PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tristian Van Buren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takanori Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takanori Gomi acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Van Buren
vs
Gomi

178 cm
18
164 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
156 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tristian Van Buren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Takanori Gomi!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Anthony Taglia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Buren avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gomi misses with a combination
letting Van Buren counter with a right hand.
Van Buren doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gomi counters with a two punch combo.
Gomi misses with a two punch combination.
Van Buren misses with a takedown
and Gomi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Gomi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Gomi.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gomi enables Van Buren to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gomi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Van Buren stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gomi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Buren won't allow Gomi to get back to his feet.
Van Buren passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gomi is trying to control Van Buren's posture but Van Buren avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi dodges the ground and pound from Van Buren.
Gomi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Van Buren wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gomi is trying to buck Van Buren off.
Gomi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Van Buren. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Van Buren slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Gomi.

Van Buren working for a guillotine from mount but Gomi is in no mood to give up.

Van Buren is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Gomi is surviving well by controlling Van Buren's body position as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Buren looking for a guillotine from mount but Gomi is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gomi is desperately trying to improve his position but Van Buren has a good base and remains in mount.

Van Buren has control of Gomi's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Gomi regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Gomi is desperately trying to improve his position but Van Buren has a good base and remains in mount.

Van Buren has hold of Gomi's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gomi manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Van Buren working for a guillotine from mount but Gomi is in no mood to give up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gomi wants to hold on but Van Buren pushes him away.
Gomi wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Gomi looks gassed!
Van Buren sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Van Buren looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Gomi is looking to get to half guard.
Gomi wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi can't escape the position.

Van Buren is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Gomi defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Van Buren tightening his grip on Gomi, looking for the choke.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Van Buren is looking for the choke from the back position but Gomi is controlling his hands well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gomi is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Van Buren shoots in and drives through. Gomi sprawls well.
Van Buren shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gomi counters with a two punch combo.
Gomi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Van Buren with a poor takedown
and Gomi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tristian Van Buren. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gomi falls off balance throwing a combination

and Van Buren counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gomi's guard now.

Van Buren drops back looking for a leg! Gomi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gomi manages to kick Van Buren off! Van Buren jumps back into Gomi's guard.
Gomi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Van Buren is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Van Buren drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Van Buren jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gomi controlling Van Buren's posture.
Gomi wants to sweep here but Van Buren controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Van Buren postures up in Gomi's guard and throws a big left but Gomi blocks it.

Van Buren drops back looking for a leg! Gomi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gomi manages to kick Van Buren off! Van Buren jumps back into Gomi's guard.
Gomi wants to get back to his feet but Van Buren is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gomi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Van Buren is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Van Buren drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Van Buren jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Van Buren is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gomi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Van Buren wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gomi, who protects the arm well.

Van Buren thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gomi can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Buren thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gomi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Van Buren is trying to get an arm triangle but Gomi is defending well.
Gomi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Van Buren working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tristian Van Buren dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Van Buren doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gomi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Van Buren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gomi can do to turn this around?
Gomi tests Van Buren's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gomi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gomi displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
No joy there for Gomi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gomi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Buren tries for a takedown but Gomi circles away easily
and Gomi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Van Buren showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gomi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi throws a left and a right that both miss

and Van Buren decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gomi's guard.
Gomi lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.

Van Buren drops back looking for a leg! Gomi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gomi manages to kick Van Buren off! Van Buren jumps back into Gomi's guard.

Gomi has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Van Buren off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Van Buren tries for a takedown but Gomi circles away easily
and Gomi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tristian Van Buren. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Van Buren takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Van Buren with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gomi counters with a two punch combo.
The crowd cheers as Gomi lands an impressive looking overhand right. Van Buren doesn't seem phased though.
Van Buren misses with a takedown
and Gomi counters with a left and a right that stings Van Buren.
Gomi jabs at Van Buren's body.
Gomi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sloppy strikes from Gomi. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi throws a series of punches but Van Buren moves out of range.
Gomi throws a nice looking combination but Van Buren bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gomi looks to land a combination but Van Buren avoids it well.
Van Buren has his takedown stuffed
and Gomi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gomi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Van Buren.
Gomi throws a series of punches but Van Buren moves out of range.
Van Buren with a poor takedown
enabling Gomi to counter with a crisp jab.
Van Buren fails with the takedown
enabling Gomi to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four 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.
Gomi misses with a double jab.
Gomi falls off balance throwing a combination

and Van Buren counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Gomi has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Van Buren off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Takanori Gomi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gomi misses with the combination.
Gomi throws a combination that misses

and Van Buren counters with a takedown into side control.
Van Buren misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Tristian Van Buren is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Van Buren wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gomi, who protects the arm well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tristian Van Buren showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Van Buren, 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tristian Van Buren!