PBP Commentary

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

Gabriel
vs
Growes

167 cm
21
205 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

203 cm
29
214 lbs
9 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Erich Gabriel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Glen Growes!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Growes drives through and clinches with Gabriel against the cage.
Growes tries to circle away but Gabriel has him pinned against the cage.

Growes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gabriel moves to clinch but Growes breaks away

and Growes counters by moving into the clinch.
Growes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gabriel tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Growes smiles and moves away.
Gabriel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Growes but Growes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Growes doesn't manage to clinch there - Gabriel circles away.
Gabriel swats away the attempt to clinch by Growes.
Gabriel moves out of range of the body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Growes has closed the distance and engaged Gabriel in a clinch.
Gabriel managing to block the knees to the body from Growes.

Gabriel pulls guard effortlessly.

Gabriel looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Growes seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabriel keeping full guard, as Growes tries to pass.
Growes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gabriel trying to control the position.
Growes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gabriel bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Growes's guard.

That's two 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.

Gabriel drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Growes dives on top into guard.
Growes wants to control from the top but Gabriel keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gabriel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Growes postures up.

Growes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gabriel has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Growes has managed to get both his arms back between Gabriel's legs - danger averted.

Gabriel is working an open guard so Growes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Growes leaves Gabriel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erich Gabriel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gabriel fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Growes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A big left from Gabriel misses.
Growes keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Gabriel dives in and grabs Growes's left leg, looking for a takedown. Growes pushes down on Gabriel's head and hops out.
Growes misses with a low kick as Gabriel jumps back.

Growes clinches up against the cage.

Growes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Growes throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gabriel on the side of the head.

Gabriel clinches with his opponent.

Gabriel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Growes lands an uppercut.
Gabriel is trying to stall.
Growes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gabriel wants to get back to striking at distance but Growes won't allow it.
Growes landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gabriel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Growes prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Growes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Growes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Growes lands an elbow just above Gabriel 's eye.
Growes is trying to stall.
Gabriel jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Growes walks away with a smile on his face. Gabriel gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Growes tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Gabriel counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Growes!
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!
Gabriel looking to control but Growes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Growes is working to get back to half guard.
Growes really wants to buck Gabriel off and get back to his feet.
Gabriel takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Gabriel trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Glen Growes will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gabriel tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Growes is able to avoid easily.

Growes clinches up with Gabriel and pushes him back against the cage.
Gabriel tries to circle away but Growes has him pinned against the cage.
Growes trying to stall but Gabriel improves his position.
Growes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gabriel blocks it with crossed arms.

Gabriel manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Growes trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gabriel's guard.

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

Gabriel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gabriel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Growes tries to reverse the position but Gabriel maintains control.
Gabriel lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Growes hang on?
Growes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabriel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Growes is looking to escape.
Growes is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gabriel cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Gabriel moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Growes has worked his arm free - good work by Growes!

Growes throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Growes tries to clinch up but Gabriel circles away and keeps his distance.
Gabriel takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Growes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Growes scores with a nice head shot.
A punch lands to the side of Gabriel 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Growes throws a head kick that half lands.
Gabriel checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Growes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gabriel swats away the attempt to clinch by Growes.
Growes delivers a nice body kick.
Growes scores with a jab to the jaw.
Growes is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Growes cracks Gabriel with a right hand to the side of the head.
Gabriel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Growes sprawls well. Growes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gabriel gets slowly back to his feet.
Glen Growes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gabriel is defended easily by Growes.
Growes throws a head kick that misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Growes.
Growes is looking to clinch but Gabriel is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Growes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gabriel swats away the attempt to clinch by Growes.
Growes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gabriel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Growes scores with a decent looking hook.
Growes throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel is trying hard to land a takedown here. Growes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erich Gabriel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Growes takes the fight into the clinch.
Gabriel jumps guard but Growes stands there with Gabriel around his waist. Gabriel gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Growes's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Growes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Growes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gabriel swats away the attempt to clinch by Growes.
Growes tries to clinch up

and Gabriel counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gabriel.
Gabriel tries to free his leg and advance position but Growes is retaining full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gabriel slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gabriel decides to stand back up. Gabriel steps back and let's Growes get back to his feet.
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 Erich Gabriel will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Gabriel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Growes counters with a low kick, right behind Gabriel 's knee.
Gabriel shoots in for a takedown but Growes shows good takedown defense.
Growes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Erich Gabriel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Growes misses with a body kick.
Growes tries to clinch

and Gabriel counters with a nice double leg into side control. Growes won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gabriel thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Growes is trying to get back to half guard.
Growes tries to escape but Gabriel is in control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Growes parries the strikes from Gabriel easily there. Gabriel is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Growes to escape.

Gabriel decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Growes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gabriel can pounce on him.

Growes closes the distance and clinches.
Growes stalling against the cage.
Growes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gabriel backwards.

Growes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gabriel throws a low kick, looking for Growes's leg but Growes calmly moves out of range.
Gabriel circles away from the clinch attempt

and Gabriel counters with a takedown into side control.
Growes manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gabriel wants to pass to mount but Growes is defending the position.

Gabriel stands up out of the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Gabriel or perhaps it was just good defense by Growes which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erich Gabriel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Decent striking displayed by Growes there.
Growes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gabriel paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Gabriel closes the distance and clinches.

Growes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Growes pushes Gabriel up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short uppercut from Growes.
Growes misses with an elbow strike.
Growes tries to break the clinch but Gabriel is controlling the position.
Growes avoiding damage as Gabriel throws knees to the body.
Gabriel lands a body punch in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Growes lands a hook to the side of the head.
Growes makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Growes lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel dodges an elbow strike from Growes.
Gabriel can't get the takedown.
Growes misses with a knee to the head.
Growes tries a knee to the head but Gabriel blocks it.
Growes taking a breather.
Growes misses with a knee strike.
Growes stalling.
Growes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gabriel is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Growes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gabriel tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gabriel fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Growes breaks from the clinch.
Growes fails in his attempt to clinch.

Growes instigates a clinch.
Gabriel avoiding damage.
Growes misses with a knee to the head.
Growes misses with a knee strike.

Growes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gabriel shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Growes is trying to defend but Gabriel finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Gabriel stands up from half guard.
Growes tries to close the distance and clinch but Gabriel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Growes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Growes has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Growes closes the distance looking to clinch

and Gabriel moves into the clinch.
Growes throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Growes is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gabriel is keeping busy.
Growes lands an uppercut.
Growes misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gabriel changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Growes fights it off and pushes away nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erich Gabriel showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gabriel 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 William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!