PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Lichti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gibson
vs
Lichti

176 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Gibson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrew Lichti!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Tiny Johnson and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lichti fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gibson sprawls well initially but Lichti persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gibson wants to improve his position but Lichti is controlling well.

Gibson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lichti trying to pass the guard but Gibson defending well.
Lichti passes the guard and advances to mount!
Gibson tries to reverse the position but Lichti maintains control.

Lichti looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Lichti stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Lichti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gibson.
Gibson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Lichti counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Gibson is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lichti is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Lichti prevents Gibson from improving his position.
Gibson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lichti's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lichti's back!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Lichti preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Gibson.
Lichti tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Lichti is trying to stand up.
Lichti is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gibson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lichti is looking to get to half guard.
Lichti stops Gibson from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gibson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Lichti is surviving well by controlling Gibson's body position as best he can.
Lichti can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gibson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Lichti has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Lichti tries to hold on but Gibson pushes him away.

Gibson goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Lichti turns into him and now he's in Gibson's guard.

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

Lichti avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lichti advances position into side control!
Gibson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lichti has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Lichti doesn't manage to clinch there - Gibson circles away.
Some wild striking there from Gibson.
Andrew Lichti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lichti moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Oh Gibson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

It looks like Michael Gibson has been cut.
A punch combination from Gibson misses.
Gibson seems to have got his legs back now.
No joy there for Gibson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Lichti closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gibson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gibson is breathing heavily.
Gibson is working hard here to advance position.

Lichti tries for a kimura but Gibson is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Gibson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lichti seems to be working for a kimura but Gibson defends the submission attempt.
Gibson wants to improve his position but Lichti is controlling well.

Gibson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lichti trying to pass the guard but Gibson defending well.
Gibson wants to improve his position but Lichti is controlling well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gibson gets full guard.

Gibson is looking for a triangle but Lichti pushes his legs off easily.

Lichti decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Lichti dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Gibson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gibson ducks under a wild hook from Lichti.
Lichti misses with a few strikes there.
Lichti misses with a two punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Gibson.
Lichti slips a jab and a cross from Gibson.

Lichti scores a takedown into full mount!
Gibson is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Lichti has taken his back.
Lichti is hanging on to Gibson's back as he tries to escape.
Lichti is breathing heavily.
Gibson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Gibson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lichti trying to control but Gibson is having none of it.
Gibson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lichti is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gibson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Gibson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gibson regains half guard.
Lichti trying to control the action but Gibson is working from the bottom.
Gibson wants to get back to full guard.

Lichti is working for a kimura but Gibson is defending it quite comfortably.
Lichti is tying to control. Gibson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lichti prevents Gibson from improving his position.
Andrew Lichti has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gibson is pressing down on Lichti's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Gibson looking for a guillotine here but Lichti defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Lichti gets to his feet. Gibson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gibson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lichti showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gibson.
Lichti throws a series of punches but Gibson moves out of range.
Lichti swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lichti misses with a double jab

and Gibson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gibson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gibson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
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!
Lichti regains half guard.

Gibson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lichti is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gibson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gibson's back!
Gibson covering up well under a series of strikes from Lichti.

Gibson is trying to defend against the choke here but Lichti has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Lichti Tightens the hold and Gibson taps out furiously! Lichti displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Andrew Lichti!