PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gennaro Gattuso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jones has chosen Head Bussa as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gattuso
vs
Jones

176 cm
34
166 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

182 cm
35
167 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gennaro Gattuso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Jones!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones tries to clinch but Gattuso moves out of range.
Jones is looking to slow Gattuso down with leg kicks.
Gattuso checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A combination from Jones does no damage.
Jones takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A leg kick checked by Jones.

Jones has closed the distance and engaged Gattuso in a clinch.
Jones blocks a body shot from Gattuso.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gattuso.
Gattuso tries to stall but Jones uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Jones.
Jones doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gattuso wants to break free but Jones has control.
Gattuso tries to stall but Jones uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nice body punch from Gattuso.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Gattuso lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Jones backwards.
Jones's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones scores with a shot to the side of Gattuso's head.
Gattuso wants a takedown.
Jones lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gattuso wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Jones lands an uppercut.
Jones's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gattuso blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gattuso stalling against the cage.
Gattuso trying to stall but Jones improves his position.
Gattuso working hard to break the clinch.
Jones has Gattuso pushed against the cage.
Gattuso scores with a shot to the side of Jones's head.
Jones is stalling here.

Gattuso gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gattuso won't allow Jones to sweep him here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jones working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gattuso.
Gattuso throws a big right hand that misses.
Gattuso throws an elbow that misses. Jones uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gattuso's guard. Nice move by Jones!

Jones tries to free his leg and advance position but Gattuso is retaining full guard.

Gattuso working for a triangle but Jones defends it easily.

Gattuso is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jones is aware though and is defending well.
Gattuso keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Gattuso is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jones must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Jones looking to pass the guard.
Gattuso wants to sweep but no luck.

Gattuso is looking for a triangle but Jones pushes his legs off easily.
Jones works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Still in half guard, Jones seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Jones is looking for a kimura but Gattuso is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Jones to get the leverage.
Gattuso has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Jones controlling the pace.
Jones thows a huge punch but Gattuso dodges it nicely.
Gattuso gets back to full guard.
Jones is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gattuso trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Gattuso keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jones misses with a leg kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Gattuso misses the target.
Jones scores with a leg kick.
Jones shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Jones will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jones throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gattuso.
Gattuso lands a really nice looking cross but Jones seems unphased.
Jones falls off balance throwing a combination

and Gattuso counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Jones!
Gattuso throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Gattuso wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jones keeps working.
Gattuso postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Jones managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Gattuso.

Gattuso tries for a kimura but Jones is defending well.
Jones is trying to improve his position.
The ground and pound from Gattuso seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gennaro Gattuso overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gattuso in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Gattuso is looking to take a break and control but Jones is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jones is trying to buck Gattuso off.
Gattuso is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jones can do to turn this around?
Gattuso wants to control but Jones is keeping him busy.
Gattuso prevents Jones from escaping the position.
Jones tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gattuso wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Jones gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gattuso takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gattuso connects with a nice short shot to Jones's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gattuso is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Jones has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gattuso is working away from the top position though.
Gattuso trying to control from half guard but Jones is working away.
Jones regains full guard. Nicely done.
Jones wants to stand up but Gattuso is controlling him.
Jones is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Gattuso trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gattuso connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones pulls Gattuso in close to prevent any damage.
Gattuso is looking to work some ground and pound but Jones has wrist control.
Gattuso trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jones throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gattuso.
Gattuso swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Gattuso has been working on his balance at The Iron Palace, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Jones.
Gattuso looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gattuso misses with an uppercut.
Jones uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gattuso.
Jones misses with the combination.
An inside leg kick lands from Jones.
Gattuso misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jones.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso lands a jab.
Gattuso misses with an attempted mid kick.
Jones avoids a kick to the body.
Jones throws a right hand that Gattuso ducks under and follows up with a left that Gattuso also avoids with ease.
Jones throws a chopping leg kick but Gattuso manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Gattuso missing with a left hand there. Jones was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jones looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Jones moves out of range of the body kick from Gattuso.
Michael Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gattuso throws a right hand that Jones ducks under and follows up with a left that Jones also avoids with ease.
Gennaro Gattuso is winning the standup battle so far.
Jones throws a head kick that misses.
Jones misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good leg kick by Gattuso there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A slow jab from Gattuso misses its intended target.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jones is looking to clinch but Gattuso is avoiding it.
Jones buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gattuso throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jones.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gennaro Gattuso dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Gattuso lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Jones shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Gattuso tried to counter with a leg kick but Jones avoided it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gattuso, right into the meat.
Gattuso showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jones.
Gennaro Gattuso is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gattuso blocks a low kick nicely.
Gattuso missing with a left hand there. Jones was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gattuso attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Gattuso fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gattuso looks for the body kick but Jones saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jones tries to clinch up but Gattuso circles away and keeps his distance.
Gattuso dives in and grabs Jones's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jones pushes down on Gattuso's head and hops out.
A punch combination from Jones misses.
Jones tries to clinch but Gattuso moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gattuso counters with a right hand to the body.
Jones is looking to clinch.
That kick from Jones tenderised Gattuso's leg. Gattuso is trying to keep his angry face on.
Jones bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Jones fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gattuso has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Jones lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gattuso circles away quickly and effectively.
Gattuso falls off balance throwing a combination
and Jones counters with a three punch combo that has Gattuso backing up. Gattuso nods at Jones to acknowledge the strikes.
Jones lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Gattuso feints and as Jones raises his hands in defense, Gattuso changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones working a defensive guard here.
Gattuso trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Gattuso throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gattuso forces his way into half guard.
Gattuso is nestled in close to Jones, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Jones keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gattuso is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gattuso stalling away here and it's allowed Jones to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Jones working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gattuso accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones seems keen to control Gattuso's posture.
Gattuso throwing strikes but missing.
Gattuso lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gattuso preventing the sweep.
Jones working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gattuso.
Jones is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gattuso is controlling him.
Gattuso keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jones's head.
Jones utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gattuso working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jones's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gattuso loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jones misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jones turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Jones swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gattuso counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Gattuso looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gattuso as he avoids it easily.
Gattuso attempts a counter takedown but Jones avoids it well and moves away.
Jones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gattuso shoots for a double leg takedown but Jones sprawls well. He's pushed Gattuso's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jones lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gennaro Gattuso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gattuso blocks a head kick by Jones.
Gattuso fires out a quick counter leg kick but Jones just manages to avoid it.

Gattuso scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gattuso wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Jones, who protects the arm well.
Gattuso lands a nice forearm strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gennaro Gattuso showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gattuso 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gennaro Gattuso!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Gennaro Gattuso made sure he mentioned DROPPIN BODIES, along with how happy he was to win his fight.