PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Mifsud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Gorden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gorden comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Ben Gorden is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Mifsud
vs
Gorden

170 cm
20
145 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

170 cm
26
142 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ruthless Results 141+ Energy SALE $21

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Mifsud!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ben Gorden!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gorden misses with an uppercut.
Mifsud throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gorden fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mifsud avoids it really well and circles away.
Gorden throws a body punch but Mifsud moves out of range.
Mifsud scores with a one two! Gorden had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Mifsud throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mifsud misses with a head kick.
Mifsud throws a sloppy head kick and Gorden moves out of range easily.
Gorden throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mifsud throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mifsud throws a wild body kick that Gorden sees coming a mile off.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mifsud.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gorden tries to keep at a distance but Mifsud has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mifsud lands a left hand.
Gorden jumps guard but Mifsud stands there with Gorden around his waist. Gorden gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mifsud with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mifsud lands a left hand.
Gorden is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gorden wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mifsud has him pressed against the cage.
Gorden tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mifsud has Gorden pressed against the cage, preventing Gorden from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gorden has Mifsud pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mifsud manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Michael Mifsud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Gorden.
Gorden fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mifsud works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Mifsud lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gorden lands an elbow that stopped Mifsud in his tracks for a moment.
Mifsud using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Mifsud lands a body punch.
Gorden throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mifsud softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Gorden gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Mifsud regains guard.
Gorden preventing the sweep.
Mifsud is trying to control the position but Gorden postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gorden throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mifsud works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorden stops Mifsud from standing up.
Mifsud wants to sweep here but Gorden controlling him for the moment.
Mifsud preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gorden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mifsud on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mifsud tries to get out of the position.
Mifsud 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mifsud swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gorden takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Gorden misses with a few strikes there.
Mifsud throws a right hand that Gorden ducks under and follows up with a left that Gorden also avoids with ease.
Gorden looks for the body kick but Mifsud saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorden swats away the attempt to clinch by Mifsud.
Mifsud keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gorden.

Gorden darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mifsud wants to control but Gorden is keeping busy.
Mifsud is refusing to be controlled, as Gorden sits in half guard.

Gorden is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gorden throwing shots but Mifsud is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mifsud wants to improve his position but Gorden is controlling well.
Gorden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gorden throwing shots but Mifsud is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mifsud wants to control but Gorden is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mifsud moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gorden advances position into side control!
Gorden throws an elbow but Mifsud slips to the side and avoids it well.
Gorden wants to control but Mifsud is keeping him busy.
Mifsud tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Mifsud dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mifsud tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mifsud lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gorden circles away quickly and effectively.
Gorden moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mifsud.
Gorden throws a shot from downtown. Mifsud moves away and avoids it.
A head kick misses from Mifsud.
Mifsud misses with a straight right.
Mifsud walks into a stiff left hand from Gorden.
Gorden sizes up Mifsud with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Mifsud throws a head kick that half lands.

Mifsud closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gorden is looking to control Mifsud's arms but Mifsud gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gorden has his back to the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorden wants a takedown.
Mifsud lands a shoulder strike.
Mifsud is working Gorden over against the cage.
Mifsud lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Gorden blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Mifsud tries to land knees in the clinch but Gorden avoids the damage to the body.
Mifsud has a couple of punches blocked by Gorden.
Mifsud has Gorden pressed against the cage, preventing Gorden from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gorden tries for a takedown but Mifsud manages to get underhooks.
Mifsud misses with the head strike.
Gorden tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Michael Mifsud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Gorden.
Gorden doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mifsud looking to throw knees to the head but Gorden is blocking nicely.
Mifsud has a couple of punches blocked by Gorden.
Gorden is trying to break the clinch but Mifsud is controlling him.
Gorden is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Gorden misses with a punch on the inside.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mifsud.
Mifsud presses Gorden against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A frustrated look appears on Gorden's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short left from Mifsud.
Gorden wants a takedown but no success here.
Gorden is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gorden pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A nice combination there by Gorden.
Gorden shoots in looking for a takedown. Mifsud tries to sprawl out of it but Gorden keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mifsud manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gorden scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Michael Mifsud is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mifsud throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gorden.
Michael Mifsud is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mifsud scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Gorden looks to land a left hand but Mifsud moved out of range nicely.
Gorden throws the left hand but Mifsud avoids the punch easily.
Mifsud scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorden throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gorden shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mifsud but Mifsud pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gorden looks for a takedown but Mifsud sprawls well.
Mifsud throws a quick inside leg kick.

