PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rupert Gardner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gardner
vs
King

225 cm
19
177 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

182 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rupert Gardner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Martin King!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, David Schapiro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
King fails with the takedown.
Gardner throws an overhand right that lands on King's shoulder, as King tries to avoid the shot.
Gardner slaps away a takedown attempt from King, before circling back to the center of the mat.
King cracks a nice hook into Gardner's ribs.
King misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
King misses with a takedown

and Gardner counters with a takedown into side control.
Rupert Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martin King.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
King can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner trying to control the action but King is working from the bottom.
King is trying to control Gardner's posture but Gardner avoids it.
Gardner trying to control the action but King is working from the bottom.
Gardner working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gardner is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, King has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on King's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
King is looking to reverse the position.
King can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King has a takedown stuffed.
Gardner looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
King swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
King shoots in but no luck this time.
Gardner throws a body punch but King moves out of range.
King wants to counter with a clinch but Gardner pushes him away.
Gardner avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Gardner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gardner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but King paws at him with a jab and circles away.

King pushes Gardner up against the cage in a clinch.
King wants to get back to striking at distance but Gardner won't allow it.
Gardner tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. King just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gardner is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but King is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
King is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gardner is defending well for now.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Gardner tries to pull guard but King holds him up against the cage and eventually Gardner drops back down to his feet.
Gardner really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gardner tries to pull guard but King won't allow it.
King leaning against his opponent.
King missing with knees to the body.
King can't break the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
King working hard to break the clinch.
King tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gardner is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gardner struggles to land a body shot inside as King controls his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Martin King will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gardner slaps away a takedown attempt from King, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gardner displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from King.

King has managed to clinch.
King is pushing Gardner up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
King lands a hook that snaps the head of Gardner backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King letting Gardner take a breather here.
Gardner tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
King tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gardner smiles and moves away.
Rupert Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martin King.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King pulls out of a head kick attempt.
King uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gardner.
King is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

King fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gardner, pushing him back against the cage.
Come on Gardner - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Gardner stalling in the clinch but King improves position.
King goes for a takedown attempt but Gardner pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
King avoids a punch combination nicely.

King has taken the fight to the clinch.
King prevents a body shot from Gardner.
King tries to pull guard but Gardner holds him up against the cage and eventually King drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardner controlling the action here for a moment.
Gardner goes for a takedown in the clinch but King prevents it.
A frustrated look appears on King's face as he tries to break the clinch.
King jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gardner walks away with a smile on his face. King gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gardner misses with a body shot.
King is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Gardner throws out a loose jab but King uses good head movement to avoid it.
King swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Martin King seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gardner tries to clinch up but King circles away and keeps his distance.
King fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gardner avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from King.

King has Gardner up against the cage in a clinch.
Gardner prevents King from breaking the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Gardner.

Gardner jumps guard and drags King to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Gardner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

King postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Gardner is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of King, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardner preventing the sweep.

King is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
King blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gardner drops to a knee looking for a takedown but King gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
King wants to break free but Gardner has control.
Gardner is trying to maintain a safe position but King gets an underhook and turns Gardner into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Martin King will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

King fails with a takedown attempt.
King throws a head kick that misses.
As King looks to move away, Gardner throws a big counter combo but King just gets out of the way.
Gardner scores with a one two! King had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Some wild striking there from King.
Horrible takedown attempt by King or perhaps it was just good defense by Gardner, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King looks for the body kick but Gardner saw that one coming.
King fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A counter left hand to the body from Gardner misses its target.
Rupert Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martin King.

King moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner looking for a takedown.
King is trying to break the clinch but Gardner is controlling him.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
King tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gardner just stands there and leans against the cage.
King takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gardner trying to stall but King improves his position.
Gardner has King pressed against the cage.
King throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
King throws an elbow but it's blocked.
King tries to pull guard but Gardner holds him up against the cage and eventually King drops back down to his feet.
Gardner taking a breather.
King can't get the takedown.
Gardner jumps guard but King stands there with Gardner around his waist. Gardner gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
King tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by King as Gardner tries to tie him up.
Gardner controlling the action here for a moment.
Gardner is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but King is keeping busy.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rupert Gardner.
King misses with a takedown attempt - Gardner sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gardner is looking to counter the offense by King and move into the clinch.
King shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gardner as he avoids it easily.
Gardner tries to counter by clinching up but King breaks away and moves out of range.
Gardner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rupert Gardner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
King goes for a double leg but Gardner avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gardner continues to drive forward.

King rushes Gardner and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gardner is trying to pull guard but King has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardner displaying some good clinch control by pressing King up against the cage.
Gardner has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. King is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gardner is looking to control King's arms but King gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gardner has his back to the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by King as Gardner tries to tie him up.
Gardner content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rupert Gardner.
King goes for a double leg but Gardner avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gardner continues to drive forward.
Gardner blocks a head kick by King.
Gardner misses with a head kick.
King avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
King is looking for the big counter here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gardner throws out a loose jab but King uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rupert Gardner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
King has his takedown stuffed

and Gardner counters by moving into the clinch.
Gardner tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
King goes for a takedown attempt but Gardner pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
King looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gardner seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Gardner swings for the body but King moves out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gardner clinches up against the cage.
Rupert Gardner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Martin King is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gardner holding his opponent close, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rupert Gardner showed his dominance in that final round.
I think King 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Martin King!