PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James King (ranked 770 p4p, 838 weight class) and Tommy Gavin (ranked 66 p4p, 75 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Tommy Gavin enters the cage!

King
vs
Gavin

170 cm
35
146
28 - 17 - 2

168 cm
37
145
26 - 16 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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Bondi MMA 🏝️

Bondi MMA 🏝️
© Trap House

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, James King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Tommy Gavin!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Richard Clark and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King thows a leg kick but Gavin checks it
and Gavin counters with a thumping low kick.
Gavin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from King.
King misses with a straight left.
King throws a leg kick which misses Gavin's front leg but catches the back leg as Gavin tries to avoid it.
Gavin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from King finds it's way round the side to connect with Gavin's head.
Gavin takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gavin takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
We've been told by King's head coaches at Crapollas Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A slow jab from King misses its intended target.
King thows a body kick. Gavin tries to catch it but that hurt him.
King fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gavin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gavin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gavin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but King manages to avoid it.
King slips a straight right by Gavin.
King throws a shot from downtown. Gavin moves away and avoids it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
King throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gavin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract King.
King throwing a counter right hand but Gavin manages to avoid it.
King's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and King duly obliges.
King scoring well with a low kick there.
King misses with an attempted mid kick.
King pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A little jabbing left from Gavin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gavin missing with a left hand there. King was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gavin defending well as King loads up on a big left hand.
Gavin on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gavin throws a right hand that misses
and King counters with a straight right hand.
King throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Gavin to counter with a crisp jab.
Gavin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
King tried to counter with a leg kick but Gavin avoided it.
A swing and a miss from King.
King throws a leg kick but Gavin moved away.
King uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gavin.
King fires out a quick counter leg kick but Gavin just manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Gavin misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
King misses with a kick to the body
and Gavin makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. King really felt that one!
Gavin takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A low kick lands for King.
King throws a half hearted mid kick.
King throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gavin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
King misses with a body kick.
Gavin replies with a solid counter kick to the body but King blocks it well.
Gavin throws out a loose jab but King uses good head movement to avoid it.
King chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gavin can pounce on him.
Gavin throws out a loose jab but King uses good head movement to avoid it.
King misses with a head kick.
Gavin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from King.
King throws a front kick aimed at Gavin's knee but Gavin avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King connects with a right hand. Gavin shakes it off.
King delivers a nice body kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for King.
King throws a head kick but Gavin moves out of range.
King fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gavin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
King throws a head kick that misses
and Gavin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
King feints and then cracks Gavin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gavin down.
A head kick by King misses
and Gavin counters with a nice body shot.
King scores with a punch to the head.
A cross from Gavin lands.
A chopping leg kick lands by King.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big left from Gavin misses.
King avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
King tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gavin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A little jabbing left from Gavin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King throws a body shot but no joy.
James King seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
King looks for the body kick but Gavin saw that one coming.
King scores with a leg kick.
Gavin scores with a leg kick.
Gavin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Gavin moves out of range of the strikes.
Gavin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as King throws out the jab.
Gavin tries a quick counter leg kick but King is wise to it.
Gavin avoids the head kick by King.
An inside leg kick lands from Gavin.
Gavin swings and misses with a shot to the body
and King counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gavin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from King.
King misses with a body kick.
King keeps Gavin at a distance using the push kick.
Gavin connects with an inside leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James King dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gavin checks a leg kick.
A little jabbing left from Gavin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
King looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
King lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Gavin looks for the body kick but King saw that one coming.
King is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gavin can do to turn this around?
King misses with a looping left.
King misses with an uppercut
and Gavin counters with a stiff right hand.
Gavin misses with a straight right.
Gavin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from King.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from King lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gavin has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gavin and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
King thuds his right hand into Gavin's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King moves to clinch but Gavin breaks away
and Gavin counters with a slapping leg kick.
King misses with a body kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from King - that will leave a mark!

