PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hickson Gwacie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evan Mitchell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Evan Mitchell will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gwacie
vs
Mitchell

175 cm
22
175 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hickson Gwacie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Evan Mitchell!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Luis Engracia and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gwacie looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mitchell!
Mitchell keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Mitchell wants to hold on but Gwacie pushes him away.
Gwacie working Mitchell over with strikes here.

Mitchell defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gwacie.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mitchell keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mitchell is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mitchell regains half guard.
Mitchell has hold of Gwacie's hands but Gwacie slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Gwacie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mitchell doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gwacie.
Mitchell gets back to full guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitchell wants to sweep here but Gwacie controlling him for the moment.
Mitchell keeping full guard, as Gwacie tries to pass.
Gwacie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gwacie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mitchell manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mitchell lands a nice shot to the head.
Gwacie keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gwacie prevents Mitchell from taking his back.
Mitchell with a couple of short strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mitchell cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Gwacie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mitchell in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Mitchell with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Mitchell looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mitchell working for a submission but Gwacie is keeping him at bay.
Gwacie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gwacie slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gwacie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gwacie keeping full guard, as Mitchell tries to pass.

Gwacie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Gwacie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mitchell gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gwacie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mitchell.
Mitchell lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Gwacie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mitchell looking to pass the guard.
Gwacie striking off his back but it's not causing Mitchell any problems.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell with a nice head shot there.
Mitchell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gwacie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gwacie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mitchell can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mitchell keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gwacie's head.
Mitchell wants to pass the guard but Gwacie is keeping the position.
Gwacie looking to control.
Mitchell throwing strikes from guard but Gwacie blocks nicely.

Gwacie looking for a guillotine here but Mitchell defends easily.
Mitchell passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mitchell scoring with punches and elbows.
Mitchell tries to advance to mount but Gwacie denies him.

Mitchell wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gwacie, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mitchell thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Mitchell looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gwacie sneaks back into half guard.
Gwacie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Mitchell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gwacie is keeping the position for now.

Gwacie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mitchell looking to pass the guard.

Gwacie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mitchell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mitchell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mitchell 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.

Mitchell thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hickson Gwacie dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gwacie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mitchell is looking to improve his position.
Mitchell works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gwacie preventing the sweep.

Mitchell looking for a guillotine here but Gwacie defends easily.
Mitchell trying to strike off his back.

Mitchell working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gwacie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gwacie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Mitchell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gwacie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gwacie won't allow Mitchell to sweep him here.

Mitchell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gwacie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gwacie is pushing down on Mitchell's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mitchell is fighting to maintain full guard but Gwacie has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hickson Gwacie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mitchell scores with a few weak punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gwacie prevents Mitchell from improving his position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gwacie connects with a nice short shot to Mitchell's temple.
Mitchell is breathing heavily.
Gwacie is looking to take a break and control but Mitchell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Gwacie seems to be looking for submissions.
Mitchell wants to get back to his feet.
Gwacie passes the guard and advances to mount!
Gwacie scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Gwacie works his way to his opponent's back.

Gwacie is looking for the choke from the back position but Mitchell is controlling his hands well.

Gwacie has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Gwacie is persistently looking for the submission but Mitchell is defending it well.
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!

Gwacie looking to break Mitchell's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Mitchell remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gwacie will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Gwacie has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Mitchell has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Mitchell can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gwacie has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Mitchell is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Gwacie gets his way!

Mitchell fending off the submission attempt from Gwacie.
Gwacie lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

Gwacie looking for the RNC.
Mitchell is in bad spot here.
Mitchell is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Gwacie off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Gwacie is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Gwacie controlling well, preventing Mitchell from escaping the position.
Gwacie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mitchell can do to turn this around?

Gwacie patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Gwacie working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gwacie is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Mitchell is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Hickson Gwacie!
Hickson Gwacie retains his welterweight title!