PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Gunner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Witt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Gunner
vs
Witt

178 cm
22
165 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

165 cm
21
160 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thomas Gunner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aaron Witt!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Patrick Alders and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Witt gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Witt drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gunner blocking some punches.
Witt blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Witt wants the takedown. Gunner is fighting it off but Witt persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gunner's guard against the cage.
Gunner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Witt tries to free his leg and advance position but Gunner is retaining full guard.
Gunner working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Witt.
Witt trying to control the position from guard on top but Gunner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gunner working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Witt.
Witt wants to control from the top but Gunner keeps moving.
Witt is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Witt is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Witt working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Witt avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Witt is working Gunner over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gunner is trying to control the position but Witt postures up.
Witt has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Witt slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Witt wants to control but Gunner is keeping him busy.
Gunner struggling a bit here.
Witt works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Witt remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Witt lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Gunner manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Witt takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Witt is thwarting Gunner's attempts to control the position.
Witt controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Witt's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Gunner trying to control from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Witt.
Witt lands with a punch from half guard.
Witt lands with a punch from half guard.
Gunner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Witt on the ground.
Witt content to control rather than advance.
Witt wants to control but Gunner is keeping him busy.
Gunner is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Witt's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Witt's back!

Witt defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Gunner's arms.
Gunner tries to get the hooks in deep but Witt pushed the leg off.
Gunner keeps control of the position as Witt tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Witt trying to survive by controlling the hands.
Witt rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Witt makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Witt.
Witt is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Witt working the head and body with strikes.
Gunner works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gunner is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Witt trying to control the position from guard on top but Gunner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Witt is looking to work some ground and pound but Gunner has wrist control.

Gunner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Witt defends well.
Witt with a nice head shot there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gunner is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Witt trying to control the position from guard on top but Gunner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gunner being controlled here, momentarily.
Witt preventing the sweep.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Witt tries to free his leg and advance position but Gunner is retaining full guard.
Gunner will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Witt tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Witt tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Witt scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Witt dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gunner stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gunner wants it to stay on the feet.
Gunner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gunner lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Witt 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Aaron Witt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gunner lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Gunner scores with a jab to the body.
Gunner keeps the fight on the outside.
Gunner lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gunner lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gunner throws a leg kick which misses Witt's front leg but catches the back leg as Witt tries to avoid it.
Witt moves in looking to clinch but Gunner pushes him off.
Gunner connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Witt clinches.
Gunner is pressed up against the cage. Witt has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gunner down to the mat. Gunner avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nice jab there from Gunner.
Gunner is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Gunner misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunner looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Witt doesn't manage to clinch there - Gunner circles away.
Witt is breathing heavily.
Gunner closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Witt closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gunner quickly recovers to half guard.
Gunner makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gunner.
Gunner looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Witt throws a big right hand that misses.
Aaron Witt has got the better of the ground game so far.
Witt is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Witt tries to free his leg and advance position but Gunner is retaining full guard.
Gunner keeping moving, preventing Witt from controlling successfully.
Witt postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Witt is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Witt trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Witt throwing strikes but missing.
Witt lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Witt postures up.
Gunner being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gunner fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Witt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Witt looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Witt closes the distance and clinches up with Gunner, looking for a takedown. Witt pushes Gunner against the cage but Gunner circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Thomas Gunner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Witt.
Gunner stalks Witt and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Witt's face. Witt staggers backwards, shaken.
Gunner misses with a series of wild punches.
Witt tries to close the distance and clinch but Gunner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gunner keeps the fight on the outside.
Witt tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gunner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gunner lands a glancing blow to the side of Witt's head.
A combination from Gunner does no damage.

Witt fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gunner, pushing him back against the cage.

Witt has clasped his hands together around Gunner's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Gunner struggling a bit here.
Witt is looking to take a break and control but Gunner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Witt working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Gunner can't do much from the bottom here.
Gunner takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunner is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Witt working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Witt controlling the position from side mount.
Gunner is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Witt's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
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. Witt connects with a nice short shot to Gunner's temple.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Witt is trying to control. Gunner wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Witt sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gunner is looking to control Witt's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gunner avoid being mounted?
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 Thomas Gunner will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gunner feints a jab promting Witt to slip. Gunner then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Witt slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Gunner's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Gunner duly obliges.

It looks like Aaron Witt has been cut.
Thomas Gunner is winning the standup battle so far.
Witt fails with an attempt to clinch.
Witt tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Witt shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Witt throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gunner's waist but Gunner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Witt off to one side.
Gunner swats away the attempt to clinch by Witt.
Witt fails in his attempt to clinch.
Witt fails in his attempt to clinch.
Witt wants to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gunner throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Witt fails with a takedown attempt.
Thomas Gunner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Witt.

Witt moves into range and clinches up with Gunner.
Witt has Gunner pressed against the cage, preventing Gunner from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gunner throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Witt blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gunner is trying to break the clinch but Witt is controlling him.
Gunner is trying to break free.
Gunner tries to land knees in the clinch but Witt avoids the damage to the body.
Gunner tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Witt avoids it.

Witt wants the takedown. Gunner is fighting it off but Witt persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gunner's guard against the cage.
Witt scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gunner keeping moving, preventing Witt from controlling successfully.

Gunner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Witt defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Witt postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Witt advances to half guard.
Witt working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gunner is not content to let Witt control the position.
Gunner has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Witt is working away from the top position though.

Gunner looking for submissions off his back.
Gunner wants to improve his position but Witt is controlling well.
Witt with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Witt moves nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Witt thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Gunner's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gunner taking punishment in the form of punches.
Gunner is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Witt is controlling him well.
Witt passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Gunner!
Witt lands a heavy elbow.
Witt scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Gunner is in all sorts of trouble here.
Witt unloading with bombs!
Witt is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gunner can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Witt raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Witt postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gunner looks a forlorn figure.
Gunner taking shots to the head.
Witt raining down hammerfists from mount.
Witt raining down hammerfists from mount.
Witt controlling from the full mount.
Let's hope that Witt has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Witt cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Witt controlling his opponent.
Witt with good strikes from the mount here!
Witt with the ground and pound from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Witt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Witt 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Witt!