PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ben Gorden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan ORourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gorden's entrance music is Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up . A fine choice. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Gorden
vs
ORourke

170 cm
29
142 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

180 cm
26
143 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Powerful

O'Brannigan's Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ben Gorden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan ORourke!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gorden lands a jab.
ORourke tries to clinch but Gorden moves away

and Gorden decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in ORourke's guard.

Gorden is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! ORourke is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! ORourke has escaped and now he's on top!
Gorden wants to improve his position but instead ORourke has moved into half guard.
ORourke is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
ORourke content to control rather than advance.

Gorden looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, ORourke seems content to control.

Gorden looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gorden is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of ORourke's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take ORourke's back!

Gorden is looking for the choke from the back position but ORourke is controlling his hands well.

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.
ORourke covering up well and avoiding damage.
Gorden punches the canvas rather than the man.
Gorden punches the canvas rather than the man.
ORourke covering up well under a series of strikes from Gorden.
Gorden somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Gorden misses with a punch to the head.
ORourke really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gorden. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gorden wants to control but ORourke manages to buck him off and is now in Gorden's guard! Nice work there by ORourke!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorden looking to control.
Gorden pulls ORourke in close to prevent any damage.

Gorden has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but ORourke can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gorden looking for a guillotine here but ORourke defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Gorden looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
ORourke stopping the sweep attempt from Gorden.
Gorden is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fighters circling - Gorden throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
ORourke closes the distance but Gorden moves to the side
and Gorden counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
ORourke tries to clinch
and Gorden counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Gorden connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Gorden scores with a three punch combo!
No joy there for ORourke, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Gorden changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. ORourke looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
ORourke is looking to reverse the position.
Gorden throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Gorden lands a decent elbow from side control.

Gorden is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, ORourke has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorden in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Gorden wants to control but ORourke is keeping him busy.
Sloppy strikes there by Gorden.
Gorden in side control, throwing shots but ORourke defends.
Gorden working away.
Gorden works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gorden working the ground and pound.
ORourke wants to get back to his feet but Gorden is dominant here and he's now got ORourke's back!

ORourke is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Gorden off. It looks like it's working - Gorden slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! ORourke displaying calm under pressure there.
ORourke closes the distance but Gorden moves to the side
and Gorden counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
ORourke tries to close the distance and clinch but Gorden swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
ORourke defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gorden.
Gorden avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
ORourke tries a head kick but it misses.
ORourke stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and ORourke wants it to stay on the feet.
ORourke swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Gorden counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for ORourke!
Gorden thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorden punishing his opponent with strikes.

Gorden moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, ORourke has worked his arm free - good work by ORourke!
Gorden throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The strikes coming from Gorden are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
An elbow from Gorden crashes against the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gorden scoring with punches from side control.
The strikes coming from Gorden are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Gorden goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, ORourke has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gorden but great work by ORourke.
Gorden is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gorden gets back to half guard.
Gorden moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Gorden dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

ORourke tries to clinch up
enabling Gorden to counter with a crisp jab.
Gorden moves out of range of the body kick.
Ben Gorden is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
ORourke misses with a leg kick.
A jab lands there for ORourke.
Gorden throws a head kick that misses.
ORourke tries to clinch up.
Gorden keeps the fight on the outside.
Gorden throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
ORourke throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
ORourke blocks a low kick nicely.
ORourke throws a leg kick that misses.
ORourke tries to clinch but Gorden moves away

and Gorden counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for ORourke!
Gorden wants to control the pace but ORourke is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorden lands a heavy elbow.
Gorden looking to control but ORourke is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Gorden goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now ORourke is on top in guard.
ORourke wants to control from the top but Gorden keeps moving.
ORourke showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gorden looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! ORourke has picked Gorden up and slammed him! Gorden can't keep hold of the triangle and ORourke manages to pass to side control!
Gorden tries to improve position but can't.
Ben Gorden is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gorden 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.
Gorden is trying to control ORourke's posture but ORourke avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorden is looking for a sweep.
Gorden trying to remain calm as ORourke controls from the top position.
ORourke gets to mount! Gorden was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
ORourke tries to control but Gorden 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.
Gorden keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ben Gorden overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Gorden showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gorden has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Gorden!