PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gamzat Gamzatov (ranked 1684 p4p, 1905 weight class) and Uriah Small (ranked 228 p4p, 270 weight class). Gamzatov's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Entrance Song. This should be a great matchup!

Gamzatov
vs
Small

188 cm
30
203
16 - 13 - 0

183 cm
38
200
28 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gamzat Gamzatov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Uriah Small!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yuuki Gou and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Small throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gamzatov is looking to clinch but Small is avoiding it.
Gamzatov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gamzatov looks to land a right hand but Small moved out of range.
Gamzatov shoots in but no luck this time.
Uriah Small seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Small tries to bum rush Gamzatov with a series of wild strikes but Gamzatov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Small feints and then cracks Gamzatov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gamzatov down.
A low kick from Small is predictable there

and Gamzatov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gamzatov.
Small can't keep his opponent in guard - Gamzatov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Small tries to kick Gamzatov off but Gamzatov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Gamzatov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Small looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gamzatov is working for a kimura but Small is defending it quite comfortably.

Gamzatov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gamzatov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Small!

Gamzatov goes for an armbar but Small turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Small.
Gamzatov is pulling down on Small's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gamzatov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Small manages to get himself to full guard.

Gamzatov wants to pass the guard but Small is keeping the position.
Small wants to stand but Gamzatov is controlling the position.
Gamzatov throws an elbow that misses. Small uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gamzatov's guard. Nice move by Small!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Small wants to get up but he can't break Gamzatov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Small won't allow Gamzatov to sweep him here.
Gamzatov has control of Small's left arm, preventing Small from doing any damage.

Gamzatov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Small is fighting to break Gamzatov's control of his arms but Gamzatov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

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.
Gamzatov has a closed guard, preventing Small from standing up.
Gamzatov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Small puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Gamzatov is trying to stand back up but Small is controlling him
Gamzatov is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
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 Gamzat Gamzatov will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Small is looking to slow Gamzatov down with leg kicks.
Small throws out a leg kick but Gamzatov moves out of range and Small only half commits.
Gamzatov shoots in and drives through. Small sprawls well.
Gamzatov shoots in but Small avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The fighters circling - Small throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Small gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Small lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Small is fighting off a takedown attempt but Gamzatov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Small to the mat. Small regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Small manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Small throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gamzatovs head.
Small misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gamzatov wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gamzat Gamzatov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gamzatov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Small pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gamzatov ducks under a wild hook from Small.
Small throws a jab when Gamzatov was well out of range.
Gamzatov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Small works Gamzatov's body with a nice hook.
Uriah Small is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A low kick lands for Small.
Small swings for the body but Gamzatov moves out of range.
Small lands a nice hook to Gamzatov's body. Gamzatov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Small punishes Gamzatov's body with a nice straight punch.
Small missing with a left hand there. Gamzatov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gamzatov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Small's waist but Small gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gamzatov off to one side.
Good shot there by Small.
Gamzatov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Small.
Gamzatov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Small connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gamzatov's hands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch lands to the side of Gamzatov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Small lands with an overhand left.

Gamzatov is rocked!
Gamzatov avoids the body shot from Small.
Gamzatov tries to counter with a takedown but Small is quick to defend against it.
Small darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Oh Gamzatov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Small lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Small throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gamzatov seems to have got his legs back now.
Gamzatov fails to land the takedown.
Small swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Small has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Small digs a right hand underneath Gamzatov's ribcage. Gamzatov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Gamzatov has Small pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Small manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gamzatov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Small pulls his leg out and moves away.

Small feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Gamzatov sprawling to the canvas! Gamzatov rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Small finish him?!

Small gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gamzatov to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Small is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
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!
Small stops a takedown attempt from Gamzatov.
Small misses with a punch to the body.
Small is pressed up against the cage. Gamzatov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Small down to the mat. Small avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Small ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gamzatov moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gamzatov slips under a jab from Small.
A jab from Small does it's job there.
Small fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Small comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Small connects with an inside leg kick.
Gamzatov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Small fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gamzatov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gamzatov ducks under a wild hook from Small.
Small throws a jab but it's blocked by Gamzatov.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Small looks to throw the jab but Gamzatov is out of range.
Small turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Small fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gamzatov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uriah Small showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Small throws a jab when Gamzatov was well out of range.
Small misses with an uppercut.
Small misses with a body shot.
Gamzatov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gamzatov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Small throws out the jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gamzatov is defended easily by Small.
Gamzatov has his takedown stuffed
and Small counters with a lovely shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gamzatov blocks a jab.
Gamzat Gamzatov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Small fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gamzatov, pushing him back against the cage.
Gamzatov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Small pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gamzat Gamzatov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gamzatov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Small gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gamzatov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Small misses with some punches.
Small stops a takedown attempt from Gamzatov.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gamzatov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Small pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Small lands a body punch.
Small lands with a light punch inside.
Small has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gamzatov goes for a takedown attempt but Small pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A big right from Small misses.
Gamzatov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nice jab there from Small.
Uriah Small seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Small fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Gamzatov takes one on the button.
Small fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gamzatov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gamzatov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Small swinging wildly here.
Gamzatov attempts a counter takedown but Small avoids it well and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Small lands with a cross.
Gamzatov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Some wild striking there from Small.

Small takes the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Small.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Small.
Gamzatov looking for a takedown.
Small lands a right hand.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Small.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Small lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Gamzatov to his knees! Small keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Uriah Small!
During a confident post fight interview, Uriah Small thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.