PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Islam Mokaev (ranked 4182 p4p, 4339 weight class) and Derrick Gawain (ranked 469 p4p, 474 weight class). Derrick Gawain will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Mokaev
vs
Gawain

170 cm
22
177
3 - 0 - 0

184 cm
22
180
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Islam Mokaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Derrick Gawain!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Steven Brown and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mokaev is looking to clinch but Gawain is avoiding it.
The fighters circling - Gawain throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mokaev is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Mokaev blocks a jab.
A swing and a miss from Mokaev.
Islam Mokaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mokaev ducks under a wild hook from Gawain.
Gawain keeps the fight on the outside.
Gawain avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mokaev tries to clinch but Gawain is having none of it.
Gawain misses with a low kick as Mokaev jumps back.
Mokaev tries to clinch up but Gawain circles away and keeps his distance.
Mokaev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gawain misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mokaev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gawain manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mokaev missing with a left hand there. Gawain was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mokaev shoots in looking for a takedown. Gawain tries to sprawl out of it but Mokaev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gawain manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mokaev keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mokaev tries to clinch there but Gawain circles away.
Gawain ducks under a wild hook from Mokaev.
Mokaev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gawain paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mokaev tries to clinch but Gawain is having none of it.
Mokaev tries to close the distance and clinch but Gawain swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gawain throws a head kick that misses.
Mokaev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gawain.
Mokaev dodges the punch combination from Gawain.
Mokaev wants to clinch.
Mokaev fails with the takedown.
Gawain looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gawain misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mokaev.
Mokaev blocks the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mokaev tries to clinch up but Gawain circles away and keeps his distance.
Mokaev tries to clinch there but Gawain circles away.
Mokaev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gawain circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Islam Mokaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gawain swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mokaev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gawain as he jumps to the side.
Gawain fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gawain throws a wild body kick that Mokaev sees coming a mile off.
Gawain throws a body shot but no joy.
Mokaev misses with a low kick.
Gawain raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Mokaev shoots in and drives through. Gawain sprawls well.
Gawain pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gawain looks for the body kick but Mokaev saw that one coming.
Gawain misses with an uppercut. Mokaev saw that one coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mokaev fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gawain misses with a looping left.
Mokaev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gawain.
Gawain moves out of range as Mokaev strikes.
Gawain looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
No luck for Mokaev with that takedown attempt.
And Gawain responds with a good body kick, but Mokaev manages to step out the way in time.
The fighters circling - Gawain throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mokaev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mokaev doesn't manage to clinch there - Gawain circles away.
Gawain looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Mokaev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gawain as he jumps to the side.
Mokaev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mokaev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mokaev tries to clinch there but Gawain circles away.
Gawain misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gawain throws a big shot that misses.
As Gawain tries to get set, Mokaev tries to push him back and clinch up but Gawain manages to avoid the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mokaev tries to close the distance and clinch but Gawain swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mokaev tries to clinch there but Gawain circles away.
Mokaev throws a jab when Gawain was well out of range.
Mokaev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gawain paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A big left from Mokaev misses.
Mokaev shoots in and drives through. Gawain sprawls well.
Gawain throws a head kick but Mokaev moves out of range.
Mokaev shoots in but no luck this time.
Mokaev tries to close the distance and clinch but Gawain swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mokaev closes the distance and clinches up with Gawain, looking for a takedown. Mokaev pushes Gawain against the cage but Gawain circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mokaev avoids the head kick by Gawain.
Gawain keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gawain is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Mokaev is breathing heavily.
Mokaev tries to clinch up but Gawain circles away and keeps his distance.
Gawain missing with a left hand there. Mokaev was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mokaev fails with a takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Gawain dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mokaev slips a straight right by Gawain.
Mokaev blocks a jab.
Mokaev moves out of range of the body kick.
Gawain avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gawain looks to throw the jab but Mokaev is out of range.
Mokaev is looking to clinch but Gawain is avoiding it.
Gawain avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mokaev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gawain looks to land a left hand but Mokaev moved out of range nicely.
Nice defenses there by Mokaev.
Gawain circles away from the clinch attempt.
Derrick Gawain seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mokaev wants to clinch up but Gawain keeps it at a distance.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Gawain! But no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mokaev doesn't manage to clinch there - Gawain circles away.
Mokaev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mokaev is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Gawain's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Mokaev blocks a head kick by Gawain.
Mokaev throws an overhand right that lands on Gawain's shoulder, as Gawain tries to avoid the shot.
Gawain staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gawain keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mokaev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gawain swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gawain tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mokaev tries to clinch up.
Gawain throws a jab when Mokaev was well out of range.
Mokaev tries to clinch but Gawain moves out of range.
Gawain throws a big shot that misses.
Mokaev shoots in for a double leg but Gawain sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Mokaev might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Gawain throws a nice looking combination but Mokaev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mokaev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gawain paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gawain throws a big counter head kick but Mokaev avoids it with no problem.
Mokaev throws a big shot that misses.
Mokaev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gawain circles away quickly and effectively.
Gawain looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Mokaev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gawain avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Islam Mokaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gawain throws the left hand but Mokaev avoids the punch easily.
Mokaev slips a jab from Gawain.
Gawain throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gawain misses with a series of wild punches.
Gawain slaps away a takedown attempt from Mokaev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mokaev avoids the head kick by Gawain.
Derrick Gawain is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gawain throws a head kick but Mokaev moves out of range.
