PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Gardner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxime Oppong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gardner's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Stavesacre - Minuteman. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Gardner
vs
Oppong

163 cm
27
157 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

174 cm
20
165 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aaron Gardner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maxime Oppong!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Bruno Lombardi and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gardner throws a lazy right hand but Oppong sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gardner works over Oppong's head and body with a nice combination.
Gardner throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Oppong counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Oppong landing with the ground and pound.
Oppong throws a strike but Gardner rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Oppong tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Oppong is adopting a defensive guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gardner looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Gardner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oppong controls Gardner momentarily but Gardner frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Aaron Gardner.
Gardner misses with a jab, cross combination.

Gardner feints and as Oppong raises his hands in defense, Gardner changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Oppong wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gardner sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oppong pulls Gardner in close to prevent any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Oppong scores with a shot to the body.

Gardner looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gardner trying to control the position from guard on top but Oppong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Oppong 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.
Oppong seems keen to control Gardner's posture.
Oppong wants to sweep here but Gardner controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oppong keeping moving, preventing Gardner from controlling successfully.
Oppong has control of Gardner's left arm, preventing Gardner from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Aaron Gardner just wasn't active enough.

Oppong shoots in and gets a takedown into Gardner's guard.
Gardner striking off his back but it's not causing Oppong any problems.
Oppong missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Oppong working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Oppong accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gardner trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oppong works over Gardner with some ground and pound from guard.
Gardner is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Oppong won't allow Gardner to sweep him here.
Oppong postures up in Gardner's guard and throws a big left but Gardner blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Oppong accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Oppong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Oppong working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Oppong tries to free his leg and advance position but Gardner is retaining full guard.
Oppong preventing the sweep.
Oppong working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Oppong throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Oppong with a flurry of punches that miss.
Oppong throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gardner works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxime Oppong 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.

Oppong avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gardner stuffs the takedown.
Oppong gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gardner counters with a nice double leg into side control. Oppong won't be happy with that.
Gardner gets to mount! Oppong was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Oppong can't escape the position.
Oppong is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gardner controlling from the full mount.
Oppong is desperately trying to improve his position but Gardner has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner controlling the position easily from mount.
Oppong tries to lock up and control but Gardner gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Oppong is looking to get to half guard.
Oppong tries to lock up and control but Gardner gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Maxime Oppong has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gardner lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardner controlling from the full mount.
Gardner prevents Oppong from getting the reversal.
Gardner trying to control but Oppong is having none of it.
Oppong can't escape the position.
Gardner throws some wild stikes that Oppong manages to avoid easily.
Gardner trying to control but Oppong is having none of it.
Gardner looking to control and managing it successfully.
Oppong wants to control but Gardner is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oppong is in all sorts of trouble here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oppong wants to hold on but Gardner pushes him away.
Oppong really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gardner lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gardner controlling the position easily from mount.
Oppong has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Oppong avoids a series of strikes thrown by Gardner.
Oppong is desperately trying to improve his position but Gardner has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oppong is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gardner cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Oppong tries to hold on but Gardner pushes him away.
Gardner controlling from mount.
Gardner avoids the attempt from Oppong to control.
Oppong can't escape the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Oppong is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Gardner dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

No joy there for Gardner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gardner throws a left and a right that both miss

and Oppong counters with a single leg into guard. Gardner didn't expect that.
Gardner is trying to control the position but Oppong postures up.
Oppong distracts Gardner with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Oppong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Oppong thows a big elbow that misses.
Gardner wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Oppong lands a couple of elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Oppong accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
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!
Oppong chips away with some ground and pound.
Oppong postures up in Gardner's guard and throws a big left but Gardner blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner has Oppong pulled in close to control his posture.
Oppong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gardner lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Oppong!
Gardner is landing with some decent strikes but Oppong is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Oppong is looking to improve his position but Gardner isn't that keen on the idea.
Gardner looking to control but Oppong is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Oppong is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardner content just to control the position here.
Gardner scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Oppong?
Gardner tries to control but Oppong wriggling away.
Oppong is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gardner avoids the attempt from Oppong to control.
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!
Gardner controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oppong is trying to escape the mount.
Gardner avoids the attempt from Oppong to control.
Oppong tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gardner looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gardner prevents Oppong from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardner wants to control the pace but Oppong is squirming around nicely.
Oppong is looking to improve his position but Gardner isn't that keen on the idea.
Oppong wants to hold on but Gardner pushes him away.
Oppong is wriggling around trying to escape.
Oppong tries to hold on but Gardner postures up.
Oppong can't escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gardner tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Oppong is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Maxime Oppong.
I think Oppong 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maxime Oppong!
An out of breath Maxime Oppong thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.