PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gareth Bale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raylan Givens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bale
vs
Givens

185 cm
26
195 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

187 cm
29
195 lbs
16 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gareth Bale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Raylan Givens!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Givens avoids the head kick by Bale.
Bale throws a leg kick which misses Givens's front leg but catches the back leg as Givens tries to avoid it.
Givens smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Givens fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bale sprawls well initially but Givens persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bale is pressing down on Givens's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bale wants to stand up but Givens is controlling him.
Givens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bale keeping full guard, as Givens tries to pass.
Givens won't allow Bale to sweep him here.
Givens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Givens lands a couple of digs.
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!
Bale wants to stand up but Givens is controlling him.
Givens trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Givens throws a big elbow that misses.
Bale preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bale 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.
Givens is looking to work some ground and pound but Bale has wrist control.
Givens lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Givens trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Givens throws a big elbow that misses.
Givens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bale is keeping the position for now.
Givens in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bale controlling Givens's posture.
Givens preventing the sweep.
Givens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bale works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bale controls Givens momentarily but Givens frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bale tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Givens in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bale looking to control.

Gareth Bale has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Bale will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Bale throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gareth Bale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bale misses with a kick to the body
and Givens counters with a nice uppercut.
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!
Givens lands a nice looking body kick.
Bale misses with a body kick.
Gareth Bale is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Givens manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bale on his heels. He'll look to pass Bale's guard now, I'm sure.
Givens lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Givens postures up in Bale's guard and throws a big left but Bale blocks it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bale looking to hit a scissor sweep but Givens is one step ahead there.
Bale trying to keep a closed guard but Givens is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Givens throwing strikes but missing.
Givens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Givens prevents Bale from getting back to his feet.
Givens looking to sit in guard and control but Bale gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Givens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bale trying to stand up but can't free himself from Givens's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Givens is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bale defends well.

Givens has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bale can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bale trying to control the position from guard on top but Givens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Givens throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bale wants to control from the top but Givens keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Givens has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bale can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raylan Givens dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bale lunges at Givens with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Givens's hand.
Bale attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Bale moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Bale connects with an inside leg kick.
Bale avoids the body shot from Givens.
Good leg kick by Bale there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Givens throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bale's head.
A solid leg kick lands there for Bale.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A combination from Bale does no damage.
Bale throws a head kick but Givens moves out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Bale scores with a four punch combination!
Givens blocks a head kick by Bale.
A head kick misses from Givens.
Bale fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Givens manages to avoid it.
Bale throws a low kick but it's checked well by Givens.
Gareth Bale is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bale throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Bale wants to land a leg kick but Givens is out of range.
Bale avoids the head kick by Givens.
Givens blocks a head kick by Bale.
A swing and a miss from Bale.
Givens blocks a head kick by Bale.
Givens lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Bale has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Givens.
Bale checks a leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Bale.
Givens checks a leg kick.
Bale looks to land a combination but Givens avoids it well.
Givens ducks under a wild hook from Bale.
Bale stuffs the takedown.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Bale crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Givens - the referee stops the clock and Bale gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Givens. Bale manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Givens throws a push kick but Bale slaps the foot to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bale takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bale connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Givens with a jab.
Gareth Bale is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Givens takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bale blocks a head kick by Givens.
Givens throws a chopping leg kick but Bale manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Bale misses with a series of wild punches.
Givens on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bale misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bale misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bale misses with a left hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Givens stuns Bale with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bale misses the shot to the body.
A lazy left from Givens finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Givens.
Bale misses with a jab, cross combination.
Givens lands a nice looking body kick.
Bale thows a body shot but no joy.
Bale takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Givens throws a sloppy head kick and Bale moves out of range easily.
Givens takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A head kick by Bale misses
and Givens counters with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Givens throws a sloppy head kick and Bale moves out of range easily.
Givens misses with a body kick.
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!
Bale lands a leg kick that knocks Givens off balance momentarily.
Bale fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Givens is out of range.
Givens on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Givens's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Bale throws a leg kick
and Givens counters with a body kick that stops Bale in his tracks momentarily.
Bale ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Givens moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Bale.
Good work by Givens as he checks the leg kick.
Bale throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Givens thows a body kick. Bale tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Givens wants to clinch.
Givens pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bale misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Givens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bale.
Bale shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bale lands a head kick!
Givens thuds his shin into the meat of Bale's side.
Givens shoots in looking for a takedown but Bale manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Givens's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gareth Bale dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bale keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Bale throws a lazy uppercut
and Givens counters with a head kick. That will keep Bale thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Bale misses with the combination.
Givens lands with a nice body kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Givens.
Bale walks forward, straight into a front kick from Givens.
Bale takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Bale misses with a combination
and Givens counters with a nice kick to the body.
Bale throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bale will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Bale doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bale motions for Givens to come forward. Bale throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A nice leg kick lands there from Givens.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Givens looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Givens pushes down on Bale's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Givens stops Bale from getting back to his feet.
Givens is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Givens throws a strike but Bale avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Givens with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bale keeping moving, preventing Givens from controlling successfully.
Givens with a nice head shot there.
Givens is looking to work some ground and pound but Bale has wrist control.
Givens postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Givens working some strikes from top position.
Givens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Givens throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Givens trying to control but Bale is working from the bottom.
Bale preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Givens postures up in Bale's guard and throws a big left but Bale blocks it.
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!
Givens trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bale working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Givens.
Givens controls from within his opponent's guard.
Givens throws a big elbow that misses.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bale holds on and takes a little breather.
Givens looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Givens keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bale's head.
Bale wants to stand and escape but Givens is having none of it.
Givens landing some decent shots from guard.
Bale is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Givens won't allow Bale to get back to his feet.
Givens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bale wants to stand and escape but Givens is having none of it.
Givens throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Givens loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bale wants to get back to his feet but Givens is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Givens stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bale swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Givens is pushing down on Bale's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bale is fighting to maintain full guard but Givens has managed to sneak the leg through.
Givens sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bale defending well though.
Givens has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Givens lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bale won't allow Givens to pass to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bale is looking to escape.
Givens is nestled in close to Bale, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Givens wants to control but Bale is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raylan Givens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Givens 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raylan Givens!
Raylan Givens seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.