PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sithembiso Ghakarhi (ranked 5031 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Brett (ranked 5286 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ghakarhi
vs
Brett

188 cm
25
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sithembiso Ghakarhi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jason Brett!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Peter Branson and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Brett.
Brett connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ghakarhi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice straight punches there by Brett. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Brett.
Brett will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sithembiso Ghakarhi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ghakarhi throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ghakarhi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Brett moves away.
Ghakarhi stuffs the takedown attempt from Brett. Brett gets slowly back to his feet.
Ghakarhi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick from Ghakarhi lands but Brett takes it in his stride.
Brett shoots for a takedown but Ghakarhi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sithembiso Ghakarhi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Brett.
Ghakarhi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Brett.
Ghakarhi scores with a head kick. Brett tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Ghakarhi throws a head kick but Brett moves out of range.
And Brett tries to counter it with a takedown but Ghakarhi pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghakarhi throws a head kick that misses.

Brett shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Brett is nestled in close to Ghakarhi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Brett controlling the pace.
Ghakarhi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Brett.
Brett slips a nice elbow through Ghakarhi's hands, connecting with Ghakarhi's forehead.
Ghakarhi wants to get back to his feet.
Brett sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Brett works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brett working the ground and pound effectively.
Brett scoring with strikes but Ghakarhi is staying in there.
Ghakarhi trying desperately to get to his feet.
Brett can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ghakarhi is looking to escape.

Brett is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ghakarhi has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ghakarhi!
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!
Brett is looking to sweep but instead, Ghakarhi has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brett tries to get to full guard but Ghakarhi has control of the leg.
Ghakarhi is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Brett is trying to maintain the position but Ghakarhi is very close to passing his half guard.
Brett controlling the position for now.

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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Brett manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ghakarhi wanted to stand there but Brett had control of the position.
Ghakarhi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Brett wants to sweep here but Ghakarhi controlling him for the moment.
Ghakarhi is looking to stand up but Brett won't let him.
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 Sithembiso Ghakarhi will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Brett fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ghakarhi darts in trying to clinch

and Brett counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Brett makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Brett throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ghakarhi wants to get back to his feet but Brett is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Ghakarhi manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Brett swats away the attempt to clinch by Ghakarhi.
Despite the aggression on Brett's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ghakarhi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A combination from Brett does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghakarhi throws a head kick but Brett moves out of range.
Brett misses with a two punch combination.
Sithembiso Ghakarhi is winning the standup battle so far.
Brett throws a nice looking combination but Ghakarhi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Brett throws a body kick that misses
and Ghakarhi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ghakarhi misses with a double jab.
Brett lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Brett blocks a head kick by Ghakarhi.
Ghakarhi misses with a head kick.
Ghakarhi catches Brett with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Ghakarhi tries to clinch but Brett is having none of it.
Brett avoids the head kick by Ghakarhi.
Ghakarhi tries to clinch there but Brett circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Brett! But no joy.
Ghakarhi lands a head kick. Brett smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Ghakarhi tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ghakarhi wants to clinch.
Brett takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sithembiso Ghakarhi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
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!
Brett lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Brett throws a series of punches but Ghakarhi avoids them all with ease.
Brett circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ghakarhi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ghakarhi throws a head kick that misses.
Ghakarhi throws a head kick that misses.
Brett tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ghakarhi tries to clinch but Brett is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghakarhi fails in his attempt to clinch.
As Ghakarhi backs off Brett throws a huge counter combo but Ghakarhi manages to avoid it all.
A head kick misses from Ghakarhi.
Ghakarhi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ghakarhi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ghakarhi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ghakarhi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ghakarhi tries a head kick but it misses.
Brett avoids the head kick by Ghakarhi.
Ghakarhi tries to clinch there but Brett circles away.
Ghakarhi throws a sloppy head kick and Brett moves out of range easily.
Brett drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ghakarhi defends it well.
Ghakarhi moves in looking to clinch but Brett pushes him off.
Ghakarhi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghakarhi swings widly with a right hand

and Brett decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ghakarhi's guard.
Brett connects with a couple of short punches.
Ghakarhi is looking to stand up but Brett isn't so interested in that idea.

Brett drops back looking for a leg! Ghakarhi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ghakarhi manages to kick Brett off! Brett jumps back into Ghakarhi's guard.
Brett throws a strike but Ghakarhi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Brett bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ghakarhi's guard.

Brett is in close to Ghakarhi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Brett with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jason Brett will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ghakarhi wants to clinch up but Brett keeps it at a distance.
Despite the aggression on Brett's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Brett looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ghakarhi is fending him off so far but Brett persists. Nope, Ghakarhi circles away and we're back to standing.
Brett fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ghakarhi manages to avoid it.
Ghakarhi throws a head kick that Brett semi-blocks.
Danga de danga de dang - Brett scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Sithembiso Ghakarhi has been cut.
Ghakarhi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Brett wants to counter with a clinch but Ghakarhi pushes him away.
Brett connects with a body shot that sends Ghakarhi's belly button to the back.
Ghakarhi tries a head kick but it misses.
Ghakarhi slips a jab and a cross from Brett.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ghakarhi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ghakarhi throws a sloppy head kick

and Brett counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Brett lands a nice short elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Brett takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghakarhi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Brett is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Brett slips a nice elbow through Ghakarhi's hands, connecting with Ghakarhi's forehead.
Brett slows the pace down in half guard.
Brett has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ground and pound from Brett.
Brett controlling the pace.
Brett is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Brett drops an elbow to the side of Ghakarhi's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brett uses his free foot to push down on Ghakarhi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ghakarhi.
Jason Brett has got the better of the ground game so far.
Brett postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ghakarhi looks a forlorn figure.
Brett landing strikes, looking to finish!
Brett controlling from the full mount.
Brett lands a big shot there that rocks Ghakarhi but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The referee warns Ghakarhi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Brett lands a nice shot to the head.
Brett lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Brett landing punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brett looking to control and managing it successfully.

Brett jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ghakarhi is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ghakarhi and Brett has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Ghakarhi trying to remain calm as Brett controls from the top position.
Brett landing a few strikes.
Brett connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ghakarhi some visible discomfort.
Ghakarhi takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Ghakarhi taking punishment in the form of punches.
Ghakarhi is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghakarhi is trying to escape the position but Brett is controlling the position.
Ghakarhi takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Brett cracks Ghakarhi with a big right hand but Ghakarhi just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Brett cracks Ghakarhi with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Brett cracks Ghakarhi with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Brett lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ghakarhi down.

Ghakarhi is rocked!
Brett working the head with strikes.
Oh Ghakarhi is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Brett is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ghakarhi will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Brett in side control lands a decent elbow.
Brett has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Brett cracks Ghakarhi with a big elbow. Oh, he's hurt! Brett immediately mounts and start dropping bombs! Ghakarhi is done! The referee jumps in and saves him from any more punishment - a quick and decisive finish by Brett!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jason Brett!