PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pierre Gautier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viraj Mithani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Viraj Mithani has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gautier
vs
Mithani

187 cm
24
202 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

198 cm
26
215 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pierre Gautier!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Viraj Mithani!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Reed Andrews and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gautier swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mithani slips a straight right by Gautier.
Gautier drops his hands momentarily and Mithani takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A slow jab from Gautier misses its intended target.
Gautier fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mithani manages to avoid it.
Gautier misses with the combination.
Mithani lands a jab-cross combination.
Gautier scores with the left hand. Mithani knows he should have avoided that one.
Gautier jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gautier. Mithani does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mithani throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mithani lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Gautier will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gautier tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mithani was well out of range. Poor timing from Gautier.
Mithani wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gautier misses with a hook to the body
and Mithani counters with a right hand to the body.
Mithani slips a jab from Gautier.
Gautier works the jab nicely.
Gautier slips a jab and a cross from Mithani.
Pierre Gautier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mithani lets loose with a powerful body kick. Gautier will feel that in the morning.
Gautier scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gautier misses with a wild body shot.
Gautier lands a glancing blow to the side of Mithani's head.
Gautier thows a body shot but no joy.
Mithani waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gautier.
Pierre Gautier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mithani throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gautier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mithani tries to close the distance and clinch but Gautier swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mithani takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mithani tries to move into range but Gautier moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mithani just misses with a punch to the body.
Mithani cracks Gautier with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mithani moves out of range of the strikes.
Mithani doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Gautier connects with a looping right hand.
Gautier connects with a jab.
Mithani staying out of range there.
Gautier misses with a hook.
Mithani moves in looking to clinch but Gautier pushes him off.
Mithani uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gautier.
A slow jab from Gautier misses its intended target.
Mithani closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gautier circles away.
Mithani shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gautier, as that shot connected.
Gautier scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gautier, as that shot connected.
Mithani takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Mithani looks gassed!
A slow jab from Gautier misses its intended target.
Mithani takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gautier is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Nice jab there from Gautier.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gautier thuds his right hand into Mithani's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gautier throws an overhand right that lands on Mithani's shoulder, as Mithani tries to avoid the shot.
Gautier misses with a looping right.
Gautier misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Mithani counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gautier has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Gautier wants to stand up but Mithani is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gautier is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mithani prevents Gautier from getting back to his feet.
Gautier knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mithani on the ground.
Mithani stopping the sweep attempt from Gautier.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mithani stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gautier swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gautier moves into range and connects with a jab.
Mithani bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Pierre Gautier is winning the standup battle so far.
Gautier connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Gautier showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mithani.
Gautier pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gautier looks to score with a jab to the body but Mithani is just out of range.
Gautier misses with a looping right.
Mithani defending well as Gautier loads up on a big left hand.
Gautier misses with a combination
and Mithani counters with a one-two to the body.
Nice defenses there by Mithani.
Gautier swinging wildly here.
Viraj Mithani is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Gautier. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Gautier.
Mithani throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gautier ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mithani moves away.
Mithani slips under a jab from Gautier.
A head kick misses from Mithani.
Gautier connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Gautier throws a combination. Mithani tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gautier throws out a loose jab but Mithani uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Mithani.
Gautier throws a jab but it's blocked by Mithani.
Mithani tries to clinch but Gautier is having none of it.
Good exchange - Mithani coming out on top.
Gautier throws a jab when Mithani was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gautier tries to move into range but Mithani moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Mithani ducks under a wild hook from Gautier.
Gautier throws the left hand but Mithani avoids the punch easily.
A big left from Gautier misses.
Mithani throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gautier waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mithani.
Gautier throws a jab when Mithani was well out of range.
Gautier ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gautier lands a lovely overhand right.
Gautier throws a jab when Mithani was well out of range.

