PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luke Gardner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mal Reynolds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reynolds comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Can't take the sky from me kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Luke Gardner has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gardner
vs
Reynolds

178 cm
26
177 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
180 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

[WOT] GR Design - Top quality, from $10 to $150 !

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Luke Gardner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mal Reynolds!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Reynolds.
Reynolds has his takedown stuffed
and Gardner counters with a left to the body.
Gardner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Reynolds manages to avoid it.

Reynolds pushes Gardner up against the cage in a clinch.

Reynolds is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Gardner can't fight it off and eventually Reynolds manages to take the fight to the floor. Gardner looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Reynolds cracks Gardner with a solid left hand.
Reynolds throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Reynolds throws an elbow that misses. Gardner uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Reynolds's guard. Nice move by Gardner!
Gardner working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
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!
Reynolds has control of Gardner's left arm, preventing Gardner from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reynolds is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gardner passes easily into side control. Nice work.
You can see the frustration on Reynolds's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gardner tries to stand but Reynolds is controlling his head.
Reynolds is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gardner's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Reynolds gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds is pulling down on Gardner's head to control his posture.
Gardner trying to control but Reynolds is working from the bottom.
Reynolds controlling Gardner's posture.
Gardner wants to control from the top but Reynolds keeps moving.
Gardner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reynolds is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Gardner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gardner tries a head kick but it misses.
Reynolds blocks a head kick by Gardner.
Reynolds with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gardner to score with a decent uppercut.
Gardner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Reynolds was well out of range. Poor timing from Gardner.
Reynolds tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gardner swivels and escapes.
Luke Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mal Reynolds.
Gardner misses with an attempted mid kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Reynolds effectively controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardner is pressed up against the cage. Reynolds has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gardner down to the mat. Gardner avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gardner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gardner throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Reynolds fails with a takedown attempt.
Good leg kick by Reynolds there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Reynolds.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reynolds shoots in for a takedown but Gardner shows good takedown defense.
Reynolds moves away from the strike by Gardner.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gardner leaves Reynolds with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Reynolds closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gardner tries to break free but Reynolds pushes him back against the cage.
Reynolds has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gardner after a bit of a struggle.
Reynolds lands a nice shot to the body.
Reynolds looking for a takedown.
Luke Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mal Reynolds.
Reynolds drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gardner pulls his leg out and moves away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Reynolds shoots for a takedown but Gardner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice defenses there by Gardner.
Gardner throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Mal Reynolds has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner throws a push kick but Reynolds slaps the foot to one side.

Reynolds dives in and scores a takedown into Gardner's guard.

Gardner looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Reynolds wants to control from the top but Gardner keeps moving.

Gardner throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Reynolds scoring with some ground and pound.
Reynolds wants to control from the top but Gardner keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardner is pulling down on Reynolds's head to control his posture.
Reynolds throwing strikes from guard but Gardner blocks nicely.
Gardner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Reynolds being controlled here momentarily.
Gardner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Reynolds scoring with punches to the head and body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gardner is trying to keep Reynolds in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Luke Gardner.
Reynolds throws a leg kick which misses Gardner's front leg but catches the back leg as Gardner tries to avoid it.

Reynolds fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Gardner to the ground. Reynolds is now in Gardner's guard.
Reynolds working some strikes from top position.
Reynolds scoring with punches to the head and body.
Reynolds trying to control the position from guard on top but Gardner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reynolds missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Reynolds trying to control but Gardner is working from the bottom.
Reynolds trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
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.
Gardner utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Reynolds throws an elbow that misses. Gardner uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Reynolds's guard. Nice move by Gardner!
Reynolds pulls Gardner in to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reynolds looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Gardner puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Reynolds is looking to control Gardner's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Reynolds avoid being mounted?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mal Reynolds showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mal Reynolds's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Reynolds tries for a takedown but Gardner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gardner. Reynolds does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gardner throws a nice inside leg kick.
Reynolds moves out of range of the body kick.
Gardner stuffs the takedown attempt from Reynolds. Reynolds gets slowly back to his feet.
A big left from Gardner misses.
Gardner takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Reynolds tries to land a front kick but Gardner steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Reynolds fails with the takedown.
Luke Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mal Reynolds.
Reynolds avoids the body shot from Gardner.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Reynolds scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Reynolds working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Reynolds creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gardner can't do much from the bottom here.
Reynolds sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gardner is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Gardner manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Reynolds is staying active underneath Gardner, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Reynolds is trying to maintain the position but Gardner is very close to passing his half guard.
Reynolds is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds wants to control but Gardner is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gardner is trying to control. Reynolds wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reynolds has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gardner is working away from the top position though.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Reynolds is looking to score with low kicks.
Reynolds shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gardner as he jumps to the side.
Luke Gardner is winning the standup battle so far.
Gardner takes a swing at Reynolds's ribcage but misses.
Gardner takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds swinging wildly here.
Gardner blocks a head kick by Reynolds.
Reynolds shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gardner as he jumps to the side.
Reynolds tries a low kick but Gardner avoids it.
Gardner waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Reynolds.

Reynolds closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Gardner breaks from the clinch.
Reynolds shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gardner counters with an outside leg kick.
Reynolds takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Reynolds fails to land the takedown.
Gardner looks to land a left hand but Reynolds moved out of range nicely.
Gardner is looking to wear down Reynolds with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gardner looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Luke Gardner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice shot by Gardner.
Luke Gardner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice jab there from Gardner.
Reynolds avoids the body shot from Gardner.
Mal Reynolds is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gardner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reynolds checks a leg kick.
Reynolds misses with a double jab
and Gardner counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Luke Gardner.
I think Reynolds 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mal Reynolds!
Mal Reynolds took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Charlie Wang's Nutrition and 95 % Laundry for their support in the buildup to the fight.