PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Arian von Maximus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arturo Gatti III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). von Maximus's entrance music is Richard Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

von Maximus
vs
Gatti III

176 cm
19
166 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
18
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Hell's Balls Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arian von Maximus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arturo Gatti III!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
von Maximus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gatti III.
Gatti III tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but von Maximus was well out of range. Poor timing from Gatti III.

von Maximus fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gatti III, pushing him back against the cage.
Gatti III lands a right hand.
Gatti III presses von Maximus against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Good body shot from Gatti III.
von Maximus tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gatti III pushes von Maximus back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Gatti III - that landed with a thud.
von Maximus has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gatti III is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A right handed body shot lands from von Maximus.
Gatti III tries to work over von Maximus's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
von Maximus tries for a takedown but Gatti III manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arian von Maximus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
von Maximus wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gatti III presses von Maximus against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

von Maximus breaks from the clinch.
von Maximus showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gatti III.
Gatti III throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gatti III lands a with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatti III looks to throw the jab but von Maximus is out of range.
von Maximus is looking to clinch.
Gatti III throws a shot from downtown. von Maximus moves away and avoids it.
Danga de danga de dang - von Maximus scores with a four punch combination!
von Maximus shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

von Maximus looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gatti III looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
von Maximus missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
von Maximus throws a big right hand that misses.
von Maximus wants to control from the top but Gatti III keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatti III is pulling down on von Maximus's head to control his posture.
Gatti III wants to sweep here but von Maximus controlling him for the moment.
von Maximus stays in close to Gatti III's body and controls the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
von Maximus shoots for a takedown but Gatti III saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
von Maximus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
von Maximus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gatti III.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatti III fails to land with a series of punches.
von Maximus uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gatti III.

von Maximus moves into the clinch.
von Maximus is trying to break free.
Gatti III cracks von Maximus with a nice body shot.
von Maximus tries for a takedown but Gatti III manages to get underhooks.

von Maximus tightens his grip and picks Gatti III up, before dumping him to the ground. Gatti III manages to land in guard.
Gatti III looking to hit a scissor sweep but von Maximus is one step ahead there.
von Maximus trying to control but Gatti III is working from the bottom.
von Maximus preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatti III is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
von Maximus wants to pass the guard but Gatti III is keeping the position.
von Maximus trying to control but Gatti III is working from the bottom.
von Maximus is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gatti III is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Gatti III tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - von Maximus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
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 Arian von Maximus will probably get the nod.
That's time! von Maximus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gatti III connects with a crisp jab.
von Maximus connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gatti III throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and von Maximus counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gatti III's guard now.
von Maximus won't allow Gatti III to sweep him here.
Gatti III keeping full guard, as von Maximus tries to pass.
von Maximus wants to control from the top but Gatti III keeps moving.
von Maximus looking to pass the guard.
Gatti III has a closed guard, preventing von Maximus from standing up.
Gatti III really doesn't want to stay on the ground with von Maximus. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
von Maximus pushes down on Gatti III's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gatti III wants to get back to full guard.
Gatti III blocking the ground and pound attempt from von Maximus.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
von Maximus slips under a jab from Gatti III.
Gatti III throws a left and a right that both miss
and von Maximus counters with a big head kick but Gatti III shrugs it off.
von Maximus closes the distance and clinches up with Gatti III, looking for a takedown. von Maximus pushes Gatti III against the cage but Gatti III circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

von Maximus looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
von Maximus prevents Gatti III from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
von Maximus trying to control the position from guard on top but Gatti III is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
von Maximus is stalling in the full guard.

von Maximus decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Gatti III lands a slapping body shot.
Arturo Gatti III is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatti III throws a hook to the side of von Maximus's head but von Maximus sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
von Maximus shoots in for a takedown but Gatti III shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gatti III takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Gatti III is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by von Maximus.
Gatti III circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gatti III misses with a shot to the body
and von Maximus counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gatti III thinking.
Gatti III misses with a hook. von Maximus ducked under it nicely.
Gatti III rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but von Maximus moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gatti III swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by von Maximus.
Gatti III throws a left and a right that both miss
and von Maximus counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

von Maximus scores a takedown into full mount!
Gatti III tries to hold on but von Maximus postures up.
von Maximus content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatti III is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
von Maximus trying to control but Gatti III is having none of it.
von Maximus lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arian von Maximus dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

von Maximus wants to clinch up but Gatti III keeps it at a distance.
A swing and a miss from Gatti III.
Gatti III misses with an uppercut.
Gatti III stuffs the takedown.
von Maximus misses with a takedown attempt - Gatti III sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gatti III lands a really nice looking cross but von Maximus seems unphased.
von Maximus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Arturo Gatti III seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gatti III misses with a shot to the body
and von Maximus counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
von Maximus uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gatti III.
von Maximus lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by von Maximus.
von Maximus staying out of range there.
von Maximus takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Gatti III lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

von Maximus is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gatti III throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Oh von Maximus is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Arturo Gatti III seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
von Maximus blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatti III throws a left and a right that both miss
and von Maximus counters with a left to the body.
Gatti III takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
von Maximus slips a straight right by Gatti III.
Gatti III throws a looping overhand right but von Maximus ducks down to avoid it.
von Maximus seems to have got his legs back now.
von Maximus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gatti III.
A slow jab from Gatti III misses its intended target.
Jab from Gatti III.
Gatti III swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
von Maximus lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
von Maximus scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
von Maximus fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arian von Maximus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
von Maximus tries to clinch but Gatti III is having none of it.
von Maximus lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gatti III backs up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gatti III looks to land a left hand but von Maximus moved out of range nicely.
Gatti III tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but von Maximus was well out of range. Poor timing from Gatti III.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

von Maximus shoots in and bounces Gatti III off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gatti III keeping moving, preventing von Maximus from controlling successfully.
von Maximus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gatti III can do anything to dispel that myth.
von Maximus advances position into side control!
von Maximus is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Arian von Maximus is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatti III is looking to regain half guard here but von Maximus keeps moving and retains side control.
von Maximus trying to control the action but Gatti III is working from the bottom.
von Maximus 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 Gatti III's shoulder. That is not cool.
Arturo Gatti III has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.
Gatti III is trying to get back to half guard.
von Maximus trying to control the action but Gatti III is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
von Maximus avoids the body shot from Gatti III.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arian von Maximus showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for von Maximus, 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arian von Maximus!