PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Gagarin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Bruce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bruce has chosen I want it all as his entrance music. Yuri Gagarin had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Gagarin
vs
Bruce

190 cm
27
265 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

195 cm
22
287 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuri Gagarin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Simon Bruce!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gagarin misses with a wild combination.

Gagarin tries to sprawl but Bruce drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Bruce with the ground and pound but Gagarin uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Gagarin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bruce wants to control from the top but Gagarin keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gagarin working a defensive guard here.
Bruce throwing strikes but missing.
Bruce wants to control from the top but Gagarin keeps moving.

Bruce has gone for a leg lock! Gagarin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bruce's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gagarin slips nicely into half guard.
Bruce is trying to get back to full guard.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Simon Bruce.
Gagarin swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Bruce counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bruce misses with the ground and pound.
Gagarin is looking to regain half guard here but Bruce keeps moving and retains side control.
Gagarin tries to escape but Bruce is in control.
Bruce working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Gagarin taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bruce off and has taken his back!
Gagarin is trying to stick to Bruce's back but Bruce is turning into Gagarin. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Gagarin's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Bruce.
Bruce working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bruce advances position into side control!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The strikes coming from Bruce are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Bruce wants to control but Gagarin is keeping him busy.

That's four 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.

Bruce looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bruce working the body and head with strikes.
Bruce with the ground and pound but Gagarin regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Gagarin is trying to stand back up but Bruce is controlling him
The fighters are battling for position here. Gagarin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Bruce in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bruce has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Bruce in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bruce trying to control the position from guard on top but Gagarin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bruce content to stall in guard here.
Bruce trying to control but Gagarin is working from the bottom.
Bruce stopping the sweep attempt from Gagarin.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bruce advances position into side control!
Gagarin is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bruce has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Bruce creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Gagarin sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Gagarin manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bruce's best efforts.
Bruce not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gagarin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bruce.
Gagarin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bruce.
Bruce throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Bruce not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bruce throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gagarin is staying active underneath Bruce, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gagarin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bruce thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gagarin's head.
Bruce not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bruce thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gagarin's head.
Bruce not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bruce missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bruce thows a huge punch but Gagarin dodges it nicely.
Bruce throwing shots but Gagarin is blocking nicely.
Gagarin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bruce.
Bruce wants to take a breather but Gagarin is having none of it.
Bruce missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gagarin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bruce scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gagarin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bruce.
Bruce is nestled in close to Gagarin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gagarin taking some punishment here, with Bruce in his half guard.

Bruce is trying to work for a kimura but Gagarin is defending well.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Bruce thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gagarin's head.
Bruce not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bruce not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Bruce is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gagarin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bruce.
Bruce throwing shots but Gagarin is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Bruce dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bruce checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Gagarin attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Bruce throws out a leg kick but Gagarin moves out of range and Bruce only half commits.
Gagarin throws a front kick aimed at Bruce's knee but Bruce avoids it well.
Gagarin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bruce checks a leg kick.
Bruce displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gagarin throws out the jab.
Bruce dodges the punch combination from Gagarin.
Gagarin misses with a double jab.
Yuri Gagarin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A low kick from Gagarin misses
and Bruce counters with a stiff right hand.
Bruce lands with a straight right. Gagarin didn't see that one coming.

Bruce bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gagarin tries to improve position but can't.
Bruce fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Bruce cracks Gagarin with a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gagarin on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Bruce wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gagarin, who protects the arm well.
Bruce in side control, throwing shots but Gagarin defends.
Bruce 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.
Gagarin wants to get back to his feet.
Bruce working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Bruce scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruce connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Gagarin some visible discomfort.
Bruce tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The strikes coming from Bruce are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Bruce trying to control the action but Gagarin is working from the bottom.
Bruce lands a decent elbow from side control.
Gagarin dodges the ground and pound from Bruce.
Bruce working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Gagarin stops Bruce from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bruce goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Gagarin has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bruce but great work by Gagarin.
Bruce is looking to reverse the position.
Gagarin throwing strikes but Bruce manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
An elbow from Bruce crashes against the mat.
Bruce 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.
Bruce grinds an elbow into Gagarin's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Bruce seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gagarin is looking to reverse the position.
Bruce working the head and body with strikes.
Bruce working the ground and pound but Gagarin is defending the strikes.
Sloppy strikes there by Bruce.
Bruce throws a strike aimed at the side of Gagarin's head but Gagarin avoids it well.
Bruce misses with the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bruce throwing strikes but Gagarin manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
A bit of a lull in the action here.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Bruce tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gagarin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Gagarin stands up and beckons Bruce to his feet.
No joy there for Bruce, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's six 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.
Gagarin stuns Bruce with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Gagarin throws a body punch but Bruce moves out of range.
Gagarin throws a shot to the body.
Gagarin tries to land a front kick but Bruce steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gagarin pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gagarin misses with an uppercut.
Bruce slips a straight right by Gagarin.
Gagarin misses with a wild combination.
Bruce throws a big shot that misses.
Bruce lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Gagarin walks into a left hand.
Gagarin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bruce manages to avoid it.
Gagarin throws a body kick that misses.
Gagarin misses with a few strikes there.
A lazy body kick from Gagarin
and Bruce counters with an outside leg kick.
Yuri Gagarin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gagarin moves out of range of the strikes.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Bruce jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bruce slips a jab and a cross from Gagarin.
A punch combination from Gagarin misses.
Gagarin scores with a decent looking hook.
Gagarin throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gagarin ducks right into an uppercut from Bruce.
Gagarin misses with a few strikes there.
Gagarin on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Bruce showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gagarin.
Bruce throws a right hand that Gagarin ducks under and follows up with a left that Gagarin also avoids with ease.
Bruce works the jab nicely.
Gagarin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bruce scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A decent looking cross lands there for Bruce.
Gagarin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin throws an off balance right hand
and Bruce counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gagarin thinking.
Bruce avoids the body shot from Gagarin.
Bruce scores with a three punch combo!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bruce throws a sloppy head kick and Gagarin moves out of range easily.

Bruce shoots in and gets a takedown into Gagarin's guard.
Bruce 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.
Bruce content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bruce working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bruce is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bruce pushing down on Gagarin's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Bruce missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Bruce working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Gagarin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gagarin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bruce.
Bruce uses his free foot to push down on Gagarin's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gagarin.
Bruce lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gagarin is working to get back to half guard.
Yuri Gagarin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bruce landing strikes from the mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Bruce comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bruce has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Simon Bruce!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Simon Bruce!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Simon Bruce!

Simon Bruce wins by unanimous decision!