PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ray Guido (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drew Branch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Guido's entrance music is Strictly Business. A fine choice. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Guido
vs
Branch

170 cm
20
145 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

173 cm
20
144 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ray Guido!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Drew Branch!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Branch scores with a crisp jab that stopped Guido in his tracks.

Guido closes the distance and clinches.
Guido stalling the fight.
A short left from Guido.
Branch is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Branch fails to land.

Guido breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Guido keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Branch tries to keep at a distance but Guido has taken the fight into the clinch.
Guido scores with a nice hook to the head.
Guido keeps control of Branch as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Guido has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Branch clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Branch breaks Guido's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Guido preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Branch passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Branch trying to control the action but Guido is working from the bottom.
Guido wants to control but Branch postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Branch tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Branch tries to score with some ground and pound. Guido controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Guido is looking for a sweep.
Guido wants to control but Branch postures up.

Branch is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Guido knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Branch is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Guido knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Branch looks gassed!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Guido closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Branch is trying to break the clinch but Guido has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Guido.
Guido is stalling here.
Guido lands with a short shot to the head.

Guido breaks the clinch.
A slow jab from Branch misses its intended target.

Guido has closed the distance and engaged Branch in a clinch.

Branch is fighting off a takedown attempt but Guido is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Branch to the mat. Branch regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Guido wants to control from the top but Branch keeps moving.
Guido working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Guido wants to control from the top but Branch keeps moving.
Guido chips away with some ground and pound.
Guido sitting in guard here, content to control.

Branch throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guido loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Guido with a nice head shot there.
Guido looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Branch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Guido can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Branch can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Guido controls the pace.
Guido wants to control from the top but Branch keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Guido advances position into side control!
Guido trying to control the position but Branch is working away.
Guido staying calm.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Ray Guido just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Branch avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Guido looks to land a combination. Branch sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Guido defending well as Branch loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Guido dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Branch throws a nice looking combination but Guido bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Guido clinches up against the cage.
Guido has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Branch avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Branch wants to break the clinch but can't.

Guido breaks the clinch.
Branch swats away the attempt to clinch by Guido.

Guido decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Guido trying to control from half guard but Branch is working away.
Branch moves into full guard.

Branch is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Guido looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Guido content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branch keeping moving, preventing Guido from controlling successfully.
Guido stands and throws Branch's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Guido controlling the position from side mount.
Branch tries to bench press Guido off him but Guido keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Branch is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Guido stands up and beckons Branch to his feet.

Guido closes the distance and clinches.
Guido has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Branch avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Guido digs a right hand underneath Branch's ribcage. Branch let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Branch wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Guido lands with a right to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Guido.
Branch wants to break free but Guido has control.

Guido manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Guido gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Branch wants to get back to striking at distance but Guido won't allow it.
Guido taking a breather.
Guido keeps control of Branch as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Guido escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Guido looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Branch just misses with a punch to the body.

Guido takes the fight into the clinch.
Branch wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Guido has him pressed against the cage.
Branch looking for a takedown.
Guido tries to score a body lock takedown but Branch shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Guido. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Branch is trying to break free.

Guido lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Guido controlling the action here.
Branch is looking for a sweep. Guido is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branch makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Branch.
Guido controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Branch looking for a guillotine here but Guido defends easily.
Guido preventing the sweep.
Guido controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Branch is looking for a triangle but Guido pushes his legs off easily.
Guido won't allow Branch to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Guido dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Guido moves into the clinch successfully.
Branch tries to break the clinch but Guido is controlling the position.
Guido scores with a shoulder strike.

Guido manages to break the clinch.

Guido closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Branch is looking to escape.
Well, if Guido is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Branch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Branch tries to roll over but Guido keeps him under control.

Guido decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Guido drives through and clinches with Branch against the cage.
Guido is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branch wants a takedown.
Branch gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Guido.
Guido lands with a right to the head.
Guido stalls.
Guido looking for a takedown.
Branch wants to break free but Guido has control.
Branch is trying to break free.
Branch has had enough of the clinch but Guido keeps him there for the moment.
Guido content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Branch wants to break free but Guido has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Guido taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Branch is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Guido pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Branch has had enough of the clinch but Guido keeps him there for the moment.

Guido gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Branch makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Branch.
Branch throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Guido is in close to Branch's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Guido trying to control but Branch is working from the bottom.

Branch is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Branch kicks Guido off and gets to his feet.
Guido throws a one two combo.
Branch shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Guido as he jumps to the side.
Ray Guido has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Drew Branch.

Guido moves into range and clinches up with Branch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branch has had enough of the clinch but Guido keeps him there for the moment.
Guido lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Guido is working Branch over against the cage.
Guido is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Branch gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Branch works on Guido's body with a couple of short punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Guido.
Branch tries for a takedown. No joy.
Guido has Branch pressed against the cage.
Branch wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Branch wants to break the clinch but can't.

Guido is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Branch can't fight it off and eventually Guido manages to take the fight to the floor. Branch looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Guido working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Branch working for a triangle but Guido defends it easily.

Branch is looking for a triangle but Guido pushes his legs off easily.

Guido gets to his feet. Branch looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Guido tries to clinch but Branch moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Guido lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Drew Branch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Branch wants to get back to striking at distance but Guido won't allow it.
Branch is looking to break free of the clinch but Guido has double underhooks.
A right handed body shot lands from Guido.
A left hand lands to the body for Guido.
Guido lands a left hand that snaps the head of Branch backwards.
Guido has Branch pushed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Guido showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Guido has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Guido!