PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Gutierrez (ranked 1471 p4p, 5448 weight class) and Connor Royale (ranked 214 p4p, 567 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Gutierrez
vs
Royale

191 cm
26
169
13 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
170
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Hot Spunk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alex Gutierrez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Connor Royale!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Royale misses with a jab, cross combination.

Gutierrez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Royale to the ground. Gutierrez is now in Royale's guard.
Royale keeping moving, preventing Gutierrez from controlling successfully.

Royale is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Royale looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gutierrez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gutierrez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gutierrez wants to pass the guard but Royale is keeping the position.
Gutierrez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutierrez controlling from the top position.
Gutierrez forces his way into half guard.
Royale is trying to get back to full guard.
Gutierrez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gutierrez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Gutierrez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

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.
Royale is trying to stand.
Royale throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Royale is not content to let Gutierrez control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Royale keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Royale wants to improve his position but Gutierrez is controlling well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Gutierrez fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Gutierrez lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Royale throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gutierrez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gutierrez looks to throw the jab but Royale is out of range.
Royale looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Royale tries to bum rush Gutierrez with a series of wild strikes but Gutierrez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gutierrez misses with a low kick.
Gutierrez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gutierrez. Royale does a little dance to reset his feet.
A countering left hand to the body from Royale misses.
Royale swats away the attempt to clinch by Gutierrez.

Gutierrez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Royale manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Royale has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at whitey's gym . Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Gutierrez scoring with some ground and pound.
Royale striking off his back but it's not causing Gutierrez any problems.

Royale has an active guard here but Gutierrez has managed to pass into half guard.

Gutierrez seems to be working for a kimura but Royale defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez passes the guard and advances to mount!
Gutierrez has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Royale's face.
Gutierrez is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Royale bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gutierrez keeping moving, preventing Royale from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gutierrez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Gutierrez takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Royale takes a swing at Gutierrez's ribcage but misses.
Royale throws a right and a left that Gutierrez avoids nicely.
Gutierrez throwing a counter right hand but Royale manages to avoid it.
Royale feints a jab promting Gutierrez to slip. Royale then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Gutierrez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Royale misses with a few strikes there.
Royale misses with the combination.
Connor Royale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gutierrez checks a leg kick nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gutierrez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Royale.
Gutierrez is looking to counter punch.
A jab from Royale does it's job there.
Royale misses with the combination.
Royale fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gutierrez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gutierrez closes the distance and clinches.

Gutierrez gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Royale looking for a guillotine here but Gutierrez defends easily.
Gutierrez is in close to Royale's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Gutierrez trying to control the position from guard on top but Royale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Royale wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gutierrez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Royale is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Royale has escaped and now he's on top!

Gutierrez 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.
Gutierrez controlling Royale's posture.

Gutierrez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Royale defends well.
Royale must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez trying to control the position.

Royale has gone for a leg lock! Gutierrez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Royale's guard.

Gutierrez is working Royale over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gutierrez lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gutierrez pushing down on Royale's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gutierrez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Gutierrez lands strikes from half guard.
Gutierrez passes to full mount!
Royale takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Royale is looking to get to half guard.
Gutierrez looking to control but Royale is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Royale is working to get back to half guard.

Gutierrez looking to secure an arm triangle but Royale defends it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alex Gutierrez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Royale throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It looked like Gutierrez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Royale scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Gutierrez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Royale connects with a single shot there.
Gutierrez tries to land a leg kick but Royale saw it coming and moves away.
Gutierrez checks the leg kick.
Royale throws a head kick that Gutierrez semi-blocks.
Gutierrez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Gutierrez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Royale.
Royale is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gutierrez.
Gutierrez throws out a powerful jab.
Gutierrez tries to clinch up but Royale circles away and keeps his distance.
Royale tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gutierrez was well out of range. Poor timing from Royale.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch combination from Royale misses.
Gutierrez feinted with a counter takedown.
Royale throws a body shot but no joy.
Gutierrez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gutierrez has closed the distance and engaged Royale in a clinch.
Gutierrez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gutierrez is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

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

Gutierrez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Royale passes into side control.
Gutierrez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Gutierrez actively working from the bottom here.
Royale wants to control but Gutierrez is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez is looking to improve his position.
Gutierrez manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Royale is looking to work some ground and pound but Gutierrez has wrist control.
Royale looking to pass the guard.

Royale stands up and waves to Gutierrez to follow him.
Connor Royale seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gutierrez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez tries to clinch but Royale is having none of it.
Gutierrez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Royale moves away.
Gutierrez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alex Gutierrez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gutierrez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Royale as he jumps to the side.
Royale is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gutierrez rather than just go for the knockout.
Gutierrez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Royale has time to react.
Royale throws a head kick that misses.
Gutierrez drops down looking for a counter takedown but Royale sprawls and moves away.
A jab from Gutierrez misses.
Gutierrez blocks a head kick by Royale.
Gutierrez circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Royale loads up on a big right hand but Gutierrez slips the punch.
Royale stuffs the takedown attempt from Gutierrez. Gutierrez gets slowly back to his feet.
Royale appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Gutierrez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Royale throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Royale throws a looping overhand right but Gutierrez ducks down to avoid it.
Royale just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromGutierrez.
Gutierrez scores with a shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Royale.
Gutierrez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Gutierrez - that will leave a mark!
Gutierrez shoots in looking for a takedown but Royale manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gutierrez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Royale misses the shot to the body.
Royale misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gutierrez.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gutierrez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Connor Royale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A punch combination from Royale misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor Royale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gutierrez 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Gutierrez!
A victorious Alex Gutierrez thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.