PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Felix Basilan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hutch Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Basilan
vs
Gibson

182 cm
26
179 lbs
17 - 4 - 1

185 cm
34
175 lbs
25 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Untouchable Fight Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Felix Basilan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hutch Gibson!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gibson misses with a hook to the body
and Basilan finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Basilan tries to clinch up.
Gibson dips to his left and cracks Basilan with an uppercut!

Basilan pushes Gibson up against the cage in a clinch.
Basilan lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Basilan looking to stall.
A bit of stalling here from Gibson.
Basilan taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gibson tries to land knees in the clinch but Basilan avoids the damage to the body.
Gibson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Basilan.
Gibson tries a knee to the head but Basilan blocks it.
Basilan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Basilan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gibson's elbow.
A knee to the head by Gibson.

It looks like Felix Basilan has been cut.
Basilan stalls.

Gibson turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gibson in side control, throwing shots but Basilan defends.

Gibson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Basilan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Basilan is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gibson off and has taken his back!
Basilan has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Gibson's body.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibson tries to escape the position.
Basilan doesn't have the hooks in and Gibson manages to turn into his guard.
Gibson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Basilan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Basilan is trying to control the position but Gibson postures up.
Gibson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Basilan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gibson.
Gibson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gibson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Basilan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basilan has momentary wrist control but Gibson slips an elbow through the middle.
Gibson lands a couple of elbows.
Gibson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gibson postures up in Basilan's guard and throws a big left but Basilan blocks it.
Basilan managing to control the position.
Basilan keeping full guard, as Gibson tries to pass.
Gibson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gibson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Basilan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Basilan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gibson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basilan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gibson is looking to work some ground and pound but Basilan has wrist control.
Gibson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gibson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gibson looking to pass the guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Basilan controls Gibson momentarily but Gibson frees himself.
Gibson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gibson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Basilan is pulling down on Gibson's head to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gibson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hutch Gibson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Felix Basilan's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A nice leg kick lands there from Gibson.
Basilan gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Gibson counters with a stiff right hand.
A thudding body kick lands there by Basilan!
Gibson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gibson blocks a low kick nicely.
Gibson throws a leg kick but Basilan checks it.
Basilan throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
An inside leg kick lands from Basilan.
Basilan throws a leg kick but Gibson sees it coming and moves out of range.
Gibson thows a body shot but no joy.
A chopping leg kick lands by Basilan.
Nice body kick there by Basilan.
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!
Gibson misses with a low kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Basilan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basilan scores with a decent looking hook.

It looks like Hutch Gibson has been cut.
Basilan tries to clinch but Gibson is having none of it.
Basilan tried to score with a low kick but Gibson checks it.

Gibson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Basilan is looking to regain half guard here but Gibson keeps moving and retains side control.
Basilan is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Gibson is trying to work for a kimura but Basilan is defending well.
Basilan controlling the position for now.
Basilan regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Basilan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Basilan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gibson stays in close to Basilan's body and controls the position.
Gibson pushes down on Basilan's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gibson wants to pass the guard but Basilan is defending well.

Gibson is trying to work for a kimura but Basilan is defending well.
Gibson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Basilan defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Basilan defending well though.
Basilan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Basilan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gibson.
Gibson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gibson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gibson is just content to waste time from the top position. Basilan takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Basilan trying to control the position.
Basilan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gibson throwing strikes but missing.
Gibson passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gibson thows a huge punch but Basilan dodges it nicely.
Nice strikes from Gibson there.
Ground and pound from Gibson.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gibson throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Basilan to regain full guard.
Gibson landing some decent shots from guard.
Basilan has control of Gibson's left arm, preventing Gibson from doing any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gibson lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hutch Gibson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gibson with a hook.
Gibson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Basilan as he avoids it easily.