Gawain misses with a series of wild punches.
Gawain uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mokaev.
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!
Gawain tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mokaev tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Gawain manages to circle out of the way.
Mokaev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gawain paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mokaev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mokaev fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mokaev wants to clinch.
Mokaev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mokaev tries to close the distance and clinch but Gawain swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mokaev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gawain.
Gawain raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Mokaev tries to clinch but Gawain moves out of range.
Mokaev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gawain is fending him off so far but Mokaev persists. Nope, Gawain circles away and we're back to standing.
Mokaev tries to close the distance and clinch but Gawain swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gawain throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mokaev tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Gawain manages to circle out of the way.
Gawain misses with a straight left.
Mokaev blocks a head kick by Gawain.
Gawain throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The fighters circling - Gawain throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mokaev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gawain paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Gawain! But no joy.
Gawain swings for the body but Mokaev moves out of range.
Mokaev moves in looking to clinch but Gawain pushes him off.
Gawain pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gawain has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mokaev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gawain is fending him off so far but Mokaev persists. Nope, Gawain circles away and we're back to standing.
Gawain is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Mokaev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gawain.
Mokaev tries to clinch up.
No joy there for Mokaev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mokaev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gawain paws at him with a jab and circles away.
It seemed like Gawain was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gawain throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mokaev is looking to counter the offense by Gawain and move into the clinch.
Mokaev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gawain.
Mokaev wants to clinch up but Gawain keeps it at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mokaev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mokaev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gawain manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mokaev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gawain defends it nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Gawain showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Gawain tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gawain leaves Mokaev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mokaev misses with a two punch combination.
Mokaev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gawain looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gawain misses with the combination.
Mokaev scoring well with a low kick there.
Mokaev takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mokaev is looking to clinch.
Gawain throws a fast counter high kick but Mokaev manages to duck under it in time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gawain throws a sloppy head kick and Mokaev moves out of range easily.
Mokaev moves in looking to clinch but Gawain pushes him off.
Gawain throws a hook but Mokaev avoids it easily.
Gawain misses with a head kick.
Mokaev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gawain swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mokaev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gawain misses with a hook.
Mokaev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gawain misses with a kick to the body.
Mokaev closes the distance and clinches up with Gawain, looking for a takedown. Mokaev pushes Gawain against the cage but Gawain circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mokaev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gawain swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mokaev shoots in looking for a takedown. Gawain tries to sprawl out of it but Mokaev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gawain manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Islam Mokaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mokaev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gawain pinned against the cage. Gawain gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gawain takes a swing at Mokaev's ribcage but misses.
Gawain misses with a hook. Mokaev ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mokaev moves in looking to clinch but Gawain pushes him off.
Mokaev throws a body shot but no joy.
Mokaev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mokaev is looking to counter the offense by Gawain and move into the clinch.
Mokaev keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gawain.
Mokaev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Islam Mokaev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mokaev tries to clinch but Gawain moves out of range.
Mokaev slips a jab and a cross from Gawain.
Mokaev misses with a straight left.
Gawain throws a head kick but Mokaev moves out of range.
Gawain swats away the attempt to clinch by Mokaev.
Mokaev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mokaev moves in looking to clinch but Gawain pushes him off.
Gawain is looking for the big counter here.
Mokaev moves in looking to clinch but Gawain pushes him off.
A little jabbing left from Gawain on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mokaev wants to clinch.
Gawain waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mokaev.
Mokaev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mokaev doesn't manage to clinch there - Gawain circles away.
Mokaev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gawain manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gawain throws a jab when Mokaev was well out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Gawain blocks the leg kick.
Mokaev shoots for a double leg takedown but Gawain sprawls well. He's pushed Mokaev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mokaev slips under a jab from Gawain.
Mokaev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gawain swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gawain misses with a body kick.
Mokaev slips a straight right by Gawain.
Mokaev staying out of range there.
Mokaev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gawain paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gawain looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gawain throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mokaev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mokaev throws a hook to the side of Gawain's head but Gawain sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A little jabbing left from Gawain on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gawain throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gawain throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mokaev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gawain throws a wild body kick that Mokaev sees coming a mile off.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Mokaev. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Gawain throws a sloppy head kick and Mokaev moves out of range easily.
Gawain is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mokaev.
Mokaev throws a hook but Gawain blocks it.
Mokaev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gawain manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mokaev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gawain.
Gawain feints a counter leg kick.
Gawain missing with a left hand there. Mokaev was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Derrick Gawain is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gawain misses with a hook. Mokaev ducked under it nicely.
Gawain avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gawain looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derrick Gawain comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gawain has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight for Derrick Gawain!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Derrick Gawain!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Derrick Gawain!

Derrick Gawain wins by unanimous decision!