PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between JC Liberatore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Gustafsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liberatore comes to the cage accompanied by Kick In The Door. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Liberatore
vs
Gustafsson

183 cm
21
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, JC Liberatore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Gustafsson!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liberatore swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gustafsson throws a head kick that misses.
Gustafsson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gustafsson tries to bum rush Liberatore with a series of wild strikes but Liberatore uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Liberatore changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gustafsson tries to avoid it but Liberatore manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gustafsson to the ground. Gustafsson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A punch lands to the side of Liberatore 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Gustafsson throws a right and a left that Liberatore avoids nicely.
Liberatore avoids a punch combination nicely.
Liberatore drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Liberatore shoots for a double leg takedown but Gustafsson sprawls well. He's pushed Liberatore's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gustafsson throws a series of punches but Liberatore moves out of range.
Alexander Gustafsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gustafsson misses with a combination

and Liberatore counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gustafsson!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice elbow there by Liberatore.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustafsson tries to lock up and control but Liberatore gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gustafsson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gustafsson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gustafsson wants to control from the top but Liberatore keeps moving.
Liberatore can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gustafsson controls the pace.
Gustafsson passes into half guard.
Gustafsson tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Liberatore wants to improve his position but Gustafsson is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson wants to pass the guard but Liberatore is defending well.
Liberatore trying to control from the bottom.
Gustafsson wants to stand but Liberatore has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Liberatore kicks Gustafsson off and gets back to his feet.
Liberatore has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JC Liberatore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gustafsson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Liberatore moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gustafsson connects with a leg kick. Liberatore looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Gustafsson throws a right hand that Liberatore ducks under and follows up with a left that Liberatore also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Liberatore avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Liberatore slips a jab and a cross from Gustafsson.
A punch combination from Gustafsson misses.
Gustafsson looks gassed!
Gustafsson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Liberatore tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gustafsson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Liberatore somewhat.
Gustafsson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gustafsson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Liberatore counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gustafsson wants to stand up but Liberatore is controlling him.
Liberatore makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liberatore is working Gustafsson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gustafsson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gustafsson is looking to stand up but Liberatore isn't so interested in that idea.
Liberatore trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gustafsson's guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Liberatore is looking to work some ground and pound but Gustafsson has wrist control.
Liberatore with a nice head shot there.
Gustafsson wants to stand up but Liberatore is controlling him.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Liberatore's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gustafsson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Liberatore postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Liberatore has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Liberatore is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gustafsson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gustafsson has escaped and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that JC Liberatore will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gustafsson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gustafsson swinging wildly here.
Liberatore looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Liberatore shoots in but Gustafsson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gustafsson throws a leg kick that is checked

and Liberatore counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gustafsson working a defensive guard here.
Gustafsson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liberatore tries to free his leg and advance position but Gustafsson is retaining full guard.
Liberatore trying to control but Gustafsson is working from the bottom.
Liberatore stops Gustafsson from standing up.
Liberatore with a nice head shot there.
Gustafsson is adopting a defensive guard.
Gustafsson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Liberatore.
Gustafsson wants to stand but Liberatore is controlling the position.
Gustafsson is breathing heavily.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Liberatore throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gustafsson has his hands on Liberatore's head, controlling the position.
Liberatore trying to control but Gustafsson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Liberatore shoots in for a double leg but Gustafsson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JC Liberatore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gustafsson throws a series of punches but Liberatore avoids them all with ease.
Gustafsson misses with a two punch combination.
Gustafsson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gustafsson.
Gustafsson lands a jab-cross combination.
Liberatore shoots in looking for a takedown. Gustafsson tries to sprawl out of it but Liberatore keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gustafsson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Liberatore dodges the punch combination from Gustafsson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liberatore fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A jab lands there for Gustafsson.
Liberatore is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gustafsson takes one to the side of the head.
Gustafsson throws a series of punches but Liberatore avoids them all with ease.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Liberatore.
Gustafsson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liberatore fails with a takedown attempt.
Gustafsson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gustafsson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Liberatore moves into the clinch.
Gustafsson is trying to break the clinch but Liberatore is controlling him.
Liberatore is looking to take this one to the mat.
Liberatore is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gustafsson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liberatore goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gustafsson prevents it.
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 JC Liberatore will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Left hook, right uppercut from Gustafsson.
Liberatore dodges the punch combination from Gustafsson.
Gustafsson leaves Liberatore with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gustafsson misses with a few strikes there.
Gustafsson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice cross by Gustafsson.
Gustafsson scoring well with a low kick there.
Liberatore dodges the punch combination from Gustafsson.
Alexander Gustafsson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Horrible takedown by Liberatore or perhaps it was just good defense by Gustafsson which made him look bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustafsson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alexander Gustafsson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Liberatore is looking to clinch.
Liberatore shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gustafsson as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JC Liberatore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right-left combo lands from Gustafsson.
Liberatore shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gustafsson but Gustafsson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gustafsson throws a series of punches but Liberatore moves out of range.
Liberatore takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Liberatore.
Gustafsson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Danga de danga de dang - Gustafsson scores with a four punch combination!
Gustafsson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nice takedown defense from Gustafsson. No joy for Liberatore on that attempt.
Gustafsson lands with a nice combination. Liberatore backs away looking to recover.
Gustafsson throws a nice looking combination but Liberatore bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gustafsson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Gustafsson misses with a wild combination.
No luck for Liberatore with that takedown attempt.
Gustafsson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Gustafsson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
JC Liberatore is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson swinging wildly here.
Sloppy strikes from Gustafsson. Those never looked like landing.
Liberatore shoots for a takedown but Gustafsson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Liberatore has a takedown stuffed.
Liberatore dodges the punch combination from Gustafsson.
Liberatore shoots for a takedown but Gustafsson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson looks to land a combination but Liberatore avoids it well.
A punch combination from Gustafsson misses.

Liberatore pushes Gustafsson up against the cage in a clinch.
Gustafsson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gustafsson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gustafsson gets underhooks to prevent Liberatore's takedown attempt.
Alexander Gustafsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A right handed body shot lands from Gustafsson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Gustafsson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Liberatore has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JC Liberatore!
A victorious JC Liberatore thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.