Gibson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Basilan taking punishment in the form of punches.
Gibson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Basilan some visible discomfort.
Gibson throws a strike aimed at the side of Basilan's head but Basilan avoids it well.
Gibson trying to control the action but Basilan is working from the bottom.
Basilan defending against the ground and pound.
Gibson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Basilan keeps working.
Gibson tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Basilan parries the strikes from Gibson easily there. Gibson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Basilan to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Basilan takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Gibson in the domination position with Basilan hanging on.
Gibson cracks Basilan with a big elbow.
Gibson is looking to take a break and control but Basilan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Basilan is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gibson off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basilan not allowing Gibson to control his hands.
Gibson can't escape the position.
Gibson breaks Basilan's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Gibson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gibson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Basilan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Basilan pulls Gibson in close to prevent any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Basilan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Basilan is trying to control the position but Gibson postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Gibson 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.
Basilan keeping moving, preventing Gibson from controlling successfully.
Gibson is looking to work some ground and pound but Basilan has wrist control.
Gibson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gibson postures up in Basilan's guard and throws a big left but Basilan blocks it.
Gibson is looking to work some ground and pound but Basilan has wrist control.
Gibson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Basilan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson throws a big right hand that misses.
Gibson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gibson wants to control from the top but Basilan keeps moving.
Gibson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Basilan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Basilan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gibson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gibson postures up in Basilan's guard and throws a big left but Basilan blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hutch Gibson really dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Basilan misses with a low kick as Gibson jumps back.
Gibson shoots in and drives through. Basilan sprawls well.
Gibson throws a leg kick but Basilan moved away.
Basilan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gibson.
Basilan misses with a hook
and Gibson counters with an inside leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Basilan. No joy for Gibson on that attempt.
Felix Basilan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hutch Gibson.
Gibson has a takedown stuffed.
Basilan moves in looking to clinch but Gibson pushes him off.
A nice leg kick lands there from Basilan.
Gibson shoots in for a takedown but Basilan shows good takedown defense.

Gibson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Basilan's guard.
Basilan looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson throwing strikes but missing.
Gibson is looking to work some ground and pound but Basilan has wrist control.
Basilan trying to keep a closed guard but Gibson is proving a slippery customer.
Gibson postures up in Basilan's guard and throws a big left but Basilan blocks it.
Basilan looking to control.
Basilan has Gibson pulled in close to control his posture.
Gibson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gibson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basilan managing to control the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Felix Basilan wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Basilan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
An inside leg kick lands from Basilan.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gibson checks a leg kick.
Gibson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gibson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Basilan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gibson.
Gibson shoots in for a takedown but Basilan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A swing and a miss from Gibson.
Gibson with a poor takedown
and Basilan counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gibson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Basilan is out of range and Gibson settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibson shoots for a double leg takedown but Basilan sprawls well. He's pushed Gibson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gibson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Basilan doesn't seem bothered though.
Gibson shoots in for a double leg but Basilan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Basilan tries a head kick but it misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gibson.
Gibson closes the distance and clinches up with Basilan, looking for a takedown. Gibson pushes Basilan against the cage but Basilan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Basilan walks into a straight right hand from Gibson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Basilan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Basilan misses with a leg kick.
Gibson scores with a shot to the body.
Gibson misses with a straight right.
Felix Basilan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basilan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gibson manages to avoid it.
Gibson throws a leg kick but Basilan checks it.
Basilan throws a looping overhand right but Gibson ducks down to avoid it.
Basilan looks to land a left hand but Gibson moved out of range nicely.
Basilan tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gibson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Basilan.
Gibson 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.
Gibson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Basilan.
Gibson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Basilan checks it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gibson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Basilan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gibson.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Basilan misses with a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Hutch Gibson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Basilan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Basilan looks to land a left hand but Gibson moved out of range nicely.
Gibson fails with the takedown.
Gibson misses with a takedown attempt
and Basilan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Basilan throws a wild body kick that Gibson sees coming a mile off.
Gibson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Basilan feints and then cracks Gibson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gibson down.
Gibson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Basilan counters with a body kick.
Felix Basilan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hutch Gibson.
Gibson walks into a stiff left hand from Basilan.
Gibson thows a body shot but no joy.
Gibson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Basilan throws a jab when Gibson was well out of range.
Felix Basilan is winning the standup battle so far.
Gibson avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson works the jab nicely.
Basilan scores with a nice body kick.
Gibson is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Gibson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Basilan tries to avoid it but Gibson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Basilan to the ground. Basilan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Basilan slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Basilan darts in trying to clinch
and Gibson counters with a nice body shot.
A leg kick checked by Gibson.
Basilan walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Gibson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Gibson gets a double leg takedown into Basilan's guard.
Basilan keeping moving, preventing Gibson from controlling successfully.
Gibson throws a big right hand that misses.
Felix Basilan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basilan working a defensive guard here.
Gibson trying to control the position from guard on top but Basilan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gibson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gibson postures up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Felix Basilan wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gibson lands with a thumping leg kick.

Gibson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Basilan quickly recovers to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gibson is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Basilan still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Basilan has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Basilan wants to take a breather but Gibson manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Basilan.

Gibson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gibson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basilan wants to control from the top but Gibson keeps moving.

Gibson looking for a guillotine here but Basilan defends easily.
Hutch Gibson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Basilan drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gibson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Basilan has Gibson in his guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gibson is looking to work some ground and pound but Basilan has wrist control.

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 Felix Basilan.
I think Gibson 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 46:50
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 46:49
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hutch Gibson!
Hutch Gibson is the new welterweight champion!
An out of breath Hutch Gibson thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.