Mithani closes the distance and pushes Gautier back into the cage.
Gautier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mithani's efforts to push away.
Gautier can't break the clinch.
Gautier has had enough of the clinch but Mithani keeps him there for the moment.
Mithani is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gautier's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mithani defending well as Gautier loads up on a big left hand.
Gautier scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gautier throws the left hand but Mithani avoids the punch easily.
Gautier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mithani on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mithani takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mithani is breathing heavily.
Gautier fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Gautier scores with a body shot.
A combination from Gautier does no damage.
Gautier swings for the body but Mithani moves out of range.
Gautier throws out a loose jab but Mithani uses good head movement to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Gautier.
A telegraphed right hand from Gautier misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gautier. Mithani does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gautier connects with a nice looking jab.
Gautier ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mithani moves away.
Nice body punch from Gautier.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gautier throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mithani.
Nice jab there from Gautier.
Mithani tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gautier paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mithani bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gautier lands with a nice body punch.
Gautier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gautier misses the jab.
Gautier fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mithani manages to avoid it.
Gautier scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Gautier dominated that second round.
That's time! Gautier's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gautier misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mithani.
Mithani bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mithani uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gautier.
Gautier stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gautier thows a body shot but no joy.
A punch combination from Gautier misses.
Gautier misses with a series of wild punches.
Mithani tries to bum rush Gautier with a series of wild strikes but Gautier uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mithani swings for the body but Gautier moves out of range.
Gautier just misses with a punch to the body.
Gautier misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mithani.
Gautier loads up on a big right hand but Mithani slips the punch.
Gautier misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Mithani moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mithani has Gautier pressed against the cage, preventing Gautier from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gautier prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mithani scores with a shot to the side of Gautier's head.
Gautier tries to pull guard but Mithani won't allow it.
Mithani throws a head punch that misses.
Mithani scores with a nice hook to the head.
Gautier tries to break free but Mithani pushes him back against the cage.
Gautier has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Gautier wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gautier is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mithani gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gautier tries to pull guard but Mithani won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pierre Gautier. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mithani breaks from the clinch.
Gautier takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gautier throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gautier scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mithani doesn't seem bothered though.
Gautier misses with an uppercut. Mithani saw that one coming.

Mithani forces Gautier back against the cage and clinches.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gautier thows a body shot but no joy.
Gautier misses the shot to the body.
Mithani gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gautier.
Mithani looks to score with a jab to the body but Gautier is just out of range.
Gautier fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gautier throws a hook but Mithani avoids it easily.
Gautier moves into range and connects with a jab.
Gautier misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Mithani counter with a right hand.
Gautier misses with a looping left.
Gautier connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Mithani momentarily.
Gautier misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Mithani holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mithani has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Mithani prevents Gautier from breaking the clinch.
Gautier is trying to break free.
Gautier wants to get back to striking at distance but Mithani won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gautier is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Gautier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mithani misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gautier.
Mithani connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gautier momentarily.
Gautier swings away with a body shot that misses
and Mithani counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A swing and a miss from Gautier.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gautier, as that shot connected.
Mithani misses with a few strikes there.
Gautier loads up on a big right hand but Mithani slips the punch.
No joy there for Gautier, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gautier lands with a hook. Mithani tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Mithani darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Gautier ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mithani moves away.
Gautier looks to score with a jab to the body but Mithani is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mithani throws a sloppy head kick and Gautier moves out of range easily.
Gautier loads up on a big right hand but Mithani slips the punch.
Mithani drops his hands momentarily and Gautier takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Mithani has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Gautier tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mithani was well out of range. Poor timing from Gautier.
Gautier misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mithani fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gautier misses with a body shot.
Gautier throws a body punch but Mithani moves out of range.
Mithani misses the jab.
Gautier misses with a straight right.
Gautier throws a combination that misses
and Mithani counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gautier swings away with a body shot that misses
and Mithani counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gautier jabs at Mithani's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Pierre Gautier did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Gautier's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mithani misses with a wild body shot.
Gautier misses with a hook.
Mithani slips a straight right by Gautier.
Mithani moves away from the strike by Gautier.
Gautier throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gautier looks to land a combination but Mithani avoids it well.
Mithani doesn't manage to clinch there - Gautier circles away.
Gautier lands with a good body shot.
Gautier misses with a body punch
letting Mithani counter with a right hand.
Mithani swinging wildly here.
Gautier lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mithani circles away quickly and effectively.
Mithani slips a straight right by Gautier.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gautier throws a big shot that misses.
Gautier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gautier ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mithani moves away.
Gautier misses with a straight right.
Gautier lands a body shot.
Gautier connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Gautier connects with a jab.
Gautier misses with a body shot.
Gautier lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Mithani staying out of range there.
A big right from Gautier misses.
Gautier scores with a hook to the body. Mithani takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Gautier misses with a combination
and Mithani counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gautier jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gautier looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mithani slips under a jab.
Gautier misses with a combination

and Mithani counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mithani effectively controlling the action here.
Mithani lands a right hand.

