PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Math Riddle (ranked 2423 p4p, 4580 weight class) and Gee Gutsu (ranked 314 p4p, 476 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Gee Gutsu was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Riddle
vs
Gutsu

192 cm
31
201
8 - 16 - 0

193 cm
28
195
12 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Math Riddle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gee Gutsu!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gutsu throws a nice looking combination but Riddle bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
That kick from Riddle tenderised Gutsu's leg. Gutsu is trying to keep his angry face on.
Gutsu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Riddle fires out a quick counter leg kick but Gutsu just manages to avoid it.
We've been hearing reports that Riddle has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Gutsu shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Riddle has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Gutsu off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Gutsu swings widly with a right hand
and Riddle counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gutsu wants to clinch but Riddle slips to the side
and Riddle cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
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!
Gutsu misses with a hook
and Riddle counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gutsu has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Riddle.
Gutsu on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Riddle. Riddle obviously looking to wear him down.
Riddle shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gutsu eats them both and turns towards Riddle to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Gutsu throws a series of punches but Riddle moves out of range.
Gutsu throws a right and a left that Riddle avoids nicely.
Riddle swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Riddle listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Gutsu lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Riddle misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riddle uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gutsu.
Gutsu misses with a double jab.
Math Riddle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gutsu wants to clinch.
It looked like Riddle wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gutsu connects with a single shot there.
Gutsu thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Riddle if he has to take too many more of those.
Gutsu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Riddle moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gutsu turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Gutsu has taken the fight to the clinch.
Riddle is stalling here.
Riddle lands a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riddle lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Riddle lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riddle slows down the pace here.
Riddle blocks the elbow strike.
A shot in the inside from Riddle.
Riddle working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Riddle misses with a body punch.
Riddle is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Riddle tries to throw a body punch but Gutsu avoids it by throwing Riddle back against the cage.
Riddle using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gutsu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Gutsu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No joy there for Gutsu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Riddle tried to counter with a leg kick but Gutsu avoided it.
Gutsu tries to land a body kick
and Riddle counters with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gutsu throws a poor cross that misses
and Riddle counters with an outside leg kick.
Gutsu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Riddle avoids it really well and circles away.
Gutsu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Riddle lands a nice shot to the body.
Gutsu misses with a lunging right hand
and Riddle cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Gutsu fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Riddle, pushing him back against the cage.
Gutsu throws a head punch that misses.
Riddle throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gutsu blocks it with crossed arms.

Gutsu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gee Gutsu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riddle misses with a body shot.
A lazy body kick from Gutsu
and Riddle connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gutsu takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Riddle prevents a takedown attempt there.
Riddle prevents a body shot from Gutsu.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gutsu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Gutsu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Riddle connects with a right hand. Gutsu shakes it off.
Gutsu checks a leg kick.
Riddle slips a jab and a cross from Gutsu.
Riddle swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gutsu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Riddle blocks a head kick by Gutsu.
Gutsu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gutsu doesn't manage to clinch there - Riddle circles away.
Gutsu swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Math Riddle dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Gutsu tries a head kick but it misses.
A little feinted left hand from Riddle on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Gutsu throws a head kick but Riddle moves out of range.
Riddle looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Gutsu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gutsu has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gutsu there as he acknowledges the shot.
Riddle is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gutsu can do to turn this around?
Gutsu throws a lazy uppercut
and Riddle counters with a left to the body.
Riddle connects with a single shot there.

Gutsu clinches up with Riddle and pushes him back against the cage.
Riddle scores with a shoulder strike.
Riddle lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Gee Gutsu has been cut.
A short right from Riddle on the inside.

