PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Henri Antetokounmpo (ranked 5939 p4p, 5014 weight class) and Rantang Gustus (ranked 580 p4p, 532 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Antetokounmpo
vs
Gustus

177 cm
20
165
1 - 1 - 0

159 cm
25
157
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Henri Antetokounmpo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rantang Gustus!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Peter Branson and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gustus misses with a jab to the body
and Antetokounmpo counters with a series of strikes. Gustus will be more careful next time no doubt.
A head kick misses from Gustus.

Gustus closes the distance and clinches.
Antetokounmpo blocking some punches.
Gustus gets underhooks to prevent Antetokounmpo's takedown attempt.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gustus.
Gustus can't find room to land a body shot as Antetokounmpo controls the action.
Gustus working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Antetokounmpo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gustus walks away with a smile on his face. Antetokounmpo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A left and a right from Antetokounmpo both land. Nice combination.
Gustus moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gustus takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gustus misses with a lunging right hand
and Antetokounmpo counters with a left and a right that stings Gustus.
Gustus misses with a low kick as Antetokounmpo jumps back.

Gustus is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Antetokounmpo's half guard.
Antetokounmpo lands a couple of sideways elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antetokounmpo manages to get to full guard.
Gustus controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Antetokounmpo trying to control the position.
Antetokounmpo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gustus controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gustus looking to pass the guard.
Gustus works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gustus trying to control the pace.

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.
Antetokounmpo trying to hold on to Gustus's head to control him but Gustus postures up.
Antetokounmpo tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Gustus has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Gustus mounts Antetokounmpo! Really nice guard pass there!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Antetokounmpo tries to hold on but Gustus pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustus tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Gustus has hold of Antetokounmpo's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Antetokounmpo manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Gustus controlling his opponent.

Gustus goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Antetokounmpo is on top in guard.
Antetokounmpo trying to control but Gustus is working from the bottom.
Gustus is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antetokounmpo stopping the sweep attempt from Gustus.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gustus can do anything to dispel that myth.

Gustus looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Antetokounmpo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gustus wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gustus looking to hit a scissor sweep but Antetokounmpo is one step ahead there.
Antetokounmpo being controlled here momentarily.
Antetokounmpo wants to control from the top but Gustus keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rantang Gustus will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Antetokounmpo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gustus.
Gustus wants to counter with a clinch but Antetokounmpo pushes him away.
Antetokounmpo's corner calls for a 1-2. Antetokounmpo obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Gustus misses with a right hand
and Antetokounmpo counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gustus thinking.
Gustus misses with a wild body shot.
Antetokounmpo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gustus.
Antetokounmpo lands a glancing blow to the side of Gustus's head.

Gustus closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Gustus goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Antetokounmpo has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gustus but great work by Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gustus is looking to regain half guard here but Antetokounmpo keeps moving and retains side control.
Gustus sneaks back into half guard.
Gustus tries to roll over but Antetokounmpo keeps him under control.
Rantang Gustus has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gustus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustus wants to improve his position but Antetokounmpo is controlling well.
Gustus is positioning himself well to prevent Antetokounmpo advancing to mount.
Gustus tries to roll over but Antetokounmpo keeps him under control.

Gustus looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gustus manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gustus controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gustus has his foot on Antetokounmpo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Antetokounmpo works his way back into a safe position though.
Gustus has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

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.
Gustus 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.
Gustus seems keen to control Antetokounmpo's posture.
Gustus tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Antetokounmpo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gustus working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Antetokounmpo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Antetokounmpo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Antetokounmpo being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antetokounmpo trying to control the position from guard on top but Gustus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gustus lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Gustus stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Antetokounmpo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gustus is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Antetokounmpo 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 four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gustus is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Gustus advances to half guard.
Gustus sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gustus is looking to advance position but Antetokounmpo won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gustus is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Antetokounmpo sees it coming and defends easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rantang Gustus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Antetokounmpo shoots in and drives through. Gustus sprawls well.

Gustus scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gustus advances to full mount.
Antetokounmpo tries to reverse the position but Gustus maintains control.
Gustus is trying to take his opponent's back.
Antetokounmpo has given up his back here.

Gustus tightening his grip on Antetokounmpo, looking for the choke.
Gustus controlling well, preventing Antetokounmpo from escaping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gustus is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Antetokounmpo knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Antetokounmpo for a finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gustus looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Antetokounmpo taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rantang Gustus!