PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tyler Gerbe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Watanabe Iori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tyler Gerbe has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Gerbe
vs
Iori

178 cm
26
143 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

152 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tyler Gerbe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Watanabe Iori!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Patrick Alders and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gerbe throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Iori closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gerbe's guard.
Iori looking to pass the guard.
Gerbe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Iori is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Iori must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Iori trying to control the position from guard on top but Gerbe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Watanabe Iori was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Gerbe lands a head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iori pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Iori misses with a series of wild punches.
Gerbe throws a wild body kick that Iori sees coming a mile off.
Gerbe buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Iori misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Gerbe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iori looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Iori takes a swing at Gerbe's ribcage but misses.
Iori blocks the body kick.
Gerbe tries to land a front kick but Iori steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gerbe pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gerbe keeps Iori at a distance using the push kick.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Iori wants to clinch.
Iori chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gerbe can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid body kick from Gerbe.
Gerbe throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gerbe throws a body kick that misses.

Iori shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Iori was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Iori moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Gerbe has worked his arm free - good work by Gerbe!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iori controls the position from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Iori wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gerbe, who protects the arm well.
Iori is trying to ground and pound but Gerbe uses the momentary lack of control by Iori to regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Iori misses with a head shot. Gerbe uses the momentum to regain guard.
Gerbe keeping moving, preventing Iori from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Watanabe Iori dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Iori misses with a body kick.
Gerbe lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gerbe.
Gerbe throws a quick inside leg kick.
Iori throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gerbe turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Iori manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gerbe on his heels. He'll look to pass Gerbe's guard now, I'm sure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iori postures up.
Iori throws a big right hand that misses.
Gerbe keeping full guard, as Iori tries to pass.

Gerbe throws his legs up looking for a submission but Iori uses it to pass to side control.
Iori is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Gerbe will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Iori is looking to take a break and control but Gerbe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerbe is looking to reverse the position.
Iori controlling the position from side mount.

Iori is trying to get an arm triangle but Gerbe is defending well.
Iori tries to advance to mount but Gerbe denies him.
Gerbe gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iori not doing much here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Iori works his way into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Iori is looking to take a break and control but Gerbe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Iori goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Gerbe has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Iori but great work by Gerbe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iori sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Iori is defending against the submission attempts here by Gerbe.
Gerbe tries to pass the half guard into mount. Iori knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Gerbe is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Iori is pressing down on Gerbe's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Watanabe Iori showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gerbe looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gerbe, right into the meat.
Iori tries to clinch there but Gerbe circles away.

Gerbe throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Iori was covering up waiting for the punch and Gerbe finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Iori managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iori looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Iori manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gerbe manages to get himself to full guard.
Gerbe looking to control.
Watanabe Iori has got the better of the ground game so far.
Iori is pushing down on Gerbe's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gerbe is fighting to maintain full guard but Iori has managed to sneak the leg through.
Iori is thwarting Gerbe's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Iori not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Iori is working for a submission of some sort.
Iori content to control rather than advance.
Iori moves into full mount! Gerbe won't be happy about that!
Gerbe wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Iori.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iori thowing shots but they're missing.
Iori landing strikes, looking to finish!
Iori throwing strikes here but Gerbe is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Iori takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Iori throwing strikes here but Gerbe is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Tyler Gerbe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Iori jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gerbe manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gerbe tries to improve position but can't.
Iori trying to control the action but Gerbe is working from the bottom.

Iori working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Iori is staying tight to Gerbe's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Watanabe Iori is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Watanabe Iori comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Iori winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Watanabe Iori!