throws a big right hand that misses.

Black avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Black stops Gaia from standing up.
Black lands a couple of digs.
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!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gaia is on top in guard.
Black knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gaia on the ground.
Gaia looks gassed!

Black is working an open guard so Gaia takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaia with a poor takedown

and Black decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gaia's guard.
Black chips away with some ground and pound.
Black in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Black's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Black stopping the sweep attempt from Gaia.
Black postures up in Gaia's guard and throws a big left but Gaia blocks it.
Black throws a big right hand that misses.
Black working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gaia's head.
Black chips away with some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Black postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Black postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gaia manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Black manages to get himself to full guard.
Gaia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Black swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Black has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Gaia off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Gaia misses with a takedown attempt

and Black counters with a single leg into guard. Gaia didn't expect that.
Gregory Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robin Gaia.
Black is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Black postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Black postures up and lands a big shot to Gaia's brow.
Black is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Black stands up over Gaia, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gaia has momentary wrist control but Black slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaia has momentary wrist control but Black slips an elbow through the middle.
Gaia has momentary wrist control but Black slips an elbow through the middle.
Black lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Black content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Black makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Black makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Black working some strikes from top position.
Gaia manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Gaia goes for an armbar but Black turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Black.
Black makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Black postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Black chips away with some ground and pound.
Black cracks Gaia with a solid left hand.
Gaia trying to keep a closed guard but Black is proving a slippery customer.
Black chips away with some ground and pound.
Black distracts Gaia with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Black landing with the ground and pound.
Black working some strikes from top position.
Black is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gaia has momentary wrist control but Black slips an elbow through the middle.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gaia bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Black's guard.

Gaia thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Black wants to stand up but Gaia is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Black drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gaia tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Black wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Black lands a nice forearm strike.
Black landing strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gaia is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gregory Black overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gaia blocking the ground and pound attempt from Black.
Black lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gaia looks like he's trying to stand up.
Black scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Black lands strikes from half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Black lands strikes from half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Black seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gaia is trying to stand.
Gaia taking some punishment here, with Black in his half guard.
Gaia on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Gaia is rocked!
Black lands strikes from half guard.
Gaia is looking to improve his position.
Black working the head and body with strikes.
Gaia is looking to improve his position.
Black working the head and body with strikes.
Black lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gaia tries to kick Black off but Black keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Black working Gaia over with strikes.
Black takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaia is trying to get back to full guard.
Black seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Gaia tries to roll over but Black keeps him under control.
Nice strikes from Black there.
Black is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Black is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Black lands with a punch from half guard.
Gaia has hold of Black's hands but Black slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gaia tries to get to full guard but Black has control of the leg.
Gaia tries to kick Black off but Black keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Black slips a nice elbow through Gaia's hands, connecting with Gaia's forehead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gaia gets back to full guard.
Black is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gaia can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaia wants to sweep but no luck.
Black chips away with some ground and pound.
Black scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Black makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Black's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Black stops Gaia from standing up.
Black passes into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Black lands a nice short elbow.
Black slips a nice elbow through Gaia's hands, connecting with Gaia's forehead.
Gaia moves into full guard.
Gaia looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Black avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gaia is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Black is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gaia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Black works over Gaia with some ground and pound from guard.
Black landing some decent shots from guard.

Gaia looking for a guillotine here but Black defends easily.
Black lands a couple of digs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Black postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Black might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Black thows a big elbow that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Black's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Black is in close to Gaia's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregory Black dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gaia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Black counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Black.
Black postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Black works over Gaia with some ground and pound from guard.
Black postures up in Gaia's guard and throws a big left but Gaia blocks it.
Black cracks Gaia with a solid left hand.
Gaia wants to stand up but Black is controlling him.
Black lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Black postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Black postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Black thows a big elbow that misses.
Black is in close to Gaia's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gaia is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gaia looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gaia is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Black doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gaia.

Gaia is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Black is just riding it out for now. Gaia eventually gives up the hold.

Gaia is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gaia is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Black doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gaia.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gaia is trying to work for a kimura but Black is defending well.
Black is trying to stand back up but Gaia is controlling him
Gaia wants to free his trapped foot but Black is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gaia has his takedown stuffed

and Black counters with a single leg into guard. Gaia didn't expect that.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Black's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gaia has momentary wrist control but Black slips an elbow through the middle.
Black distracts Gaia with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Black working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Black makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gaia has momentary wrist control but Black slips an elbow through the middle.
Gaia is still in real trouble! Can Black finish him?
Black lands a couple of elbows.
Black lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Black stands up over Gaia, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Black connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gaia trying to control the position.
Black stands up over Gaia, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Robin Gaia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gregory Black is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gaia seems to have recovered his senses.

Black got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gaia has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Black has managed to get both his arms back between Gaia's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gregory Black showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Black has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:25
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gregory Black!