PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rantang Gustus (ranked 1741 p4p, 1698 weight class) and Eli Snake (ranked 184 p4p, 175 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Gustus
vs
Snake

159 cm
26
157
4 - 0 - 0

170 cm
26
150
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rantang Gustus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Eli Snake!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Peter Branson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gustus misses with a right hand
and Snake makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Gustus instigates a clinch.
Snake is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Snake wants a takedown but no success here.
Gustus looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Snake blocks a body shot from Gustus.
Gustus definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Gustus tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Snake's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gustus tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Snake's elbow.
Gustus tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Snake trying to stall but Gustus improves his position.
Gustus misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snake is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Snake working hard to break the clinch.
Gustus has Snake pressed against the ropes, preventing Snake from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gustus as Snake tries to tie him up.
Snake blocking some punches.
Snake taking a breather.
Gustus misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Snake stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Snake has had enough of the clinch but Gustus keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gustus wants to break free but Snake has control.
Gustus drops down looking for an ankle pick but Snake pulls his leg out and moves away.
A jab from Gustus misses.
Snake let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Rantang Gustus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Snake circles away from the clinch attempt
and Snake counters with a right hand to the body.
Gustus misses the body punch
and Snake counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Gustus pushes Snake up against the ropes in a clinch.
Gustus struggles to land a body shot inside as Snake controls his hands.
Snake is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Snake.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustus has Snake pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Snake manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Snake blocks a body shot from Gustus.
Snake blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gustus misses with a punch on the inside.
Gustus throws a head punch that misses.
Gustus tries to throw a body punch but Snake avoids it by throwing Gustus back against the ropes.
Snake blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Snake blocking some punches.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Gustus is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rantang Gustus. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustus tries to circle away but Snake has him pinned against the ropes.
Snake stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Gustus misses with a body punch.
Gustus fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Snake prevents Gustus from breaking the clinch.
Gustus wants to get back to striking at distance but Snake won't allow it.

Gustus gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Gustus wants to pass the guard but Snake is keeping the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gustus is working hard here to advance position.
Snake is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rantang Gustus dominated that round.
That's time! Gustus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gustus throws a body punch but Snake moves out of range.
Snake now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Gustus throws a left and a right that both miss
and Snake counters with a stiff right hand.
Snake keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A countering left hand to the body from Snake misses.
Snake moves out of range of the body kick from Gustus.
Gustus misses with a lunging right hand
and Snake counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Gustus throws a body punch but Snake moves out of range.
Snake now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Gustus will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Snake replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Gustus blocks it well.
Gustus attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Snake doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gustus swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Gustus has closed the distance and engaged Snake in a clinch.
Snake taking a breather.
Gustus is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snake blocks a body shot from Gustus.
Snake is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gustus is keeping busy.
Gustus tries a body shot but Snake blocks it.

Gustus gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Gustus trying to work for an americana but Snake has managed to regain full guard.
Gustus might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gustus wants to pass the guard but Snake is keeping the position.

Gustus drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Snake manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gustus has Snake in his guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gustus is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Snake looking for a sweep. Not yet Snake, not yet.
Gustus sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Snake's guard.
Gustus trying to pass the guard but Snake defending well.
Snake wants to control but Gustus is keeping busy.
Snake blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gustus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gustus is looking for a kimura here.
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.

Gustus is trying to work for a kimura but Snake is defending well.
Rantang Gustus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gustus throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Snake to regain full guard.
Gustus trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Snake can't keep his opponent in guard - Gustus advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Snake is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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 looking for a kimura but Snake is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gustus to get the leverage.
Gustus looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Snake controlling the position for now.
Gustus perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gustus seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Snake does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gustus works his way into side control.
Gustus controlling from side mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gustus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Snake keeps working.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gustus shoots in and gets a takedown into Snake's guard.
Gustus postures up.
Gustus trying to control the position from guard on top but Snake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Our spies down at at Cozad The Island inform us that Snake has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gustus tries to free his leg and advance position but Snake is retaining full guard.
Gustus throws an elbow that misses. Snake uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gustus's guard. Nice move by Snake!

Snake must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Snake is sitting in close to Gustus's body. Gustus has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Snake is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Snake is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Gustus.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Rantang Gustus!
A relieved looking Rantang Gustus thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.