Mifsud clinches.
Mifsud with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mifsud unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gorden lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A frustrated look appears on Gorden's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gorden wants to break free but Mifsud has control.
A knee to the head by Mifsud.
Gorden is trying to drag Mifsud to the mat but Mifsud just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A nice left hand lands by Mifsud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mifsud working Gorden over with knees to the body.
Mifsud scores with a knee to the head.
Gorden wants to stall.
Mifsud landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mifsud lands a knee to the body.
Mifsud prevents the takedown attempt.
Mifsud lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Mifsud landing knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mifsud.
Mifsud connects with a knee to the head.
Gorden looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Gorden pushes off an throws an elbow but Mifsud leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Mifsud with a knee to the head.
Gorden wants to get back to striking at distance but Mifsud won't allow it.
Mifsud utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Gorden is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mifsud with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gorden has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mifsud avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mifsud working Gorden over with knees to the body.
Gorden tries to pull guard but Mifsud won't allow it.
Knees to the body from Mifsud.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Mifsud dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Mifsud ducks under a wild hook from Gorden.
Gorden takes one on the button.
Gorden stuns Mifsud with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Gorden cracks a nice hook into Mifsud's ribs.
Mifsud has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mifsud there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gorden lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Mifsud tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mifsud ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gorden has a takedown stuffed.
Ben Gorden seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gorden throws a shot from downtown. Mifsud moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorden tried to score with a low kick but Mifsud checks it.
Gorden throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Mifsud to counter with a crisp jab.
A punch combination from Gorden misses.
A head kick misses from Mifsud.
Gorden's corner calls for a 1-2. Gorden obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Mifsud pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mifsud stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mifsud wants it to stay on the feet.
Gorden takes a kick to the side of the head.
Gorden throws a right hand that Mifsud ducks under and follows up with a left that Mifsud also avoids with ease.
Gorden will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Michael Mifsud is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Gorden throws a hook but Mifsud avoids it easily.
Mifsud lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Mifsud goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Gorden jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mifsud throws a leg kick which misses Gorden's front leg but catches the back leg as Gorden tries to avoid it.
Mifsud tries to clinch up but Gorden circles away and keeps his distance.
Gorden with a poor takedown
and Mifsud counters with a three punch combo that has Gorden backing up. Gorden nods at Mifsud to acknowledge the strikes.
Michael Mifsud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Gorden.
Gorden shoots for a double leg takedown but Mifsud sprawls well. He's pushed Gorden's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mifsud is looking to clinch but Gorden is avoiding it.
Gorden throws a hook but Mifsud avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mifsud clinches up with Gorden and pushes him back against the cage.
Gorden tries for a takedown but Mifsud manages to get underhooks.
Gorden wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gorden can't get the takedown.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gorden throws an elbow but misses.
Mifsud lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A left hand lands to the body for Mifsud.
Gorden tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gorden drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mifsud pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mifsud tries to clinch there but Gorden circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Mifsud has managed to clinch.
Gorden with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gorden wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mifsud has him pressed against the cage.
Gorden looking to stall.
Gorden has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gorden tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mifsud just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gorden has a couple of punches blocked by Mifsud.
Mifsud throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Gorden goes for a takedown attempt but Mifsud pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Mifsud fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gorden, pushing him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Mifsud showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mifsud, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Mifsud!