PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Taj Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anders Annorlunda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Annorlunda has chosen The Pogues - The Rocky Road To Dublin as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gibson
vs
Annorlunda

189 cm
31
185 lbs
8 - 10 - 1

193 cm
28
193 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 8 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taj Gibson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Anders Annorlunda!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Francis DeMontford and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Annorlunda. Gibson does a little dance to reset his feet.

Annorlunda clinches up with Gibson and pushes him back against the cage.
Gibson tries to stall but Annorlunda uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Annorlunda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Annorlunda scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Still in half guard, Annorlunda seems content to control.
Annorlunda throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Annorlunda lands strikes from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gibson wants to get back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Annorlunda tries to pass to full mount but Gibson defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson wants to get back to his feet.
Annorlunda trying to mount his opponent but Gibson defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Annorlunda decides to stand up.
Gibson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Gibson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Annorlunda.

Annorlunda drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibson wants to get back to his feet but Annorlunda drags him back down.

Annorlunda stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Annorlunda cracks Gibson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Gibson throws a right and a left that both miss.
A swing and a miss from Gibson.
Annorlunda connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A punch combination from Annorlunda misses.
Taj Gibson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Annorlunda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gibson was well out of range. Poor timing from Annorlunda.
Annorlunda rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gibson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Annorlunda shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Still in half guard, Annorlunda seems content to control.
Gibson wants to get back to his feet.

Annorlunda decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Annorlunda thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gibson looks to land a combination but Annorlunda avoids it well.
Annorlunda avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Annorlunda digs a good body shot into Gibson's ribs.
Annorlunda scores with a nice head shot.
Gibson tries to move into range but Annorlunda moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Annorlunda shoots in and bounces Gibson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Annorlunda looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gibson is looking to stand up but Annorlunda isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anders Annorlunda dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gibson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Annorlunda looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gibson!
Annorlunda scores with punches from side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gibson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Annorlunda is controlling him well.
Anders Annorlunda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gibson dodges the ground and pound from Annorlunda.
Annorlunda looks up at the clock and then as Gibson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Annorlunda smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Annorlunda is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Gibson's shoulder. That is not cool.
Gibson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Annorlunda looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Gibson is avoiding damage well.
Annorlunda slows the pace down.
Gibson taking a bit of punishment here - Annorlunda scoring with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The ground and pound from Annorlunda seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's two 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.

Annorlunda working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Annorlunda staying calm.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Annorlunda throws a head kick but Gibson moves out of range.
Annorlunda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gibson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gibson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
As Gibson backs off Annorlunda throws a huge counter combo but Gibson manages to avoid it all.
Annorlunda avoids a punch combination nicely.
Annorlunda is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Gibson with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Annorlunda throws out a powerful jab.

Annorlunda looking to score a takedown here. Gibson is defending well but Annorlunda drives through and ends up in Gibson's guard.

Gibson is working an open guard so Annorlunda takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Annorlunda tries to move into range but Gibson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gibson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gibson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Annorlunda darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Annorlunda content to control rather than advance.
Annorlunda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Annorlunda winds up and cracks Gibson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Still in half guard, Annorlunda seems content to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gibson wants to get back to his feet.
Annorlunda landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anders Annorlunda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Annorlunda scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gibson trying to remain calm as Annorlunda controls from the top position.
Gibson tries to escape but Annorlunda is in control.

Annorlunda is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gibson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gibson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Annorlunda has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Annorlunda scoring with punches from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Annorlunda content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Annorlunda stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson throws a right hand that Annorlunda ducks under and follows up with a left that Annorlunda also avoids with ease.
Annorlunda tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gibson defends well and Annorlunda ends up having to push Gibson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Annorlunda.
Gibson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Annorlunda dodges the punch combination from Gibson.
Annorlunda is looking for the big counter here.
Annorlunda fails to land with a series of punches.
Annorlunda scores with a body shot.
Annorlunda rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gibson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Annorlunda just misses with a punch to the body.

Annorlunda closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gibson's guard.
Annorlunda scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Annorlunda stands and throws Gibson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gibson trying to remain calm as Annorlunda controls from the top position.

Annorlunda decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Annorlunda takes a swing at Gibson's ribcage but misses.
Annorlunda misses with a head 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!
Annorlunda throws a head kick that misses.
As Annorlunda looks to move away, Gibson throws a big counter combo bu Annorlunda just gets out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Annorlunda lands a slapping body shot.
Annorlunda throws a sloppy head kick and Gibson moves out of range easily.
Gibson swings for the body but Annorlunda moves out of range.
Annorlunda is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Annorlunda digs a good body shot into Gibson's ribs.
Gibson throws a right and a left that Annorlunda avoids nicely.
Gibson takes one to the side of the head.
Gibson misses with a combination

and Annorlunda moves into the clinch.

Annorlunda pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Annorlunda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Annorlunda digs a good body shot into Gibson's ribs.
Anders Annorlunda seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Annorlunda throws a series of punches but Gibson moves out of range.
Gibson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Gibson tries to keep at a distance but Annorlunda has taken the fight into the clinch.

Annorlunda pulls Gibson into guard.
Taj Gibson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anders Annorlunda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Annorlunda tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Annorlunda working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gibson.

Annorlunda wriggles free and stands up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anders Annorlunda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Annorlunda has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 27:30
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anders Annorlunda!
Our winner, Anders Annorlunda, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.