PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Edward Araki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Araki kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Kaczor - Ten dzień. Edward Araki had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. The key to victory for Edward Araki has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Araki
vs
Gonzalez

185 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

204 cm
21
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Edward Araki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Gonzalez!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Araki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gonzalez circles away.
Gonzalez misses with a kick to the body.
Araki throws a head kick but Gonzalez moves out of range.

Gonzalez darts in and clinches Araki up against the ropes.
Gonzalez wants a takedown but no success here.
Araki wants to get back to striking at distance but Gonzalez won't allow it.
Gonzalez stops a takedown attempt from Araki.
Araki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gonzalez fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Araki works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Gonzalez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Araki manages to get himself to full guard.
Araki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Araki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Araki working a defensive guard but Gonzalez manages to pass into side control anyway.
Gonzalez controlling the position.
Gonzalez trying to control the position but Araki is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araki tries to improve position but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Gonzalez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Gonzalez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gonzalez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Araki trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Araki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Araki is breathing heavily.
Gonzalez passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Gonzalez is nestled in close to Araki, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Araki.
Araki wants to get back to full guard.
Gonzalez content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Gonzalez working over Araki with some ground and pound. Araki looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Araki is trying to control but can't.
Araki is looking for a sweep. Gonzalez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gonzalez is trying to control. Araki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Gonzalez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Gonzalez wants to control from the top but Araki keeps moving.
Gonzalez is looking to stand up but Araki won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Gonzalez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Araki closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gonzalez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Araki shoots and misses

and Gonzalez counters with a takedown into side control.
Gonzalez controls the position.
Araki tries to bench press Gonzalez off him but Gonzalez keeps the position.
Gonzalez is chipping away with strikes.

Gonzalez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Araki has escaped the position, nice work there.
Araki is looking to reverse the position.
Gonzalez working the ground and pound.
Araki tries to buck Gonzalez off but Gonzalez is having none of it.
Gonzalez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araki is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Araki tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Gonzalez presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Araki is wriggling around trying to escape.
Araki looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Araki tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Gonzalez prevents Araki from getting the reversal.
Gonzalez looking to control but Araki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Araki regains half guard.
Gonzalez lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
It looks like Gonzalez is going to stand back up.
Gonzalez trying to pass the guard but Araki defending well.
Araki missing with punches from the bottom.
Araki slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gonzalez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Araki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Araki wants to improve his position but instead Gonzalez has moved into half guard.

Gonzalez is looking for a kimura but Araki is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gonzalez to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Gonzalez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Araki misses with a takedown attempt

and Gonzalez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gonzalez.
Gonzalez lands a couple of digs.

Gonzalez gets to his feet. Araki looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Gonzalez clinches.
Araki tries for a takedown but Gonzalez manages to get underhooks.
Araki is pressed up against the ropes. Gonzalez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Araki down to the mat. Araki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Araki gets caught flat footed, as Gonzalez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Araki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gonzalez manages to get himself to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Araki landing with the ground and pound.
Gonzalez keeping moving, preventing Araki from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez keeping full guard, as Araki tries to pass.

Gonzalez is looking for a triangle but Araki pushes his legs off easily.
Gonzalez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Araki manages to get himself to full guard.
Gonzalez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Araki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Araki wants to sweep here but Gonzalez controlling him for the moment.
Araki controls Gonzalez momentarily but Gonzalez frees himself.
Gonzalez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araki is trying to keep Gonzalez in close.
Gonzalez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gonzalez's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Gonzalez won't allow Araki to sweep him here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Araki wants to clinch but Gonzalez slips to the side

and Gonzalez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Araki's guard.
Araki striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Gonzalez preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gonzalez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Araki swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

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

Araki fails with the takedown

and Gonzalez counters by moving into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Araki managing to block the knees to the body from Gonzalez.

Gonzalez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Araki throws a head kick that misses

and Gonzalez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Araki is trying to stand up here but Gonzalez is controlling him well.
Araki tries to get to full guard but Gonzalez has control of the leg.
Gonzalez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Gonzalez stands up and beckons Araki to join him on the feet.

Gonzalez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Araki looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gonzalez wants to control but Araki is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araki tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Gonzalez presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Araki tries to lock up and control but Gonzalez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Araki working to try and regain half guard.
A nice elbow there by Gonzalez.
Araki manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Araki is looking for a sweep. Gonzalez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gonzalez is thwarting Araki's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Araki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gonzalez not doing much here.
Gonzalez passes the guard and advances to mount!
Araki is desperately trying to improve his position but Gonzalez has a good base and remains in mount.

Gonzalez gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Araki avoids the head kick by Gonzalez.
Gonzalez tries for a takedown but Araki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Gonzalez dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Araki.
Araki misses with a takedown

and Gonzalez counters with a shoot takedown. Araki fights it but they end up in guard.
Araki wants to stand but Gonzalez is controlling the position.
Gonzalez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Gonzalez pushing down on Araki's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gonzalez trying to control the action but Araki is working from the bottom.
Araki works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gonzalez wants to stand but Araki is controlling his posture from full guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Gonzalez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araki lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gonzalez!
Araki scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Gonzalez tries to lock up and control but Araki gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Araki is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Araki with good strikes from the mount here!
Araki lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Araki cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Gonzalez is in a horrible position here. Araki smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Araki can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gonzalez is looking to escape.
Gonzalez regains half guard.
Araki is thwarting Gonzalez's attempts to control the position.
Araki winds up and cracks Gonzalez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Araki wants to take a breather but Gonzalez is having none of it.
Gonzalez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gonzalez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Gonzalez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gonzalez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 45:50
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 45:50
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Gonzalez!