PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Glenn Gunn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Azad Naja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gunn
vs
Naja

178 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Glenn Gunn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Azad Naja!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gunn, as that shot connected.
Gunn moves in looking to clinch but Naja pushes him off.
Naja circles away from the clinch attempt.
Naja shoots in but no luck this time.

Naja feints and as Gunn raises his hands in defense, Naja changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gunn keeping full guard, as Naja tries to pass.
Naja trying to control the position from guard on top but Gunn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gunn is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Naja looking to pass the guard.
Naja trying to control the position from guard on top but Gunn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Naja tries to free his leg and advance position but Gunn is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Naja drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gunn manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Naja has Gunn in his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gunn trying to stand up but can't free himself from Naja's guard.
Naja manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Naja throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Gunn because Naja loaded up on that one.
Gunn is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Naja throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Gunn because Naja loaded up on that one.

Naja working for a guillotine from mount but Gunn is in no mood to give up.
Naja punching from mount but Gunn doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Naja tries to control but Gunn wriggling away.
Gunn knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Naja on the ground.
Naja tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Naja misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Gunn tries to buck Naja off but he can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naja looking to control but Gunn is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gunn trying desperately to get to his feet.

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

Naja working for a submission but Gunn is keeping him at bay.
Gunn is breathing heavily.
Poor strikes thrown by Naja there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Naja throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Gunn because Naja loaded up on that one.
Gunn is trying to stand.
Naja throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

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.
Gunn is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Naja trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Naja thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Naja looking to control but Gunn is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Naja looking to finish Gunn with some ground and pound. This is bad for Gunn!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Naja jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gunn manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Naja wants to control for a moment but Gunn uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azad Naja dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Naja shoots in for a double leg but Gunn sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Naja shoots in but no luck this time.
Horrible takedown by Naja or perhaps it was just good defense by Gunn which made him look bad.
Glenn Gunn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Azad Naja.

Naja darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gunn wants to get back to his feet.
Naja is looking to take a break and control but Gunn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Naja tries to pass to full mount but Gunn defends it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Naja wants to control but Gunn is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunn looks like he's trying to stand up.
Naja is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Gunn wants to get back to his feet.
Naja misses with a head shot.
Gunn is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Naja throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Gunn because Naja loaded up on that one.

That's two 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.
Gunn is trying to stand up.
Naja throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Naja thowing shots but they're missing.
Gunn has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Naja wants to control but Gunn is keeping busy.
Naja wants to control but Gunn manages to buck him off and is now in Naja's guard! Nice work there by Gunn!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Naja checks a low kick from Gunn.
Naja closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gunn circles away.
Gunn is looking to clinch.
Naja drops his hands momentarily and Gunn takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nice takedown defense from Gunn. No joy for Naja on that attempt.
Naja fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gunn throws a right and a left that Naja avoids nicely.
Glenn Gunn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naja dodges the punch combination from Gunn.
Gunn is looking to score with low kicks.
Naja shoots for a double leg takedown but Gunn sprawls well. He's pushed Naja's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gunn misses with an uppercut.
Azad Naja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gunn lands with a nice combination. Naja backs away looking to recover.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Naja.
Gunn misses with a wild body shot.
Naja takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Gunn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gunn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Naja.

Naja drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gunn keeping moving, preventing Naja from controlling successfully.
Naja looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Naja stands up and waves to Gunn to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunn fails with an attempt to clinch.

Naja feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Naja working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Naja throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gunn works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Naja in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Naja passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Naja trying to control the position but Gunn is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Azad Naja will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gunn scores with a leg kick.
Gunn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Naja.
Gunn avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Naja.
Naja working the head with strikes.
Naja throws an elbow but Gunn slips to the side and avoids it well.
Naja tries to score with some ground and pound. Gunn controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Gunn is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Naja tries to advance to mount but Gunn denies him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Naja fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naja tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Naja wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gunn keeps working.
Azad Naja has got the better of the ground game so far.
Naja is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Naja closes the distance and clinches up with Gunn, looking for a takedown. Naja pushes Gunn against the cage but Gunn circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gunn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Naja swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Gunn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gunn can't break the clinch.
Gunn managing to block the knees to the body from Naja.
Naja is looking to break free of the clinch but Gunn has double underhooks.
Naja is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gunn pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gunn avoiding damage.

Gunn breaks the clinch.
Glenn Gunn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two 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.
Gunn swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naja trying to control the position from guard on top but Gunn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gunn scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Gunn throws a series of punches but Naja moves out of range.
Naja keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gunn.
Gunn throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Naja looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gunn is fending him off so far but Naja persists. Nope, Gunn circles away and we're back to standing.
Glenn Gunn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Azad Naja.
Naja will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Naja tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Naja shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Naja showed some decent athleticism there.
Naja stops Gunn from getting back to his feet.

Naja is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gunn doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Naja.

Gunn is defending against the submission attempts here by Naja.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naja is keen to just control but Gunn is a slippery customer.
Naja has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Naja wants to free his trapped foot but Gunn is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Naja is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Glenn Gunn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Naja wants to control but Gunn is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Azad Naja comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Naja winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Azad Naja!