Mithani breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mithani falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mithani takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gautier tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mithani was well out of range. Poor timing from Gautier.
Gautier's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Gautier duly obliges.
Gautier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mithani with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gautier to score with a decent uppercut.
Mithani on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mithani is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Gautier looks to throw the jab but Mithani is out of range.
Gautier swings for the body but Mithani moves out of range.
Mithani with a poor takedown
and Gautier counters with a two punch combo.
Gautier misses the body punch

and Mithani counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mithani.
Gautier is looking to break free of the clinch but Mithani has double underhooks.

Mithani's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gautier misses the body punch
and Mithani counters with a left to the body.
Gautier lands a nice looking body shot.
Gautier takes a swing at Mithani's ribcage but misses.
Mithani avoids the body shot from Gautier.
Gautier throws a predictable looking body shot
and Mithani counters with a three punch combo that has Gautier backing up. Gautier nods at Mithani to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gautier lunges at Mithani with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Mithani's hand.
Mithani takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gautier misses with a jab to the body
and Mithani counters with a one-two to the body.
Gautier bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mithani's head.
Gautier scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nice uppercut lands for Gautier. That snapped Mithani's head back.
Gautier cracks Mithani with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Gautier misses with a wild body shot.
Mithani slips under a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gautier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gautier lands with a nice body punch.
Mithani takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Gautier had his way with Viraj Mithani in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gautier misses with a hook.
Gautier lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Gautier jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Gautier looks to land a combination but Mithani avoids it well.
Mithani misses with a wild body shot.
Gautier is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mithani can do to turn this around?
Gautier fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Gautier throws a combination. Mithani tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gautier throws an overhand right that lands on Mithani's shoulder, as Mithani tries to avoid the shot.
Gautier lands a body shot.
Gautier lands a right hook to the body.
Mithani uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gautier.
Gautier missing with a left hand there. Mithani was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mithani takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gautier misses with a hook to the body

and Mithani counters by moving into the clinch.
Mithani is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Gautier jumps guard but Mithani stands there with Gautier around his waist. Gautier gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gautier fails to pull guard.
Gautier is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gautier tries to pull guard but Mithani won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pierre Gautier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mithani wants to get back to striking at distance but Gautier won't allow it.
Gautier is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mithani pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gautier blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mithani lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Gautier wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mithani has him pressed against the cage.

Gautier breaks the clinch.
Mithani staying out of range there.
Gautier will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gautier misses with a series of wild punches.
A slow jab from Gautier misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mithani takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Gautier throws a nice looking combination but Mithani bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Good shot there by Gautier.
Mithani takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gautier misses the shot to the body.
Gautier scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Mithani displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gautier throws out the jab.
Gautier throws a hook but Mithani avoids it easily.
Mithani on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Good standup being displayed there by Gautier as he connects with a hook.
Gautier misses with a double jab.
Mithani slips a jab and a cross from Gautier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mithani ducks under a wild hook from Gautier.
Gautier cracks a nice hook into Mithani's ribs.
Gautier misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mithani.
A shot to the liver by Gautier. Beautiful body shot.
Mithani fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gautier lands with a nice combination. Mithani backs away looking to recover.
Mithani avoids the body shot from Gautier.
Gautier lands a jab to Mithani's midsection.
Mithani uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gautier.
Gautier throws a body punch but Mithani moves out of range.
Gautier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gautier thows a body shot but no joy.
A telegraphed right hand from Gautier misses the target.
Gautier misses the jab.
Gautier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gautier misses the shot to the body.
A big right from Mithani misses.
Mithani uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gautier.
Mithani takes one to the chin there.
Mithani connects with a single shot there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gautier throws an overhand right that lands on Mithani's shoulder, as Mithani tries to avoid the shot.
Gautier misses the jab.
Viraj Mithani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pierre Gautier is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gautier moves into range and connects with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pierre Gautier showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gautier, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 50:45
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 50:45
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pierre Gautier!
Pierre Gautier is the new light heavyweight champion!