Gutsu breaks the clinch.
A big left from Gutsu misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gutsu throws a lazy head kick
and Gutsu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Riddle jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gutsu throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Riddle's head.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Riddle lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gutsu has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gutsu and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riddle keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gee Gutsu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Riddle lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Gutsu misses with a body shot.
Riddle lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gutsu misses with a takedown
and Riddle counters with a straight right hand.
Riddle swinging wildly here.
Gutsu tries a head kick but it misses.
Gutsu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gutsu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Riddle sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gutsu on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Gutsu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riddle scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Riddle.
Riddle uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gutsu.
Riddle was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Riddle takes a kick to the side of the head.
Gutsu misses with a wild body shot.
Gutsu shoots in but no luck this time.
Riddle misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gutsu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Riddle manages to avoid it.
Gutsu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Riddle scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gutsu throws a body punch but Riddle moves out of range.
Riddle does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gutsu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Riddle throwing a counter right hand but Gutsu manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddle throws out a powerful jab.
Gutsu misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Math Riddle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gee Gutsu.

Gutsu shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Riddle is trying to defend but Gutsu finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gutsu is breathing heavily.
Riddle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Gutsu seems to be working for a kimura but Riddle defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riddle tries to roll over but Gutsu keeps him under control.
Riddle is trying to stand back up but Gutsu is controlling him

Riddle is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gutsu pulls his head out easily.
Gutsu lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Riddle looking for submissions off his back.
Gutsu lands with a punch from half guard.
Gutsu wants to free his trapped foot but Riddle is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gee Gutsu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Riddle is looking for a sweep. Gutsu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Math Riddle dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gee Gutsu's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gutsu just misses with a punch to the body.
Gutsu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Riddle.
Gutsu doesn't manage to clinch there - Riddle circles away.
Gutsu takes one on the button.
Gutsu takes one to the side of the head.
Riddle keeps the fight on the outside.
Gutsu connects with a high kick.
Gutsu tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Riddle manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Riddle scores with a hook to the body. Gutsu takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Riddle throws a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gutsu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Riddle swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Math Riddle is winning the standup battle so far.
Gutsu on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gutsu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Riddle moves away.
Gutsu throws a head kick that misses.
A little feinted left hand from Riddle on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riddle stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Riddle wants it to stay on the feet.

Gutsu closes the distance and clinches.
Riddle lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gutsu backwards.
Come on Riddle - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Riddle avoiding damage as Gutsu throws knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Riddle.
Gutsu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Riddle lands a left hand.
Gutsu's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Riddle connects with a knee to the head.
Riddle lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gutsu backwards.
Riddle tries to throw a body punch but Gutsu avoids it by throwing Riddle back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Riddle.
Riddle pushes Gutsu back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Math Riddle has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gutsu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Riddle lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riddle tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riddle missing with knees to the body.
Riddle has a couple of punches blocked by Gutsu.
Riddle lands with a short shot to the head.
Riddle prevents a body shot from Gutsu.
Riddle pushes Gutsu back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Riddle scores with a knee to the head.
Riddle lands a shoulder strike.
Riddle works on Gutsu's body with a couple of short punches.
Riddle misses with a body punch.
Riddle throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Riddle lands with a left to the head.
Riddle works on Gutsu's body with a couple of short punches.
Riddle lands a body shot.
Riddle lands a nice shot to the body.
Riddle tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gutsu looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddle pushes Gutsu back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Riddle landing knees to the head.

That has opened up Gee Gutsu's cut even more.
Riddle lands a body punch in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Riddle.
Gee Gutsu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riddle crunches a lovely knee into Gutsu's ribcage.
Gutsu takes a shot to the head.
Riddle lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Riddle with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Riddle tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Riddle tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Riddle misses with a hook to the ribs.

Gutsu breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gutsu throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Riddle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riddle walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Gutsu checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Riddle works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Riddle tries to bum rush Gutsu with a series of wild strikes but Gutsu uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Gutsu throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Riddle was covering up waiting for the punch and Gutsu finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Riddle manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Gutsu turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Gutsu tries to advance to mount but Riddle denies him.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gutsu landing strikes.
You can see the frustration on Riddle's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Math Riddle showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Riddle 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Math Riddle!