PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Del Spooner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samat Gaziev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Spooner
vs
Gaziev

185 cm
27
195 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

192 cm
25
194 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Del Spooner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Samat Gaziev!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaziev fails with a takedown attempt.
The fighters circling - Spooner throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Spooner instigates a clinch.

Gaziev has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Spooner uses from the top position.
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.
Spooner wants to get up but he can't break Gaziev's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Gaziev has his hands on Spooner's head, controlling the position.
Gaziev keeping moving, preventing Spooner from controlling successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gaziev can do anything to dispel that myth.
Spooner is stalling in the full guard.
Spooner tries to stand but Gaziev is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Del Spooner has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Spooner misses with a body shot.
Spooner connects with a jab.
Del Spooner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Spooner tries to bum rush Gaziev with a series of wild strikes but Gaziev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Spooner lands with a nice body punch.
Spooner connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Gaziev shoots in but Spooner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gaziev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Spooner is fending him off so far but Gaziev persists. Nope, Spooner circles away and we're back to standing.
Del Spooner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samat Gaziev.
Spooner dips to his left and cracks Gaziev with an uppercut!
Gaziev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Spooner's waist but Spooner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gaziev off to one side.
Spooner misses with a lunging right hand

and Gaziev counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Spooner!
Gaziev looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Spooner tries to lock up and control but Gaziev gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Gaziev stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Spooner wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sloppy strikes from Spooner. Those never looked like landing.

Spooner darts in and clinches Gaziev up against the cage.
Gaziev keeps control of Spooner as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Spooner is trying to break free.
Gaziev drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Spooner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spooner is pressed up against the cage. Gaziev has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Spooner down to the mat. Spooner avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Gaziev scores with a takedown into Spooner's guard.
Spooner wants to stand and escape but Gaziev is having none of it.

Gaziev stands up from Spooner's guard - Gaziev perhaps looking for a knockout.
Spooner jabs at Gaziev's body.
Spooner lands with a straight right. Gaziev didn't see that one coming.
Gaziev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Spooner.
Gaziev shoots in looking for a takedown. Spooner tries to sprawl out of it but Gaziev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Spooner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Spooner forces Gaziev back against the cage and clinches.
Gaziev wants to take the fight to the mat but Spooner manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Spooner wants to break the clinch but can't.
Still in the clinch, Spooner scores with a nice short uppercut.
Spooner is struggling to control the position.
Spooner misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gaziev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Spooner is defending well.
Spooner is looking to break free of the clinch but Gaziev has double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gaziev dodges the punch combination from Spooner.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Gaziev dives in and scores a takedown into Spooner's guard.
Spooner wants to stand but Gaziev is controlling the position.

Gaziev gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Spooner moves into the clinch.
Spooner working hard to break the clinch.
Gaziev keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Spooner's efforts to push away.
Gaziev is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Spooner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gaziev tries for a takedown but Spooner manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gaziev decides to pull guard.

Gaziev pushes Spooner off and scrambles back to his feet.
Gaziev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Spooner throws out the jab.
Spooner misses with an uppercut.
Gaziev on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gaziev is breathing heavily.
Gaziev shoots in looking for a takedown. Spooner tries to sprawl out of it but Gaziev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Spooner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Del Spooner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samat Gaziev.
Gaziev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Spooner.

Spooner has managed to clinch.
Gaziev can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spooner tries to circle away but Gaziev has him pinned against the cage.
Spooner lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Spooner wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gaziev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Spooner avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gaziev is looking for a takedown.
Gaziev keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Spooner's efforts to push away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Spooner working hard to break the clinch.
Gaziev wants a takedown.
Gaziev prevents Spooner from breaking the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Spooner's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Spooner scores with a nice short uppercut.
Spooner lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Spooner lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Spooner is trying to break the clinch but Gaziev is controlling him.
A short right from Spooner.
Spooner tries to circle away but Gaziev has him pinned against the cage.
Spooner wants to break free but Gaziev has control.
Spooner wants to break free but Gaziev has control.
Spooner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gaziev drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spooner is trying to force a seperation but Gaziev has the dominant position.
Gaziev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Spooner just stands there and leans against the cage.
Spooner working hard to break the clinch.
Spooner struggles to land a body shot inside as Gaziev controls his hands.
Spooner lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Spooner tries to circle away but Gaziev has him pinned against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gaziev jumps guard but Spooner turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Spooner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Spooner stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Del Spooner dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gaziev shoots in but no luck this time.
Gaziev takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Spooner thows a left - swing and a miss!
Spooner lands with a hook. Gaziev tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Del Spooner is winning the standup battle so far.
Spooner connects with a jab.
Spooner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gaziev is looking to clinch but Spooner is avoiding it.
Gaziev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Spooner has Gaziev up against the cage in a clinch.
Gaziev keeps control of Spooner as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
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!
Spooner wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gaziev has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Spooner.
Gaziev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spooner tries to circle away but Gaziev has him pinned against the cage.
Spooner looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Spooner avoiding damage.
Gaziev blocks a body shot from Spooner.
Gaziev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Spooner to keep the fight standing.
Del Spooner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samat Gaziev.
Spooner is trying to break the clinch but Gaziev is controlling him.
Spooner will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gaziev up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Spooner's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Spooner tries to circle away but Gaziev has him pinned against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Spooner gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gaziev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaziev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gaziev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Spooner is defending well.
Gaziev has Spooner pressed against the cage, preventing Spooner from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Spooner wants to get back to striking at distance but Gaziev won't allow it.
Spooner wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gaziev has him pressed against the cage.
Spooner can't break the clinch.
Spooner looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gaziev jumps into guard, dragging Spooner to the mat.
Spooner wants to control from the top but Gaziev keeps moving.

Gaziev has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Spooner off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Spooner lands a jab to the nose.
Spooner looks to land a left hand but Gaziev moved out of range nicely.
Spooner connects with a crisp jab.
Gaziev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spooner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spooner tests Gaziev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
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!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gaziev.

And that's the end of the fight!
Del Spooner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Spooner, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Del Spooner!