PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tristan Mkhalele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demian Gaea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mkhalele comes to the cage accompanied by Noir Désir - Un jour en France. Gaea has chosen Gangsta as his entrance music. Tristan Mkhalele had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Mkhalele
vs
Gaea

180 cm
25
201 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

180 cm
24
220 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Tristan Mkhalele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Demian Gaea!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaea tries for a takedown but Mkhalele circles away easily
letting Mkhalele counter with a right hand.
Mkhalele moves in looking to clinch but Gaea pushes him off.
Gaea misses with a takedown

and Mkhalele counters by clinching up.
Mkhalele throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mkhalele misses with an elbow over the top.
Mkhalele lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Demian Gaea has been cut.
Gaea drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mkhalele pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tristan Mkhalele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demian Gaea.
Mkhalele doesn't manage to clinch there - Gaea circles away.
Gaea shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mkhalele counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Gaea had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mkhalele defends it easily.
Gaea looks gassed!
Gaea keeping moving, preventing Mkhalele from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gaea throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mkhalele wants to stand but Gaea is controlling his posture from full guard.

Mkhalele drops back looking for a leg! Gaea is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gaea manages to kick Mkhalele off! Mkhalele jumps back into Gaea's guard.
Mkhalele pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gaea is keeping the position for now.

Gaea is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gaea avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mkhalele passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gaea is looking for a sweep.
Gaea manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaea is thwarting Mkhalele's attempts to control the position.

Gaea seems to be working for a kimura but Mkhalele defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mkhalele wants to control but Gaea is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Gaea is working for a kimura but Mkhalele is defending it quite comfortably.

Gaea is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mkhalele defends it well.

Gaea is looking for a kimura but Mkhalele is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gaea to get the leverage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Mkhalele looking for submissions off his back.
Mkhalele trying to hold on to Gaea's head to control him but Gaea postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gaea is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mkhalele trying to control but Gaea postures up.

Gaea is trying to work for a kimura but Mkhalele is defending well.

Mkhalele looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mkhalele trying to control but Gaea postures up.

Gaea is looking for submissions but instead, Mkhalele has regained full guard.

Mkhalele looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four 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.

Mkhalele looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gaea thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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

Mkhalele looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gaea advances position into side control!

Gaea tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gaea has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Mkhalele is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tristan Mkhalele dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Demian Gaea's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gaea throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Mkhalele was covering up waiting for the punch and Gaea finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Gaea is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mkhalele is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mkhalele has escaped and now he's on top!
Gaea keeping moving, preventing Mkhalele from controlling successfully.
Mkhalele passes into half guard.

Gaea looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mkhalele perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gaea is breathing heavily.
Mkhalele missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gaea looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gaea actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mkhalele has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Mkhalele is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Gaea has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Gaea really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Mkhalele working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Gaea keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Mkhalele is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Gaea has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Mkhalele tries to control but Gaea wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaea really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gaea regains half guard.

Mkhalele wants to work for an arm triangle but Gaea is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Mkhalele is working for a submission of some sort.
Gaea is pressing down on Mkhalele's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tristan Mkhalele overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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

Gaea is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mkhalele trying to control but Gaea is working from the bottom.

Gaea had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mkhalele defends it easily.
Mkhalele slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gaea tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mkhalele wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gaea keeps working.

Mkhalele is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gaea is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Mkhalele tries to move to mount but Gaea blocks the move with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mkhalele is looking to take a break and control but Gaea is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Mkhalele thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gaea is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mkhalele's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Mkhalele is trying to control. Gaea wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gaea moves into full guard.
Mkhalele trying to control but Gaea is working from the bottom.

Gaea working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mkhalele doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mkhalele manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Demian Gaea will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Demian Gaea's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mkhalele tries to close the distance and clinch but Gaea swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mkhalele tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Gaea counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mkhalele wants to control but Gaea is keeping busy.

Gaea is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mkhalele is just riding it out for now. Gaea eventually gives up the hold.

Gaea is working for a kimura but Mkhalele is defending it quite comfortably.
Mkhalele is trying to maintain the position but Gaea is very close to passing his half guard.
Gaea takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mkhalele looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Mkhalele is defending against the submission attempts here by Gaea.
Gaea prevents Mkhalele from improving his position.

Gaea is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Gaea is working for a submission of some sort.

Mkhalele looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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.

Gaea is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mkhalele trying to control from the bottom.
Mkhalele is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gaea is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Gaea is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mkhalele tries to roll over but Gaea keeps him under control.

Gaea seems to be working for a kimura but Mkhalele defends the submission attempt.

Gaea looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mkhalele manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Mkhalele has his foot on Gaea's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gaea works his way back into a safe position though.

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

Gaea has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mkhalele can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mkhalele sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mkhalele trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Gaea has his foot on Mkhalele's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mkhalele works his way back into a safe position though.

Gaea looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Mkhalele has picked Gaea up and slammed him! Gaea can't keep hold of the triangle and Mkhalele manages to pass to side control!

Mkhalele working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Mkhalele looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gaea tries to bench press Mkhalele off him but Mkhalele keeps the position.

Mkhalele is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gaea is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gaea manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

And that's the end of the fight!
Demian Gaea comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gaea has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Atkins scores the fight as a draw!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Tristan Mkhalele!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!