PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gravy Train (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Cristo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Train
vs
Cristo

191 cm
21
185 lbs
3 - 9 - 0

184 cm
19
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Beast Body

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 3 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gravy Train!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Cristo!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cristo closes the distance and clinches.
Cristo looking for a takedown.
Cristo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cristo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Train is defending well for now.
Cristo blocks an elbow strike.
Nice elbow from Train.
Train lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Cristo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Train just stands there and leans against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Train with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cristo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cristo wants a takedown.
Gravy Train has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Cristo.
Train struggles to land a body shot inside as Cristo controls his hands.

Train manages to pull 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.
Cristo wants to stand and escape but instead Train has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Cristo trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Train pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cristo is keeping the position for now.
Train postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Train wants to pass the guard but Cristo is keeping the position.
Cristo controls Train momentarily but Train frees himself.
Cristo seems keen to control Train's posture.
Train preventing the sweep.
Train trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Train loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Train has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cristo throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Train gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Train moves into range and clinches up with Cristo.
Train lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cristo.
Train with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Train is breathing heavily.
Cristo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Train gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cristo trying to land knees to the body.
Train creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cristo's defenses.
Train lands an elbow inside.
Train throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cristo blocks it with crossed arms.
Train is pressed up against the cage. Cristo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Train down to the mat. Train avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Cristo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Train paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Train moves into the clinch.
Cristo fails to pull guard.
Cristo working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Train throws an elbow that misses.
Cristo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Train works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Train trying to control but Cristo is working from the bottom.
Cristo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Train manages to get himself to full guard.
Cristo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cristo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Train is proving hard to escape from.
Cristo trying to control the position from guard on top but Train is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Train can't keep his opponent in guard - Cristo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Cristo not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gravy Train dominated that round.
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.

Cristo clinches up against the cage.
Cristo looking to slow down the pace here.
Cristo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Train throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cristo blocks it with crossed arms.
Cristo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Train just stands there and leans against the cage.
Train with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Cristo blocks an elbow strike from Train.
Train prevents a takedown attempt there.
Train prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gravy Train has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Cristo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Train with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Cristo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cristo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Train thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cristo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cristo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Train is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Cristo.
Cristo struggling a bit here.
Cristo is looking to reverse the position.
Cristo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Train's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Cristo has one foot on Train's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Cristo fails with the takedown.
Train works over Cristo's head and body with a nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cristo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Train but Train pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Train shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cristo but Cristo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cristo misses with a takedown

so Train counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cristo trying to keep a closed guard but Train is proving a slippery customer.
Cristo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Train is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cristo pulls Train in close to prevent any damage.
Train slips nicely into half guard.
Cristo is trying to stand back up but Train is controlling him
Cristo keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Cristo wants to control but Train is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cristo is trying is best to control the position here.

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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Michael Cristo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Train wants to clinch up but Cristo keeps it at a distance.
Train tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cristo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cristo misses with a body kick.

Cristo closes the distance and clinches.
Cristo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Train lands a damaging elbow.
Train tries a knee to the head but Cristo blocks it.
Cristo goes for a takedown attempt but Train pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
No joy there for Train, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cristo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Train paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Train looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gravy Train dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes 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.

Cristo moves in looking to clinch but Train pushes him off.
Cristo shoots in but Train avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Cristo moves into the clinch successfully.
Cristo has a couple of punches blocked by Train.
Train throws a knee to the head but misses.

Train pulls guard successfully.
Cristo trying to control the position from guard on top but Train is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cristo controlling from the top position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Train is trying to control the position but Cristo postures up.
Cristo is looking to work some ground and pound but Train has wrist control.
Train has a closed guard, preventing Cristo from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Michael Cristo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Train doesn't manage to clinch there - Cristo circles away.
Cristo wants to clinch.
Train looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cristo is fending him off so far but Train persists. Nope, Cristo circles away and we're back to standing.
Cristo shoots for a double leg takedown but Train sprawls well. He's pushed Cristo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cristo doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Train counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gravy Train has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Cristo.
Cristo is controlling Train's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cristo is on top in guard.
Cristo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Cristo stands up from Train's guard - Cristo perhaps looking for a knockout.
A head kick misses from Cristo.

That's four 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.
Cristo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Train tries to avoid it but Cristo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Train to the ground. Train escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cristo is looking to clinch.
Gravy Train is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cristo fails in his attempt to clinch.
No luck for Cristo with that takedown attempt.
Train tries a head kick but it misses.
Train tries to clinch up but Cristo circles away and keeps his distance.
Cristo tries to clinch but Train moves out of range.
Cristo bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Train's head.
Train walks into a left hand.
Cristo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Michael Cristo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cristo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Train's waist but Train gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cristo off to one side.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michael Cristo.
I think Train has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gravy Train!