PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jesus Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Gorden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gorden has chosen Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Jesus Gonzalez has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Jesus Gonzalez seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Gonzalez
vs
Gorden

150 cm
26
141 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

170 cm
29
142 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
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 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jesus Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ben Gorden!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gonzalez takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gonzalez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gorden.
Gorden moves out of range of the body kick from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez looks to score with a jab to the body but Gorden is just out of range.
Gonzalez connects with a solid leg kick.
Gonzalez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gonzalez throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gorden fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gonzalez manages to avoid it.
Gonzalez thows a body shot but no joy.
Gonzalez misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gonzalez lands the left hand.
Gonzalez misses with a right hand

and Gorden counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gonzalez has his hands on Gorden's head, controlling the position.
Gonzalez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gonzalez tries to get out of the position.
Gorden trying to control but Gonzalez is working from the bottom.
Gorden trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gorden is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gorden is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gonzalez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gorden on the ground.
Gonzalez tries to control but Gorden wriggling away.
Gorden working to try and regain half guard.
Gonzalez avoids the attempt from Gorden to control.
Gonzalez wants to control the pace but Gorden is squirming around nicely.
Gorden working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gorden is squirming around, avoiding Gonzalez's attempts to control the action.
Gorden blocking the ground and pound.
Gonzalez throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Gonzalez prevents Gorden from getting the reversal.
Gorden tries to lock up and control but Gonzalez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gorden is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gorden is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gorden working to try and regain half guard.
Gorden holds on to Gonzalez as tight as he can, avoiding damage.
Gorden is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gonzalez looking to control but Gorden is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gorden is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gonzalez with good strikes from the mount here!
Gorden bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gonzalez keeping moving, preventing Gorden from controlling successfully.

Gonzalez looking for a guillotine here but Gorden defends easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gorden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gonzalez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gorden manages to get himself to full guard.
Gorden pulls Gonzalez in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez trying to control but Gorden is working from the bottom.
Gorden looking to control.

Gonzalez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gorden has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gonzalez has managed to get both his arms back between Gorden's legs - danger averted.
Gonzalez trying to control but Gorden is working from the bottom.
Gonzalez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jesus Gonzalez.
Gorden scores with a decent looking hook.
Gonzalez looks to land a right hand but Gorden moved out of range.
Gorden is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Gonzalez misses with a few strikes there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ben Gorden will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gonzalez misses with a wild body shot.
Some wild striking there from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez swings for the body but Gorden moves out of range.
Gonzalez loads up on a big right hand but Gorden slips the punch.
Gorden dives in and grabs Gonzalez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gonzalez pushes down on Gorden's head and hops out.
Gonzalez swings for the body but Gorden moves out of range.
Gorden uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gonzalez.
Gorden lands with a cross.
Gonzalez misses with a body shot
and Gorden counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gorden fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Gonzalez on the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzalez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gonzalez takes a swing at Gorden's ribcage but misses.
Gonzalez is looking to wear down Gorden with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gorden throws a shot from downtown. Gonzalez moves away and avoids it.
Gorden scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez misses with a body punch

so Gorden counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gorden preventing the sweep.
Gonzalez working a defensive guard here.
Gonzalez is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gorden is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Gorden in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gorden trying to control but Gonzalez is working from the bottom.
Gorden is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gorden fails with the takedown
and Gonzalez counters with a nice low kick that buckles Gorden's knee momentarily.
Jesus Gonzalez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Gorden.
Gonzalez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Gorden shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gonzalez but Gonzalez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jesus Gonzalez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gonzalez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Gorden blocks the low kick.
Gonzalez swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Gonzalez tries to clinch there but Gorden circles away.
Gonzalez misses with a body shot.
Gonzalez scoring well with a low kick there.
Gorden has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez looks to score with a jab to the body but Gorden is just out of range.
Gonzalez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gorden.
Gonzalez thows a body shot but no joy.
Gorden avoids the body shot from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gonzalez misses with a shot to the body
and Gorden counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gonzalez thinking.
Gonzalez throws a leg kick

and Gorden counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gonzalez's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gonzalez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gorden missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorden cracks Gonzalez with a solid left hand.
Gorden with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gorden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gorden keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gonzalez's head.
Gonzalez wants to get back to his feet but Gorden is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gonzalez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gorden is one step ahead there.
Gorden lands a couple of elbows.
Gonzalez keeping full guard, as Gorden tries to pass.
Gorden in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gonzalez controls Gorden momentarily but Gorden frees himself.
Gonzalez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gorden's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gorden keeping moving, preventing Gonzalez from controlling successfully.
Gonzalez is stalling in the full guard.
Gonzalez preventing the sweep.
Gorden trying to keep a closed guard but Gonzalez is proving a slippery customer.
Gonzalez trying to control but Gorden is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jesus Gonzalez.
Gorden moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gonzalez misses with a body punch

and Gorden counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gonzalez is staying active underneath Gorden, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Gorden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gonzalez misses with a body punch
and Gorden counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gonzalez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gorden counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gonzalez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gorden misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gonzalez connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gonzalez misses with an uppercut
and Gorden connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ben Gorden is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gorden lands with a right hand.
Gonzalez throws a leg kick that misses.

Gonzalez takes the fight into the clinch.
Gonzalez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gorden lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gorden misses with a punch on the inside.
Gorden is trying to stall.
Gorden can't find room to land a body shot as Gonzalez controls the action.
Gorden blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Gorden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gonzalez tries to land a leg kick but Gorden saw it coming and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorden slips a straight right by Gonzalez.
Gorden lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Gonzalez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gorden manages to avoid it.
Gonzalez misses with a right hand
and Gorden connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gonzalez throws a sloppy body shot

and Gorden counters with a single leg into guard. Gonzalez didn't expect that.
Gonzalez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gonzalez holds on and takes a little breather.
Gorden loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gonzalez looking for a sweep. Not yet Gonzalez, not yet.
Gorden missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gorden controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gorden thows a big elbow that misses.
Jesus Gonzalez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez controls Gorden momentarily but Gorden frees himself.

We're going to have a standup here because Jesus Gonzalez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gorden swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gonzalez.
Gorden slips a jab from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Gorden's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Gorden thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gonzalez throws a head kick that misses.
Gonzalez swings for the body but Gorden moves out of range.
Gorden uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez misses with a hook
letting Gorden counter with a right hand.
Gorden has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Gorden will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gonzalez throws a sloppy body shot
and Gorden counters with a nice body shot.
Gonzalez misses with a body shot

and Gorden counters with a takedown into side control.
Ben Gorden is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gorden trying to control the position but Gonzalez is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorden creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Gonzalez sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Gorden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gonzalez keeps working.
Gonzalez is trying to get back to half guard.
Gorden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gonzalez keeps working.
Gonzalez is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gorden's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ben Gorden has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gorden controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gonzalez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Gonzalez keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gorden throws a good cross that connects.
Gorden misses with a body kick.
Gonzalez digs a good body shot into Gorden's ribs.
Gorden is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Gorden will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Gonzalez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gonzalez looks to score with a jab to the body but Gorden is just out of range.
Gorden moves into range and connects with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Gorden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gorden 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Gorden!