PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Magomed Bankalaev (ranked 3489 p4p, 2250 weight class) and Carlos Gomez (ranked 431 p4p, 293 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bankalaev
vs
Gomez

181 cm
27
191
6 - 4 - 0

185 cm
26
200
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Magomed Bankalaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carlos Gomez!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gomez looking to land some kicks to the body here.
It looked like Bankalaev wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Bankalaev gets the takedown into side control.
Gomez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gomez struggling a bit here.
Bankalaev is working Gomez over with some ground and pound from side control.
Gomez is not content to let Bankalaev control the position.
Gomez can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gomez is looking to regain half guard here but Bankalaev keeps moving and retains side control.
Gomez defending against the ground and pound.
Gomez is trying to control Bankalaev's posture but Bankalaev avoids it.

Bankalaev goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Gomez rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Bankalaev's guard! Nice work there by Gomez!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bankalaev working for a triangle but Gomez defends it easily.
Gomez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bankalaev is keeping the position for now.

Bankalaev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gomez defends it easily.

Bankalaev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gomez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Bankalaev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gomez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bankalaev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gomez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gomez wants to pass the guard but Bankalaev is keeping the position.
Bankalaev trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Bankalaev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gomez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gomez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bankalaev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Bankalaev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gomez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bankalaev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gomez's guard.

Bankalaev scoring with punches to the head and body.

Gomez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bankalaev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bankalaev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bankalaev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gomez wants to sweep here but Bankalaev controlling him for the moment.

Gomez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bankalaev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bankalaev working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomez working a defensive guard here.

Gomez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bankalaev is aware though and is defending well.
Gomez keeping moving, preventing Bankalaev from controlling successfully.

Gomez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bankalaev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gomez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bankalaev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bankalaev lands a couple of digs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gomez has momentary wrist control but Bankalaev slips an elbow through the middle.
Gomez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bankalaev looking to pass the guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Magomed Bankalaev dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Gomez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bankalaev lands a couple of digs.
Bankalaev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bankalaev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Bankalaev drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gomez dives on top into guard.

Gomez tries to free his leg and advance position but Bankalaev is retaining full guard.
Gomez preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bankalaev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bankalaev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gomez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gomez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bankalaev looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Gomez puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bankalaev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gomez works his way into full mount!
Gomez prevents Bankalaev from getting the reversal.
Gomez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bankalaev is trying to escape the mount.
Gomez wants to control the pace but Bankalaev is squirming around nicely.
Bankalaev really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bankalaev tries to hold on but Gomez pushes him away.
Bankalaev tries to reverse the position but Gomez maintains control.
Gomez thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Gomez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bankalaev is looking to escape.
Bankalaev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bankalaev is squirming around, avoiding Gomez's attempts to control the action.
Bankalaev regains half guard.
Bankalaev throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Bankalaev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bankalaev actively working from the bottom here.
Bankalaev is staying active underneath Gomez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Bankalaev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Bankalaev actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bankalaev avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gomez.

Gomez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Bankalaev wants to control but Gomez is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Bankalaev looking for submissions off his back.
Gomez is trying to control. Bankalaev wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

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.
Gomez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bankalaev is trying to get back to full guard.
Gomez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bankalaev keeps working.

Gomez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bankalaev works his way to full guard. Good work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bankalaev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Bankalaev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Carlos Gomez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gomez tries to sprawl but Bankalaev drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Gomez kicks off Bankalaev and gets to his feet.
Gomez is looking to score with low kicks.
Gomez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bankalaev moves away.

Bankalaev shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gomez napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bankalaev working the ground and pound.
Bankalaev in side control lands a decent elbow.
Gomez felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Bankalaev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gomez has escaped the position, nice work there.
Bankalaev throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
You can see the frustration on Gomez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Bankalaev tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Gomez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bankalaev wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gomez is working to avoid the ground and pound but Bankalaev connects with a decent elbow.
Gomez regains half guard.

Bankalaev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Gomez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gomez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bankalaev working over Gomez with some ground and pound. Gomez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gomez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bankalaev pulls his head out easily.
Bankalaev not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Gomez looking for submissions off his back.
Bankalaev looks to land a strike but Gomez avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Bankalaev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bankalaev lands a couple of elbows.
Bankalaev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bankalaev is in close to Gomez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Gomez trying to control the position.
Bankalaev is fighting to break Gomez's control of his arms but Gomez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Magomed Bankalaev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bankalaev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gomez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bankalaev defends it easily.
Bankalaev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bankalaev chips away with some ground and pound.

Gomez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gomez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gomez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bankalaev trying to control the position from guard on top but Gomez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bankalaev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bankalaev with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gomez looking for a guillotine here but Bankalaev defends easily.
Bankalaev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Gomez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gomez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bankalaev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gomez is trying to control the position but Bankalaev postures up.
Bankalaev throws an elbow that misses. Gomez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bankalaev's guard. Nice move by Gomez!

Bankalaev wants to sweep here but Gomez controlling him for the moment.

Bankalaev working for submissions but it's allowed Gomez to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magomed Bankalaev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bankalaev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magomed Bankalaev!