PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aron Gray (ranked 2067 p4p, 2759 weight class) and Aster Ixtlan (ranked 292 p4p, 371 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Gray
vs
Ixtlan

177 cm
26
154
8 - 5 - 0

182 cm
22
175
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

EFC Threads

Tengelü Hekite

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aron Gray !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aster Ixtlan!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ixtlan lands a nice hook to Gray 's body. Gray takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ixtlan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gray keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gray throwing a counter right hand but Ixtlan manages to avoid it.
A jab from Ixtlan misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ixtlan.
Gray uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ixtlan.
Ixtlan throws a body shot but no joy.
An attempted straight right counter from Gray misses the target.
Ixtlan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Gray takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Aster Ixtlan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ixtlan lands with a straight right. Gray didn't see that one coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ixtlan slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ixtlan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gray circles away quickly and effectively.
Ixtlan throws a jab but it's blocked by Gray .
Gray keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gray half committed to a counter leg kick.
Gray avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gray is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ixtlan lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Gray blocks a jab.
Gray is looking to counter punch.
Ixtlan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gray moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Ixtlan misses the target.
Gray tries to counter with a takedown but Ixtlan is quick to defend against it.
Ixtlan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ixtlan looks to land a combination but Gray avoids it well.
Ixtlan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gray sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gray fires out a quick counter leg kick but Ixtlan just manages to avoid it.
Ixtlan missing with a left hand there. Gray was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
An attempted straight right counter from Gray misses the target.
Ixtlan throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've been hearing reports that Gray has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Ixtlan getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Ixtlan lands with a good body shot.
Gray takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ixtlan misses with an uppercut.
Ixtlan scores with a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ixtlan swings for the body but Gray moves out of range.
Gray with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ixtlan to score with a decent uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice straight punches there by Ixtlan. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ixtlan.
Gray uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ixtlan.
Gray tried to counter with a leg kick but Ixtlan avoided it.
Ixtlan lands with a nice body punch.
A lazy left from Ixtlan finds it's target.
Ixtlan misses with a hook. Gray ducked under it nicely.
A jab from Ixtlan misses.
Ixtlan feints a jab promting Gray to slip. Ixtlan then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Gray slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Gray takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nice shot lands for Ixtlan.
Gray slips a jab from Ixtlan.
Gray was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ixtlan scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gray in his tracks.
Ixtlan lands a head shot.
Ixtlan connects with the punch.
Ixtlan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gray was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ixtlan misses with a looping right.
As Ixtlan backs away, Gray returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Ixtlan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Aster Ixtlan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ixtlan misses with a hook.
It looked like Gray wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ixtlan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ixtlan has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Gray slips a straight right by Ixtlan.
Ixtlan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gray manages to avoid it.
Gray bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ixtlan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gray manages to avoid it.
Ixtlan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gray doesn't seem bothered though.
Gray uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ixtlan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ixtlan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gray blocks a jab.
It looked like Gray wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gray uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ixtlan.
Gray throwing a counter right hand but Ixtlan manages to avoid it.
Ixtlan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gray appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Ixtlan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ixtlan is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Gray had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Ixtlan misses with a looping left.
Gray 's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ixtlan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Gray scrambles back to his feet.
Ixtlan lands a glancing blow to the side of Gray 's head.
Ixtlan throws a looping overhand right but Gray ducks down to avoid it.
Ixtlan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gray .
A little feinted left hand from Gray on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ixtlan misses with a straight right.
Gray appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Gray slips a jab and a cross from Ixtlan.
Gray swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A combination from Ixtlan does no damage.
A little feinted left hand from Gray on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ixtlan looks to land a left hand but Gray moved out of range nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aster Ixtlan dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ixtlan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Gray counters by clinching up.
A head punch on the inside from Ixtlan fails to land.

Ixtlan breaks the clinch.
Gray doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Gray avoids the body shot from Ixtlan.
Gray moves out of range as Ixtlan strikes.
Gray takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ixtlan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ixtlan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gray circles away quickly and effectively.
The fighters circling - Ixtlan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ixtlan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A little feinted left hand from Gray on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ixtlan throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gray on the side of the head.
Ixtlan thows a left - swing and a miss!
A little feinted left hand from Gray on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Gray takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ixtlan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ixtlan takes a swing at Gray 's ribcage but misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Gray misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ixtlan scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Gray walks into a stiff left hand from Ixtlan.
Ixtlan misses with a few strikes there.
Ixtlan swings for the body but Gray moves out of range.
Ixtlan missing with a left hand there. Gray was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ixtlan throws a hook but Gray avoids it easily.
Ixtlan misses the shot to the body.
Gray avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ixtlan works Gray 's body with a nice hook.
Ixtlan misses with an uppercut

and Gray decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ixtlan's guard.
Gray trying to control the position from guard on top but Ixtlan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gray stands and throws Ixtlan's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ixtlan is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gray is working to tighten his grip on Ixtlan's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Ixtlan has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Gray is really squeezing tight and eventually Ixtlan passes out! Gray breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Aron Gray !
Aron Gray took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, EFC Threads for their support in the buildup to the fight.