PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ido Ori (ranked 5277 p4p, 0 weight class) and Romain Gastineau (ranked 4918 p4p, 0 weight class). Romain Gastineau is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ori
vs
Gastineau

180 cm
19
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ido Ori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Romain Gastineau!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ori closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gastineau did well to prevent Ori getting side control.

Gastineau manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Ori keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Ori on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ori looking for a takedown.
Ori wants to take the fight to the mat but Gastineau manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ori displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gastineau up against the cage.
Gastineau has Ori pressed against the cage.

Ori breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gastineau changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ori tries to avoid it but Gastineau manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ori to the ground. Ori escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gastineau misses with a takedown attempt - Ori sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gastineau tries to clinch up
and Ori counters with a left and a right that stings Gastineau.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Ori misses.

Gastineau fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ori, pushing him back against the cage.
Gastineau looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ori is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gastineau gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ido Ori. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ori tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ori is working for takedown but Gastineau is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ori wants a takedown but no success here.
Gastineau is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ori is pressed up against the cage. Gastineau has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ori down to the mat. Ori avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ori moves in looking to clinch but Gastineau pushes him off.

Gastineau clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ori gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gastineau.
Gastineau wants to break free but Ori has control.
Gastineau takes a shot to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ori - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Gastineau blocks the elbow strike.
Gastineau misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ori has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gastineau after a bit of a struggle.
Gastineau wants to take the fight to the mat but Ori manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gastineau misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ori fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gastineau tries to break the clinch but Ori is controlling the position.
Ori is struggling to control the position.
Gastineau prevents the takedown attempt.
Ori is breathing heavily.
Gastineau wants to get back to striking at distance but Ori won't allow it.
Gastineau jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ori walks away with a smile on his face. Gastineau gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gastineau throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Ori has closed the distance and engaged Gastineau in a clinch.
Gastineau tries a knee to the head but Ori blocks it.
Gastineau misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ori.

Gastineau has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ori uses from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gastineau keeping moving, preventing Ori from controlling successfully.
Ori sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gastineau seems keen to control Ori's posture.
Gastineau trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ori looking to sit in guard and control but Gastineau gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gastineau stands up from Ori's guard - Gastineau perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Romain Gastineau will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ori throws a head kick but Gastineau moves out of range.

Gastineau instigates a clinch.
Gastineau is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Gastineau jumps into guard, dragging Ori to the mat.
Gastineau trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Gastineau had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ori defends it easily.
Gastineau preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gastineau not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gastineau seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ori knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gastineau on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gastineau is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Ori presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Ori breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ori tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gastineau defends well and Ori ends up having to push Gastineau into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Ori closes the distance and clinches.

Gastineau has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ori uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ori looking to pass the guard.
Gastineau controlling the position.
Ori has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gastineau is proving hard to escape from.

Gastineau manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gastineau lands a jab-cross combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gastineau tries to clinch there but Ori circles away.
Ori is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gastineau sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gastineau feints the counter takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ori blocks a head kick by Gastineau.

Gastineau gets tackled into the cage by Ori. Ori maintains the clinch.
Ori is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Ori manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Gastineau stops Ori from standing up.
Gastineau with a nice head shot there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ori being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gastineau working some strikes from top position.

Gastineau stands up from Ori's guard - Gastineau perhaps looking for a knockout.
Gastineau tries a head kick but it misses.
Ori stuffs the takedown attempt from Gastineau. Gastineau gets slowly back to his feet.
Ido Ori has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Romain Gastineau.
Ori throws a sloppy head kick and Gastineau moves out of range easily.
Ori shoots in looking for a takedown but Gastineau manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ori's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gastineau is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nice takedown defense from Ori. No joy for Gastineau on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gastineau connects with a looping right hand.
Ido Ori is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gastineau tries for a takedown but Ori sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ori tries a low kick but Gastineau avoids it.
Ori misses the shot to the body.
Gastineau doesn't manage to clinch there - Ori circles away.
Gastineau has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gastineau fails with the takedown.
Gastineau shoots for a takedown but Ori saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Gastineau tries to keep at a distance but Ori has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ori lands a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romain Gastineau showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gastineau gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Ori breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gastineau blocks a head kick by Ori.
Gastineau shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ori sprawls well. Ori wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gastineau gets slowly back to his feet.
Ido Ori is winning the standup battle so far.
Ori tries to close the distance and clinch but Gastineau swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gastineau shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ori as he avoids it easily.
Ori throwing a counter right hand but Gastineau manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ori is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ori fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ori circles away from the clinch attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Ori pulls Gastineau into guard.

Ori looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gastineau passes into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gastineau is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ori will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Gastineau is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ori has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gastineau throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gastineau is looking to take a break and control but Ori is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gastineau happy to just control the position for now.
Gastineau connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ori some visible discomfort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gastineau stands up and beckons Ori to his feet.
Ori misses with a head kick.
Ori displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gastineau.
Ido Ori has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Romain Gastineau.
Gastineau fails with a takedown attempt.
Ori stuffs the takedown attempt from Gastineau. Gastineau gets slowly back to his feet.
Gastineau fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ori misses with a takedown

and Gastineau holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ori changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gastineau fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gastineau fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ori fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gastineau keeps the fight on the outside.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gastineau shoots in for a takedown but Ori shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Ori scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ido Ori has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gastineau trying to control from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Romain Gastineau.
I've got Gastineau 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Romain Gastineau!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Romain Gastineau!
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Romain Gastineau!

Romain Gastineau wins by unanimous decision!