PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bart Gamble (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Boykovljevic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bart Gamble has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gamble
vs
Boykovljevic

173 cm
23
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bart Gamble!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Boykovljevic!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gamble fails to land the takedown.
Boykovljevic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Boykovljevic wants it to stay on the feet.
Gamble tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Boykovljevic defends well and Gamble ends up having to push Boykovljevic into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bart Gamble. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Boykovljevic rushes Gamble and presses him up against the cage.
Boykovljevic tries for a takedown but Gamble manages to get underhooks.
Gamble tries to score a body lock takedown but Boykovljevic shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Gamble jumps into guard, dragging Boykovljevic to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boykovljevic postures up.
Gamble has a closed guard, preventing Boykovljevic from standing up.
Boykovljevic lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boykovljevic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Boykovljevic decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gamble, up you get!
Boykovljevic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Yuri Boykovljevic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gamble misses with a takedown
and Boykovljevic counters with a series of strikes. Gamble will be more careful next time no doubt.
Boykovljevic wants to clinch.
Gamble will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Boykovljevic is looking to clinch.
Gamble is looking to counter with head kicks.
Boykovljevic shoots in for a takedown but Gamble shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boykovljevic goes for a double leg but Gamble avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gamble continues to drive forward.
Boykovljevic shoots in for a double leg but Gamble sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Boykovljevic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gamble swivels and escapes.
Gamble closes the distance and clinches up with Boykovljevic, looking for a takedown. Gamble pushes Boykovljevic against the cage but Boykovljevic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Boykovljevic is looking to clinch.
Gamble displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Boykovljevic.
Gamble changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Boykovljevic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gamble but Gamble pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gamble throws a quick counter head kick but Boykovljevic was just out of range.
Boykovljevic looks winded!

Gamble has Boykovljevic up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boykovljevic wants a takedown.
Boykovljevic is trying to break free.
Boykovljevic jumps guard but Gamble turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Boykovljevic looking for a takedown.
Boykovljevic is trying to pull guard but Gamble turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Boykovljevic taking a breather.
Boykovljevic tries to pull guard but Gamble holds him up against the cage and eventually Boykovljevic drops back down to his feet.
Gamble wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Boykovljevic blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Boykovljevic is pressed up against the cage. Gamble has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Boykovljevic down to the mat. Boykovljevic avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Boykovljevic with a hook.
Gamble shoots and misses

and Boykovljevic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Boykovljevic.
Boykovljevic jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gamble walks away with a smile on his face. Boykovljevic gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gamble really is a fat lump.

Gamble shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Boykovljevic is trying to defend but Gamble finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Gamble seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gamble throwing shots but Boykovljevic is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bart Gamble will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Boykovljevic scores with a head kick. Gamble tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Bart Gamble has been cut.
Boykovljevic dives in and grabs Gamble's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gamble pushes down on Boykovljevic's head and hops out.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gamble.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Boykovljevic! But no joy.
Bart Gamble is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boykovljevic throws a hook but Gamble blocks it.
Boykovljevic is looking to clinch but Gamble is avoiding it.
Boykovljevic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gamble changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Boykovljevic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gamble is fending him off so far but Boykovljevic persists. Nope, Gamble circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gamble swats away the attempt to clinch by Boykovljevic.
A head kick misses from Gamble.
Gamble darts in looking for a takedown but Boykovljevic gets double underhooks and turns Gamble into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boykovljevic manages to pull guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gamble's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gamble accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Boykovljevic throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Gamble escapes and throws Boykovljevic's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Boykovljevic is breathing heavily.
Boykovljevic is looking for a sweep.

Gamble wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Boykovljevic, who protects the arm well.

Gamble is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Boykovljevic is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gamble tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gamble has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Boykovljevic is looking to regain half guard here but Gamble keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boykovljevic is trying to control Gamble's posture but Gamble avoids it.
Boykovljevic manages to get back to half guard.
Boykovljevic is looking to control Gamble's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Boykovljevic avoid being mounted?
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Gamble decides to return to a standing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gamble shoots in but Boykovljevic avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Boykovljevic steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Gamble.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bart Gamble. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boykovljevic tries to clinch up.
Boykovljevic throws a head kick but Gamble moves out of range.
Boykovljevic throws a leg kick
and Gamble counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Boykovljevic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gamble.
Horrible takedown attempt by Boykovljevic or perhaps it was just good defense by Gamble, which made it look bad.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gamble is stalling here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bart Gamble dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bart Gamble's cut.
That's time! Gamble's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Boykovljevic misses with a jab, cross combination.

Gamble closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Boykovljevic quickly recovers to half guard.
Gamble not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Boykovljevic wants to stand back up but Gamble manages to pass into side control.
Boykovljevic defending against the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boykovljevic struggling a bit here.
Bart Gamble overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boykovljevic manages to get back to half guard.
Boykovljevic is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gamble is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Boykovljevic has managed to free his arm - good work.

Gamble is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Boykovljevic has managed to free his arm - good work.
Boykovljevic is trying to maintain the position but Gamble is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Boykovljevic makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Boykovljevic.
Gamble stopping the sweep attempt from Boykovljevic.
Boykovljevic trying to keep a closed guard but Gamble is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Gamble shoots in for a takedown but Boykovljevic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Boykovljevic wants to slow Gamble down by chopping away at his legs.
Gamble throws a series of strikes that have Boykovljevic backpedaling.
Boykovljevic tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gamble sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Boykovljevic somewhat.
Boykovljevic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boykovljevic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Boykovljevic wants it to stay on the feet.
Boykovljevic looks for a takedown but Gamble sprawls well.
Boykovljevic tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gamble sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Boykovljevic somewhat.
Gamble appears to be looking for a big counter.
Bart Gamble has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Boykovljevic.
Boykovljevic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gamble shoots in but Boykovljevic avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boykovljevic moves in looking to clinch but Gamble pushes him off.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Boykovljevic.
Boykovljevic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gamble.
Despite the aggression on Boykovljevic's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Gamble shoots in looking for a takedown. Boykovljevic tries to sprawl out of it but Gamble keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Boykovljevic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Boykovljevic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bart Gamble showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gamble, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bart Gamble!