PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Gotti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Saxon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gotti comes into the arena with Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gotti
vs
Saxon

178 cm
25
185 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

182 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rafael Gotti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Johnny Saxon!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paulsen Ambrosius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saxon lands a nice looking body shot.
Saxon looks to land a combination but Gotti avoids it well.
Saxon's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Saxon duly obliges.

It looks like Rafael Gotti has been cut.
Saxon looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
No luck for Gotti with that takedown attempt.
Saxon throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gotti sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Saxon looks to land a combination but Gotti avoids it well.
Saxon just misses with a punch to the body.
Some wild striking there from Saxon.
Saxon misses with a few strikes there.
Saxon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Saxon throws a hook but Gotti avoids it easily.
Gotti shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saxon pinned against the cage. Saxon gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Gotti shoots in and bounces Saxon off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Saxon keeping moving, preventing Gotti from controlling successfully.
Saxon is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gotti is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gotti pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saxon is keeping the position for now.
Gotti trying to control but Saxon is working from the bottom.
Gotti won't allow Saxon to get back to his feet.
Gotti postures up in Saxon's guard and throws a big left but Saxon blocks it.
Gotti trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saxon is looking to stand up but Gotti isn't so interested in that idea.
Gotti tries to free his leg and advance position but Saxon is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Gotti loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Saxon keeping moving, preventing Gotti from controlling successfully.
Saxon is looking to stand up but Gotti isn't so interested in that idea.
Saxon looks gassed!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Gotti closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Gotti is working for an americana but Saxon has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Gotti was thinking about the submission.
Saxon wants to stand but Gotti is controlling the position.
Saxon is looking to stand back up but Gotti counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Saxon.
Saxon is staying active underneath Gotti, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Saxon looks like he's trying to stand up.
Still in half guard, Gotti seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saxon is trying to stand back up but Gotti is controlling him
Gotti works his way into side control.

Gotti stands up.

Gotti throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Saxon was covering up waiting for the punch and Gotti finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Saxon wants to stand up but Gotti is controlling him.

Gotti thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Saxon wants to stand but Gotti is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gotti is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Saxon scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Saxon thows a body shot but no joy.
Gotti has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gotti.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Gotti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saxon fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Saxon swinging wildly here.
Saxon swinging wildly here.

Gotti shoots in and bounces Saxon off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Saxon wants to stand and escape but Gotti is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Gotti dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Gotti's cut.
That's time! Gotti's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Saxon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gotti.
Gotti fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Saxon throws a right and a left that Gotti avoids nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gotti.
Saxon swinging wildly here.
Gotti fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Gotti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saxon misses with a double jab.
Gotti fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saxon throws a nice looking combination but Gotti bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saxon rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gotti moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Saxon throws a push kick but Gotti slaps the foot to one side.
A nice combination there by Saxon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Saxon, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saxon throws a right and a left that Gotti avoids nicely.
Saxon scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Saxon fails to land with a series of punches.
Saxon misses with a body shot.
Gotti dodges the punch combination from Saxon.
Saxon lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Saxon. No joy for Gotti on that attempt.
Gotti slips a jab and a cross from Saxon.
Some wild striking there from Saxon.
Saxon fails to land with a series of punches.
Saxon waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gotti.
Saxon tries to bum rush Gotti with a series of wild strikes but Gotti uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johnny Saxon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saxon loads up on a big right hand but Gotti slips the punch.
Saxon throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Saxon looks to land a combination but Gotti avoids it well.

That's two 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.
Saxon stuffs the takedown.
Gotti will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Saxon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gotti.
Nice uppercut there from Saxon.
Saxon misses with a series of wild punches.

Gotti closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Saxon did well to prevent Gotti getting side control.
Gotti prevents Saxon from standing back up.

Saxon pushes Gotti off and gets back to his feet.
A jab lands there for Saxon.
Gotti slips a jab and a cross from Saxon.
Gotti uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Saxon.
Gotti will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Johnny Saxon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Saxon fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Gotti on the side of the head.
Gotti shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saxon pinned against the cage. Saxon gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice body punch from Saxon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotti shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Saxon as he avoids it easily.
Saxon stalks Gotti and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gotti's face. Gotti staggers backwards, shaken.
Gotti takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Saxon works over Gotti's head and body with a nice combination.

Gotti scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Gotti tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Gotti looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Saxon is pushing Gotti's head away, looking to escape. Gotti manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gotti tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Saxon is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gotti asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Gotti is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Saxon has escaped the position, nice work there.
Saxon pushes Gotti away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gotti gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Gotti advances to full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rafael Gotti will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rafael Gotti's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Saxon thumps Gotti with a low kick.

Gotti shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Saxon's guard.

Gotti is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Gotti postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Saxon is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gotti, into his guard.

Saxon gets to his feet. Gotti looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Saxon throws a nice looking combination but Gotti bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Some wild striking there from Saxon.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saxon throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gotti fails with a takedown attempt.
Gotti moves forwards but Saxon connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saxon throws a right hand that Gotti ducks under and follows up with a left that Gotti also avoids with ease.
Saxon connects with an inside leg kick.
Saxon lands with a good body shot.
A right-left combo lands from Saxon.
Saxon looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Saxon throws a series of punches but Gotti moves out of range.
Gotti slips a jab and a cross from Saxon.
Saxon misses with a wild combination.
Saxon misses with a wild combination.
Saxon lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gotti circles away quickly and effectively.

Gotti closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Saxon quickly recovers to half guard.
Gotti content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Saxon looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gotti throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Saxon is trying to stand back up but Gotti is controlling him

Gotti is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Saxon doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gotti.
Saxon is trying to stand up here but Gotti is controlling him well.

Gotti is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Saxon defends it well.
Gotti stops Saxon from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gotti is working for a submission of some sort.

Gotti seems to be looking for submissions.
Gotti stops Saxon from getting back to his feet.
Gotti passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Saxon!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saxon tries to buck Gotti off but he can't manage it.

Gotti has control of Saxon's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Saxon regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Saxon is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Saxon defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gotti.
Saxon is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Gotti looking to finish Saxon with some ground and pound. This is bad for Saxon!
Gotti with good strikes from the mount here!
Johnny Saxon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafael Gotti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Saxon really wants to buck Gotti off and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Gotti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gotti, 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Gotti!