PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anakoni Awahalla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malcom Gibbons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gibbons has chosen Forever as his entrance music. Malcom Gibbons told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Awahalla
vs
Gibbons

182 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

185 cm
19
195 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Anakoni Awahalla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Malcom Gibbons!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Awahalla has a takedown stuffed.
Gibbons looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Gibbons sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Awahalla shoots in and drives through. Gibbons sprawls well.
Awahalla shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gibbons as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anakoni Awahalla. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Awahalla pushes Gibbons up against the cage in a clinch.
Awahalla has Gibbons pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gibbons manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Awahalla looking for a takedown.
Awahalla tries to pull guard but Gibbons won't allow it.
Awahalla fails to pull guard.

Awahalla's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Awahalla shoots in looking for a takedown. Gibbons tries to sprawl out of it but Awahalla keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gibbons manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Awahalla shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gibbons but Gibbons pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Awahalla scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Awahalla tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Awahalla.
Awahalla pushes Gibbons away with a front kick.
Gibbons stuffs the takedown.
Awahalla changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gibbons tries to avoid it but Awahalla manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gibbons to the ground. Gibbons escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Awahalla shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Awahalla was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gibbons is in a horrible position here. Awahalla smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Awahalla looking to secure an arm triangle but Gibbons defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Awahalla thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibbons flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

Awahalla working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Gibbons tries to reverse the position but Awahalla maintains control.
Awahalla misses with a head shot.
Gibbons swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Awahalla trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Awahalla is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gibbons can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Gibbons is squirming around, avoiding Awahalla's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Awahalla controlling from mount.

Awahalla with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gibbons slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Awahalla is keen to just control but Gibbons is a slippery customer.
Gibbons trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Awahalla wants to pass to mount but Gibbons is defending the position.
Awahalla is trying to control the action in half guard but Gibbons is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Awahalla moves nicely into side control.
Gibbons prevents Awahalla from improving position.
Gibbons is trying to improve his position.
Awahalla controls the position.
Gibbons is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anakoni Awahalla dominated that round.
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.

Awahalla shoots for a double leg takedown but Gibbons sprawls well. He's pushed Awahalla's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Awahalla!

It looks like Malcom Gibbons has been cut.

Awahalla closes the distance and clinches.
Awahalla tries for a takedown but Gibbons manages to get underhooks.
Awahalla tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anakoni Awahalla. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Awahalla pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Awahalla closes the distance and clinches up with Gibbons, looking for a takedown. Awahalla pushes Gibbons against the cage but Gibbons circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Awahalla fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Awahalla closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gibbons circles away.
Awahalla tries for a takedown but Gibbons sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gibbons falls off balance throwing a combination
and Awahalla counters with a left to the body.

Awahalla moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Awahalla jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gibbons walks away with a smile on his face. Awahalla gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Awahalla connects with a high kick.
Gibbons circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gibbons stuffs the takedown.
Gibbons throws a lazy head kick
and Awahalla counters with an inside leg kick.
Awahalla closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gibbons circles away.
Gibbons throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Awahalla counters with a leg kick.
Gibbons throws a left and a right that both miss

and Awahalla counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Awahalla.
Gibbons looking to hit a scissor sweep but Awahalla is one step ahead there.
Gibbons is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Awahalla trying to control but Gibbons is working from the bottom.
Gibbons is looking to stand back up but Awahalla counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Gibbons.
Awahalla looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Gibbons wants to get back to his feet.
Awahalla trying to control the action but Gibbons is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gibbons keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gibbons circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Awahalla looks for a takedown but Gibbons sprawls well.
Gibbons misses with a double jab
letting Awahalla counter with a right hand.
Gibbons tries for a takedown but Awahalla circles away easily

and Awahalla counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gibbons looking to stall.
Awahalla fails to pull guard.
Gibbons wants to get back to striking at distance but Awahalla won't allow it.
Awahalla is trying to maintain a safe position but Gibbons gets an underhook and turns Awahalla into the cage.

Awahalla manages to break the clinch.

Awahalla looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gibbons tries to kick Awahalla off but Awahalla keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibbons is not content to let Awahalla control the position.

Gibbons kicks off Awahalla and gets to his feet.
Awahalla fails with the takedown.
A solid body kick from Awahalla.
Gibbons throws a combination. Awahalla tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gibbons tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Awahalla misses with a takedown attempt - Gibbons sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Awahalla looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gibbons is fending him off so far but Awahalla persists. Nope, Gibbons circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anakoni Awahalla dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Malcom Gibbons's cut.
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!

Awahalla pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Awahalla shoots and misses

and Gibbons counters with a shoot takedown. Awahalla fights it but they end up in guard.
Gibbons throwing strikes from guard but Awahalla blocks nicely.
Awahalla has a closed guard, preventing Gibbons from standing up.
Gibbons trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Awahalla manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Awahalla prevents Gibbons from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Awahalla stands up and waves to Gibbons to follow him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Awahalla closes the distance but Gibbons moves to the side

and Gibbons counters with a shoot takedown. Awahalla fights it but they end up in guard.
Awahalla trying to strike off his back.
Awahalla looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Gibbons stands up from Awahalla's guard - Gibbons perhaps looking for a knockout.
Awahalla shoots in but Gibbons avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gibbons is looking to clinch but Awahalla is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Awahalla shoots in and drives through. Gibbons sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anakoni Awahalla. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gibbons takes the fight into the clinch.
Gibbons stops a takedown attempt from Awahalla.
A short left from Gibbons.
Awahalla wants a takedown.

Gibbons jumps guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Awahalla passes Gibbons's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Awahalla stops Gibbons from getting back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Awahalla is looking to take a break and control but Gibbons is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gibbons tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Gibbons is refusing to be controlled, as Awahalla sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibbons pushes Awahalla off looking to stand but Awahalla dives back in and keeps control.
Awahalla thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gibbons wants to control but Awahalla is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Awahalla feints and as Gibbons raises his hands in defense, Awahalla changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Awahalla wants to get up but he can't break Gibbons's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Gibbons is looking to stand up but Awahalla isn't so interested in that idea.
Awahalla trying to control but Gibbons is working from the bottom.
Awahalla has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Awahalla throws a big right hand that misses.
Gibbons is trying to control the position but Awahalla postures up.
Gibbons looking for a sweep. Not yet Gibbons, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gibbons chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Awahalla can pounce on him.
Anakoni Awahalla is winning the standup battle so far.
Awahalla tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gibbons paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Awahalla tries to close the distance and clinch but Gibbons swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Anakoni Awahalla is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Awahalla scores with a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gibbons gets the takedown into side control.
Awahalla is trying to improve his position.
Malcom Gibbons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anakoni Awahalla is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gibbons landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malcom Gibbons comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Awahalla 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anakoni Awahalla!