That's one minute gone in the round.
King throws a head kick but Gavin moves out of range.
Gavin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by King.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Gavin in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from King lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gavin has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gavin and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
King lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
King throws a chopping leg kick but Gavin manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Gavin might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, King has got the better of the exchanges.
King misses the shot to the body.
Gavin let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Gavin blocks a leg kick.
Gavin takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gavin. King does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gavin throws a leg kick

and King counters by clinching up.
King blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
King softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
King throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A head punch on the inside from King fails to land.
King blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King tries to land knees in the clinch but Gavin avoids the damage to the body.
Gavin working aggressively here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from King.
King tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
King can't find room to land a body shot as Gavin controls the action.
Gavin lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
King lands with a short head shot on the inside.
King keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gavin's efforts to push away.
King makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right from Gavin.
A nice right hand lands inside from King.
A nice right hand lands inside from King.
King with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gavin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but King is keeping busy.
A right hand to the body from Gavin.
Gavin lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King misses with the head strike.
Gavin misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from King.
Gavin throws a punch but it's blocked by King.
Gavin working aggressively here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gavin.
King blocks an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gavin.
A short body shot lands from King as the two fighters clinch.
Gavin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short uppercut from Gavin.
Gavin misses with a punch on the inside.
King blocks an uppercut.
King has a couple of punches blocked by Gavin.
Gavin lands a left hand.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gavin throws a head punch that misses.
King struggles to land a body shot inside as Gavin controls his hands.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gavin.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gavin throws a punch but it's blocked by King.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King tries to land knees in the clinch but Gavin avoids the damage to the body.
King landing knees to the head.
Gavin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch on the inside from Gavin fails to land.
Gavin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of King backwards.
King tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gavin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of King backwards.
Gavin lands a left hand that snaps the head of King backwards.
Gavin is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
King tries to throw a body punch but Gavin avoids it by throwing King back against the cage.
Tommy Gavin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gavin lands a body shot in the clinch.
King with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gavin is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gavin tries a body shot but King blocks it.
Gavin managing to block the knees to the body from King.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that James King will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gavin throws a shot from downtown. King moves away and avoids it.
Tommy Gavin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
King connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Gavin misses with a low kick.
King throws a shot from downtown. Gavin moves away and avoids it.
Crunch! King slams his shin into Gavin's torso.
King throws a head kick but Gavin moves out of range.
King connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gavin's hands.
Gavin walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. King checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
King scores with a hook to the body. Gavin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King chopping away at his opponent's legs.
King tries to clinch but Gavin is having none of it.
A countering left hand to the body from Gavin misses.
King lands with a good body shot.
King throws a nice looking combination but Gavin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
King looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gavin has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from King.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A countering left hand to the body from Gavin misses.
Gavin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by King.
King takes a swing at Gavin's ribcage but misses.
Gavin thuds his shin into the meat of King's side.
King misses with a looping left.
King bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Gavin's head backwards.
King keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gavin.
King misses with a hook
and Gavin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
King misses with a jab to the body
and Gavin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
King throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
A big left from King misses.
Gavin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Gavin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gavin misses with an uppercut.
King swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
James King is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King throws a right hand that misses
and Gavin counters with a right hand to the body.
Gavin cracks King with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
King misses with a lunging right hand
and Gavin counters with a nice uppercut.
Gavin throws a body punch but King moves out of range.
King throws a push kick but Gavin slaps the foot to one side.
Gavin throws a solid leg kick but King takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Gavin.
King throws a lazy body kick
and Gavin counters with an outside leg kick.
A slow jab from Gavin misses its intended target.
King scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
King avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Gavin takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gavin misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King blocks a jab.
An inside leg kick lands from King.
King misses with a low kick.
King throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nice defenses there by King.
King pushes Gavin away with a front kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from King - that will leave a mark!
King is looking to land body kicks.
Gavin looks like he wants to counter punch here.
King checks a leg kick nicely.
Gavin misses with a looping left.
King just misses with a punch to the body.
Gavin throws a wild body kick that King sees coming a mile off.
Gavin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of King's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Gavin checks it well.
King lands a nice shot to the body.
Gavin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but King circles away quickly and effectively.
King throws a jab but it's blocked by Gavin.
King scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
King comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
King throws a leg kick
and Gavin counters with a low kick, right behind King 's knee.
James King is winning the standup battle so far.
Gavin throws out a loose jab but King uses good head movement to avoid it.
King misses with a looping right.
Gavin takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
King turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
King throws a body shot but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
James King showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for King, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James King!
James King made sure to mention his sponsor, HELLBENT in his post fight interview.