PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between strawberry lollipop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Link Gaetz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

lollipop
vs
Gaetz

180 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, strawberry lollipop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Link Gaetz!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Konstantin Menshow and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gaetz scores with a takedown into lollipop's guard.
Gaetz stopping the sweep attempt from lollipop.

lollipop is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
lollipop could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gaetz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gaetz trying to control but lollipop is working from the bottom.
lollipop is trying to control the position but Gaetz postures up.
Gaetz trying to control but lollipop is working from the bottom.
lollipop is controlling Gaetz's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaetz won't allow lollipop to sweep him here.
Gaetz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gaetz.

Gaetz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gaetz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gaetz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

lollipop actively working from the bottom here.
lollipop wants to improve his position but Gaetz is controlling well.
lollipop has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gaetz is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
lollipop is staying active underneath Gaetz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gaetz is looking to advance position but lollipop won't allow it.
Gaetz is trying to control the action in half guard but lollipop is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gaetz is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gaetz tries to clinch up.

lollipop takes the fight into the clinch.
Gaetz misses with a knee strike.
Gaetz tries to land knees in the clinch but lollipop avoids the damage to the body.
Gaetz goes for a takedown in the clinch but lollipop prevents it.
lollipop wants to break free but Gaetz has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gaetz pulls guard effortlessly.
Gaetz being controlled here, momentarily.
Gaetz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
lollipop trying to control but Gaetz is working from the bottom.
lollipop slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
lollipop cracks Gaetz with a solid left hand.
lollipop stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gaetz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gaetz has his foot on lollipop's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. lollipop works his way back into a safe position though.
Gaetz looks gassed!
Gaetz striking off his back but it's not causing lollipop any problems.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gaetz wants to sweep but no luck.
lollipop pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gaetz is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
lollipop trying to control the position from guard on top but Gaetz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gaetz looking to control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
lollipop misses with a takedown

and Gaetz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
lollipop throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gaetz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gaetz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
lollipop trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Link Gaetz dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

lollipop swats away the attempt to clinch by Gaetz.
lollipop fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

lollipop fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gaetz, pushing him back against the cage.
Gaetz working hard to break the clinch.
lollipop blocks an elbow strike.

lollipop breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
lollipop misses with a takedown
and Gaetz counters with a big head kick but lollipop shrugs it off.

lollipop closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gaetz did well to prevent lollipop getting side control.
Gaetz tries to roll over but lollipop keeps him under control.
Gaetz wants to control but lollipop is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
lollipop looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gaetz is refusing to be controlled, as lollipop sits in half guard.
Gaetz manages to get to full guard.
Gaetz throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gaetz fails with a takedown attempt.

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.
lollipop misses with a body shot
and Gaetz counters with a thumping low kick.
Gaetz clinches but lollipop breaks the clinch

and lollipop counters with a nice double leg into guard.

lollipop avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
lollipop is pushing down on Gaetz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gaetz is fighting to maintain full guard but lollipop has managed to sneak the leg through.
lollipop trying to control from half guard but Gaetz is working away.
Gaetz wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gaetz makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
lollipop closes the distance looking to clinch

and Gaetz counters with a takedown into side control.
lollipop wants to control but Gaetz postures up.
lollipop trying to remain calm as Gaetz controls from the top position.
Gaetz is looking to take a break and control but lollipop is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
lollipop is looking to regain half guard here but Gaetz keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on lollipop's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
lollipop is trying to get back to half guard.
Link Gaetz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gaetz lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
lollipop gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gaetz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in lollipop's guard now.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gaetz trying to control the position from guard on top but lollipop is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
lollipop looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gaetz is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Link Gaetz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gaetz drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
lollipop wants to stand and escape but Gaetz is having none of it.
Gaetz distracts lollipop with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gaetz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Gaetz gets to his feet. lollipop looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gaetz closes this distance looking for a takedown but lollipop circles away.
lollipop shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gaetz counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gaetz.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gaetz is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! lollipop is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! lollipop has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaetz wants to get back to his feet but lollipop is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
lollipop sitting in guard here, content to control.
lollipop trying to control the position from guard on top but Gaetz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gaetz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
lollipop showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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.
lollipop trying to control the position from guard on top but Gaetz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gaetz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

lollipop gets to his feet - Gaetz follows without any prompting.
Gaetz misses with a takedown

and lollipop counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gaetz's guard now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
lollipop passes Gaetz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gaetz is looking to control lollipop's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gaetz avoid being mounted?
Gaetz looks like he's trying to stand up.
lollipop is thwarting Gaetz's attempts to control the position.
Gaetz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

lollipop is working for a kimura but Gaetz is defending it quite comfortably.
Link Gaetz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gaetz works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Gaetz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but lollipop can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gaetz trying to control the position.
Gaetz keeping moving, preventing lollipop from controlling successfully.
lollipop trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
strawberry lollipop has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gaetz is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Link Gaetz.
I've got Gaetz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Link Gaetz!