PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sunil Ganga (ranked 4121 p4p, 4703 weight class) and Magby Mahrez (ranked 471 p4p, 499 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.

Ganga
vs
Mahrez

168 cm
27
161
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Voodoo Nutrition

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sunil Ganga!
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, Magby Mahrez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ganga moves into range and clinches up with Mahrez.

Ganga has Mahrez pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Ganga pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Mahrez tumbling to the mat - Ganga dives into Mahrez's guard.
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.
Mahrez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ganga trying to control but Mahrez is working from the bottom.
Mahrez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ganga looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ganga is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Mahrez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ganga 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ganga is looking to stand up but Mahrez isn't so interested in that idea.
Mahrez is pushing down on Ganga's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ganga is fighting to maintain full guard but Mahrez has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mahrez wants to pass to mount but Ganga is defending the position.
Mahrez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ganga is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ganga gets full guard.
Ganga might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ganga keeping full guard, as Mahrez tries to pass.
Mahrez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ganga is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ganga working a defensive guard but Mahrez manages to pass into side control anyway.
Ganga wants to get back to his feet but Mahrez drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ganga is trying to control Mahrez's posture but Mahrez avoids it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Ganga shoots in and bounces Mahrez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mahrez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ganga trying to control the position from guard on top but Mahrez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ganga pushes down on Mahrez's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ganga tries to pass to full mount but Mahrez defends it.
Ganga is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Ganga works his way into side control.
Mahrez is looking to reverse the position.
Ganga wants to control but Mahrez is keeping him busy.
Ganga misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ganga wants to control but Mahrez is keeping him busy.
Mahrez looks to move to half guard but instead Ganga has passed into mount! Damn!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sunil Ganga dominated that round.
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.

Nice body kick there by Ganga.

Ganga gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ganga tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mahrez avoids it.

Ganga gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Ganga in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ganga wants to control from the top but Mahrez keeps moving.
Sunil Ganga overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ganga stopping the sweep attempt from Mahrez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahrez keeping moving, preventing Ganga from controlling successfully.
Ganga is really struggling to control Mahrez but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Mahrez looking to control.
Ganga is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mahrez can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ganga trying to control the position from guard on top but Mahrez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ganga postures up and lands a big shot to Mahrez's brow.
Ganga pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mahrez is keeping the position for now.
Ganga pushes down on Mahrez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ganga is just content to waste time from the top position. Mahrez takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Mahrez wants to improve his position but instead Ganga has moved into half guard.

Ganga stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ganga shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mahrez as he avoids it easily.

Mahrez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ganga manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ganga looking to control.
Mahrez won't allow Ganga to get back to his feet.
Ganga controls Mahrez momentarily but Mahrez frees himself.
Mahrez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ganga controls Mahrez momentarily but Mahrez frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ganga is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mahrez is aware though and is defending well.
Mahrez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ganga wants to stand and escape but Mahrez is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Ganga scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mahrez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ganga stands up and waves to Mahrez to follow him.
Nice sprawl there from Ganga as Mahrez shoots in.
It looked like Ganga was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Mahrez.

Mahrez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ganga to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Ganga controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ganga postures up in Mahrez's guard and throws a big left but Mahrez blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mahrez looking to control.
Mahrez keeping full guard, as Ganga tries to pass.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sunil Ganga dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ganga stuffs the takedown attempt from Mahrez. Mahrez gets slowly back to his feet.
Sunil Ganga is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ganga shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mahrez tries to get to full guard but Ganga has control of the leg.
Ganga seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mahrez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ganga keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Mahrez gets back to full guard.

Ganga postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mahrez is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ganga, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ganga wants to stand but Mahrez is controlling the position.
Ganga is trying to keep Mahrez in close.
Ganga keeping full guard, as Mahrez tries to pass.
Ganga is trying to control the position but Mahrez postures up.

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.
Mahrez won't allow Ganga to get back to his feet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ganga is on top in guard.

Mahrez working for submissions but it's allowed Ganga to get to half guard.
Mahrez wants to improve his position but Ganga is controlling well.
Ganga sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mahrez defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ganga stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Mahrez to get to his feet.
Mahrez goes for a double leg but Ganga avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ganga continues to drive forward.
Ganga stuffs the takedown.
Sunil Ganga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magby Mahrez.

Ganga moves into range and clinches up with Mahrez.
Mahrez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ganga misses with an elbow over the top.

Ganga jumps guard and drags Mahrez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Mahrez wants to control from the top but Ganga keeps moving.
Mahrez stopping the sweep attempt from Ganga.
Ganga controls Mahrez momentarily but Mahrez frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahrez tries to free his leg and advance position but Ganga is retaining full guard.
Magby Mahrez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mahrez won't allow Ganga to sweep him here.
Ganga lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Mahrez keeping moving, preventing Ganga from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ganga working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sunil Ganga showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ganga has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sunil Ganga!