PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcelo Dourado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Link Gaetz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dourado
vs
Gaetz

189 cm
19
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marcelo Dourado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Link Gaetz!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Gaetz as Dourado shoots in.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dourado is defended easily by Gaetz.
Dourado misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcelo Dourado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gaetz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dourado dives in and grabs Gaetz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gaetz pushes down on Dourado's head and hops out.
Dourado shoots in for a double leg but Gaetz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dourado fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dourado tries for a takedown but Gaetz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Gaetz drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dourado is breathing heavily.
Gaetz lands a couple of elbows.
Gaetz wants to stand and escape but instead Dourado has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dourado drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dourado jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gaetz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dourado is controlling him.
Gaetz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gaetz controlling the action here.
Gaetz lands with a punch from half guard.
Gaetz wants to stand up but Dourado is controlling the position.
Gaetz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dourado defending well though.

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.
Dourado is pressing down on Gaetz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gaetz slips nicely into half guard.
Dourado tries to roll over but Gaetz keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gaetz trying to mount his opponent but Dourado defends it.
Gaetz is looking to pass Dourado's guard but actually Dourado recovers to full guard.
Gaetz tries to free his leg and advance position but Dourado is retaining full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dourado is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dourado drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dourado jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Dourado tries to free his leg and advance position but Gaetz is retaining full guard.
Dourado preventing the sweep.
Dourado stops Gaetz from standing up.
Gaetz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dourado. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Dourado loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dourado tries to free his leg and advance position but Gaetz is retaining full guard.

Dourado thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Dourado throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gaetz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gaetz feints and then cracks Dourado's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Dourado down.

Gaetz has closed the distance and engaged Dourado in a clinch.
Gaetz prevents a takedown attempt there.

Gaetz wants the takedown. Dourado is fighting it off but Gaetz persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Dourado's guard against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaetz tries to free his leg and advance position but Dourado is retaining full guard.
Dourado tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gaetz gets to his feet - Dourado follows without any prompting.
Dourado misses with a takedown
and Gaetz counters with a one-two to the body.
Dourado misses with a takedown attempt

and Gaetz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Dourado looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gaetz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Dourado pushes Gaetz off and gets back to his feet.
Dourado shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gaetz counters with a series of strikes. Dourado will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Link Gaetz dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gaetz clinches.

Gaetz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dourado misses with a takedown attempt

and Gaetz moves into the clinch.

Gaetz pulls guard successfully.
Gaetz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gaetz working a defensive guard here.
Dourado distracts Gaetz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dourado throwing strikes from guard but Gaetz blocks nicely.
Dourado slips nicely into half guard.
Gaetz trying to hold on to Dourado's head to control him but Dourado postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Dourado is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gaetz is just riding it out for now. Dourado eventually gives up the hold.
Dourado trying to control the action but Gaetz is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dourado is trying to work for a kimura but Gaetz is defending well.
Gaetz tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Dourado looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Dourado looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gaetz tries to get to full guard but Dourado has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gaetz misses with a wild combination.
Gaetz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dourado defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gaetz.
Dourado has his takedown stuffed

and Gaetz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gaetz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dourado prevents it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gaetz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaetz prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcelo Dourado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gaetz prevents the takedown attempt.

Gaetz gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Dourado regains guard.
Gaetz wants to stand but Dourado has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gaetz throwing strikes but missing.

Dourado is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Dourado is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Dourado looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dourado is looking to stand back up but Gaetz counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Dourado.
Gaetz is looking to advance position but Dourado won't allow it.
Dourado is trying to get back to full guard.

Dourado is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gaetz pulls his head out easily.
Dourado wants to get back to his feet.
Dourado is refusing to be controlled, as Gaetz sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Gaetz forces Dourado back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Link Gaetz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Dourado with a poor takedown

and Gaetz counters by moving into the clinch.

Gaetz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dourado misses with a takedown attempt

and Gaetz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gaetz.
Dourado has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gaetz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcelo Dourado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dourado tries to score a body lock takedown but Gaetz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gaetz can't get the takedown.
Dourado has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gaetz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Gaetz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Gaetz clinches up with Dourado and pushes him back against the cage.
Gaetz taking a breather.

Gaetz manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dourado fails with the takedown
and Gaetz makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaetz lands with a nice combination. Dourado backs away looking to recover.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gaetz.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gaetz.

Gaetz clinches.
Dourado is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gaetz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gaetz gets underhooks to prevent Dourado's takedown attempt.

Gaetz manages to break the clinch.
Marcelo Dourado is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Gaetz moves into the clinch.
Dourado drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gaetz pulls his leg out and moves away.

Gaetz closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gaetz breaks from the clinch.
Dourado tries for a takedown but Gaetz circles away easily
and Gaetz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
An inside leg kick lands from Gaetz.
Dourado fails with the takedown

and Gaetz counters with a shoot takedown. Dourado fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Dourado has his foot on Gaetz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gaetz works his way back into a safe position though.
Dourado trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Dourado is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Link Gaetz has got the better of the ground game so far.

Dourado looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaetz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dourado is keeping the position for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dourado is on top in guard.
Gaetz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Dourado is working Gaetz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Dourado pushing down on Gaetz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Dourado passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Gaetz!

Dourado jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gaetz manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Link Gaetz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Dourado working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dourado trying to control the position but Gaetz is working away.

Dourado is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gaetz has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gaetz defending against the ground and pound.
Dourado in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Gaetz tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Dourado is trying to get an arm triangle but Gaetz is defending well.
Gaetz is trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Link Gaetz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gaetz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

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