PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hutch Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Itof Meyachev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Meyachev is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Pussy by Rammstein. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gibson
vs
Meyachev

185 cm
26
175 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

172 cm
28
174 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hutch Gibson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Itof Meyachev!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gibson closes the distance and pushes Meyachev back into the cage.
Gibson can't get the takedown.
Gibson wants a takedown.
Meyachev lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Meyachev has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gibson uses from the top position.

Meyachev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gibson trying to control but Meyachev is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Meyachev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Meyachev is trying to control the position but Gibson postures up.

Meyachev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gibson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gibson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gibson with a nice head shot there.
Gibson is fighting to break Meyachev's control of his arms but Meyachev is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gibson trying to control but Meyachev is working from the bottom.
Gibson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson being controlled here momentarily.
Gibson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Meyachev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gibson scoring with some ground and pound.
Meyachev wants to sweep here but Gibson controlling him for the moment.
Meyachev trying to keep a closed guard but Gibson is proving a slippery customer.
Gibson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gibson stopping the sweep attempt from Meyachev.
Gibson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gibson is in close to Meyachev's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Meyachev lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gibson!

Meyachev goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Gibson is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Meyachev wants to improve his position but instead Gibson has moved into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gibson is trying to control the action in half guard but Meyachev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gibson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gibson moves into full mount! Meyachev won't be happy about that!
Meyachev working to try and regain half guard.
Gibson trying to control but Meyachev is having none of it.
Gibson with a couple of short strikes.
Meyachev tries to reverse the position but Gibson maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meyachev wants to control but Gibson is having none of it.
Gibson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Gibson 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.
Meyachev working to try and regain half guard.
Meyachev tries to hold on but Gibson postures up.
Meyachev is looking to improve his position but Gibson isn't that keen on the idea.

Gibson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Meyachev is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gibson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Meyachev tries to lock up and control but Gibson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Meyachev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Meyachev in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Meyachev is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Meyachev is looking to escape.
Gibson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Meyachev can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Meyachev is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gibson landing punches.
Meyachev in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Meyachev in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The referee warns Meyachev that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gibson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Meyachev working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gibson wants to control the pace but Meyachev is squirming around nicely.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hutch Gibson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Meyachev clinches.
Meyachev lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gibson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Meyachev is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gibson tries to score a body lock takedown but Meyachev shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Meyachev pushes off an throws an elbow but Gibson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Gibson takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Hutch Gibson has been cut.
Gibson has Meyachev pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Meyachev manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hutch Gibson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gibson dodges an elbow strike from Meyachev.
Meyachev tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gibson avoids it.
Gibson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Meyachev avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Meyachev throws an elbow but it misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gibson.
Gibson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Meyachev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gibson backwards.

Meyachev has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Gibson regains guard immediately.
Meyachev wants to control from the top but Gibson keeps moving.
Meyachev stopping the sweep attempt from Gibson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meyachev trying to control but Gibson is working from the bottom.
Meyachev might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gibson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Meyachev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gibson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gibson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Itof Meyachev hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Gibson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

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.
Meyachev tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Gibson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gibson goes for a takedown attempt but Meyachev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Meyachev darts in and clinches Gibson up against the cage.
Gibson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gibson goes for a takedown attempt but Meyachev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Meyachev doesn't manage to clinch there - Gibson circles away.
Gibson fails with the takedown.
Meyachev tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Gibson counters with a shoot takedown. Meyachev fights it but they end up in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gibson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Meyachev working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Gibson has passed into half guard!
Hutch Gibson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Meyachev wants to improve his position but Gibson is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibson thows a huge punch but Meyachev dodges it nicely.
Meyachev keeping control of the position.
Meyachev moves into full guard.

Meyachev working for a triangle but Gibson defends it easily.
Gibson is looking to work some ground and pound but Meyachev has wrist control.
Gibson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gibson advances position into side control!
Gibson is chipping away with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meyachev is looking for a sweep.
Meyachev is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Meyachev taking a bit of punishment here - Gibson scoring with strikes.
Meyachev is breathing heavily.
Gibson advances to full mount.

Gibson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Meyachev is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Meyachev is working to get back to half guard.
Gibson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gibson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Meyachev is looking to get to half guard.
Gibson controlling from mount.
Meyachev wants to hold on but Gibson pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hutch Gibson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hutch Gibson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Meyachev looks to clinch

and Gibson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Meyachev looking to stall.
Meyachev lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Meyachev tries a body shot but Gibson blocks it.
Meyachev tries to land knees in the clinch but Gibson avoids the damage to the body.
Meyachev throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Meyachev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Meyachev gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gibson.
Meyachev with a knee to the head.
Meyachev tries a knee to the head but Gibson blocks it.
Gibson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Meyachev gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Meyachev jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gibson walks away with a smile on his face. Meyachev gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gibson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Gibson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Meyachev won't be happy with that.
Meyachev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Meyachev regains half guard.
Meyachev is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gibson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gibson's back!
Meyachev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meyachev struggling to land strikes to the head as Gibson covers up.
Gibson tries to escape the position.

Meyachev looking for the RNC.
Gibson biding his time here by controlling the hands, looking to escape.
Meyachev doesn't have the hooks in and Gibson manages to turn into his guard.

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.
Meyachev throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Gibson trying to control but Meyachev is working from the bottom.
Meyachev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gibson trying to control the position from guard on top but Meyachev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gibson landing some decent shots from guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Meyachev is on top in guard.
Meyachev throws and elbow that misses. Gibson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Meyachev's guard. Nice move by Gibson!
Gibson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Gibson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meyachev keeping moving, preventing Gibson from controlling successfully.

Gibson 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.
Meyachev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Meyachev is trying to keep Gibson in close.
Gibson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Meyachev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Meyachev manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Meyachev tries to control but Gibson wriggling away.

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.

Meyachev jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Gibson is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Gibson and Meyachev has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Itof Meyachev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Meyachev is trying to ground and pound but Gibson uses the momentary lack of control by Meyachev to regain half guard.
Meyachev misses with a head shot. Gibson uses the momentum to regain guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hutch Gibson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gibson, 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hutch Gibson!