PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Buck Naked (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Kiptanui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Naked comes to the cage accompanied by Da Ya Think I'm Sexy. Kiptanui has chosen Edu Kehäkettunen - Pastaa, Pestoo ja Pajautusta (feat. Konan) as his entrance music. Buck Naked has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Naked
vs
Kiptanui

184 cm
30
177 lbs
24 - 9 - 1

173 cm
27
166 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class MT
Good gas tank

Non-Stop Nutrition

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Buck Naked!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gabriel Kiptanui!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Paul Gruel and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kiptanui fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Naked checks it well.
Kiptanui wants to slow Naked down by chopping away at his legs.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Naked checks a leg kick.
Kiptanui wants to clinch up but Naked keeps it at a distance.
Kiptanui throws a solid leg kick but Naked takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kiptanui.

Kiptanui drives through with a takedown into guard.

Kiptanui thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Naked wants to sweep but no luck.
Kiptanui working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Naked wants to get back to his feet but Kiptanui is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kiptanui trying to control but Naked is working from the bottom.
Naked wants to stand and escape but Kiptanui is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiptanui throws a big elbow that misses.
Kiptanui forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kiptanui is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Naked has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kiptanui is keen to just control but Naked is a slippery customer.
Kiptanui throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui tries to pass the half guard into mount. Naked knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Kiptanui looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kiptanui wants to take a breather but Naked is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naked wants to improve his position but Kiptanui is controlling well.
Kiptanui wants to free his trapped foot but Naked is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kiptanui not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Kiptanui is trying to work for a kimura but Naked is defending well.
Kiptanui wants to control but Naked is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kiptanui is looking for a kimura but Naked is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kiptanui to get the leverage.
Kiptanui looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Naked wants to get back to full guard.

Kiptanui is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Kiptanui looking for a submission but Naked manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Kiptanui trying to control but Naked is working from the bottom.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Naked kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Kiptanui looking to sit in guard and control but Naked gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Naked is stalling in the full guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Kiptanui has his foot on Naked's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Naked works his way back into a safe position though.
Naked wants to get up but he can't break Kiptanui's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Naked stopping the sweep attempt from Kiptanui.
Naked will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Naked has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kiptanui is proving hard to escape from.
Naked controls from within his opponent's guard.
Naked trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kiptanui's guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Buck Naked.
Naked jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kiptanui looks to land a right hand but Naked moved out of range.
Kiptanui looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Naked is fending him off so far but Kiptanui persists. Nope, Naked circles away and we're back to standing.

Kiptanui closes the distance and clinches.
Kiptanui misses with a knee to the head.
Kiptanui tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Naked just stands there and leans against the cage.
Knees to the body from Kiptanui.

Kiptanui pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Naked throws a jab but it's blocked by Kiptanui.
Kiptanui looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Naked does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Nice takedown defense from Naked. No joy for Kiptanui on that attempt.
Buck Naked has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Kiptanui.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kiptanui is looking to clinch.
Kiptanui is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui tries to close the distance and clinch but Naked swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Naked misses with a body kick.
Nice takedown defense from Naked. No joy for Kiptanui on that attempt.
Kiptanui finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Buck Naked is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kiptanui lands a glancing blow to the side of Naked's head.
Naked misses with a head kick.
Kiptanui pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Naked throws a head kick that misses.
Naked tries a head kick but it misses.
Naked throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Naked scores with a head kick. Kiptanui tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kiptanui thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Naked if he has to take too many more of those.
Kiptanui lands with a good body shot.
Naked misses with a head kick.

Kiptanui gets the takedown into side control.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Naked sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kiptanui wants to advance to full mount but Naked doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Naked utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kiptanui trying to control the position from guard on top but Naked is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kiptanui loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kiptanui drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Naked manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kiptanui has Naked in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Kiptanui dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Naked takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A head kick misses from Naked.
A jab from Kiptanui does it's job there.
Kiptanui shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A head kick misses from Naked.
Naked thows a body shot but no joy.
Naked throws a head kick but Kiptanui moves out of range.
Naked tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kiptanui checks the leg kick nicely there.

Kiptanui clinches up with Naked and pushes him back against the cage.
Kiptanui misses with an elbow strike.
Kiptanui fails to pull guard.
Kiptanui lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Buck Naked has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiptanui wants a takedown.
Buck Naked has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Kiptanui.

Naked breaks from the clinch.
Kiptanui throws a hook but Naked blocks it.
Naked fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kiptanui on the side of the head.
Naked sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Buck Naked seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Naked lands a slapping body shot.
Naked lands a head kick!
A slapping body kick lands there for Naked.
Naked tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Naked tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kiptanui throws a leg kick but Naked sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Naked misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Naked does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naked throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kiptanui.
Naked scores with a decent looking hook.

Kiptanui is rocked!
Kiptanui throws a push kick but Naked slaps the foot to one side.
Kiptanui is still on wobbly legs! Can Naked finish him?
Naked listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A big right from Naked misses.
Kiptanui shoots in but no luck this time.
Kiptanui throws a head kick that misses.
Kiptanui keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kiptanui seems to have recovered his senses.
Kiptanui throws a series of punches but Naked avoids them all with ease.
Naked tries a head kick but it misses.
Kiptanui tries to clinch up but Naked circles away and keeps his distance.
Kiptanui fails in his attempt to clinch.
Naked throws a good cross that connects.
Kiptanui jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Kiptanui feints and as Naked raises his hands in defense, Kiptanui changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui wants to control from the top but Naked keeps moving.
Kiptanui pushes down on Naked's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Kiptanui looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kiptanui thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Naked's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kiptanui is working for a submission of some sort.
Kiptanui tries to pass the half guard into mount. Naked knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Kiptanui looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui is trying to control the action in half guard but Naked is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kiptanui is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Naked pulls Kiptanui in to control the position.
Kiptanui trying to control the position from guard on top but Naked is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui wants to pass the guard but Naked is keeping the position.
Kiptanui throws a strike but Naked rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Naked stopping the sweep attempt from Kiptanui.
Naked trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kiptanui's guard.
Naked won't allow Kiptanui to sweep him here.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Naked stands up from Kiptanui's guard - Naked perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kiptanui moves out of range as Naked strikes.
Naked throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Naked throws a head kick that misses.
Naked misses with a head kick.
Kiptanui blocks the body kick.
Kiptanui throws a leg kick but Naked moved away.
A good leg kick by Kiptanui.
No joy there for Naked, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A head kick misses from Kiptanui.
Naked tests Kiptanui's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Naked scores with a head kick. Kiptanui tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kiptanui fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kiptanui throws a front kick aimed at Naked's knee but Naked avoids it well.
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!
A head kick by Naked misses
and Kiptanui counters with an outside leg kick.
Kiptanui misses with an uppercut.
Naked thows a body shot but no joy.
Naked misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kiptanui looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Naked is fending him off so far but Kiptanui persists. Nope, Naked circles away and we're back to standing.
Kiptanui doesn't manage to clinch there - Naked circles away.
Buck Naked is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Naked uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kiptanui.
Naked tries to score with a low kick but Kiptanui moves his leg out of the way.
Naked takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Naked throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Naked throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kiptanui's head.
Kiptanui fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kiptanui moves in looking to clinch but Naked pushes him off.

Kiptanui feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kiptanui throwing strikes but missing.
Kiptanui trying to control but Naked is working from the bottom.
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 fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gabriel Kiptanui.
I think Kiptanui 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Gabriel Kiptanui!
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight for Gabriel Kiptanui!
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight for Gabriel Kiptanui!

Gabriel Kiptanui wins by unanimous decision!
Gabriel Kiptanui seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.