PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alphonse Gangitano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rua
vs
Gangitano

190 cm
18
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Pedro Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alphonse Gangitano!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gangitano lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Gangitano moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gangitano moves away.

Gangitano gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rua to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Gangitano avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rua is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Pedro Rua wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
An inside leg kick lands from Gangitano.
Gangitano scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Rua looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Gangitano!
Rua content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Pedro Rua wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Gangitano moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua thows a body shot but no joy.
Rua lands a right hook to the body.
Rua on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gangitano. Gangitano obviously looking to wear him down.
Gangitano avoids the body shot from Rua.
Rua fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Rua with that takedown attempt.
An inside leg kick lands from Gangitano.
A nice inside leg kick there by Gangitano. That's going to slow Rua down.
Rua swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rua is defended easily by Gangitano.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pedro Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Gangitano throws a head kick that Rua semi-blocks.
Gangitano cracks the inside of Rua's front leg.
Alphonse Gangitano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four 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!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gangitano.
Gangitano thumps Rua with a low kick.
Gangitano throws a leg kick which misses Rua's front leg but catches the back leg as Rua tries to avoid it.
Gangitano moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rua throws a right hand that misses
and Gangitano counters with a good, hard body kick but Rua shrugs it off.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gangitano.
Gangitano lands a head kick!
Gangitano dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rua. That did some damage!
Gangitano scoring well with a low kick there.
Rua is looking to wear down Gangitano with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gangitano feints and then cracks Rua's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rua down.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gangitano fakes the leg kick and cracks Rua in the body.
Gangitano throws a head kick that Rua semi-blocks.
Gangitano cracks the inside of Rua's front leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alphonse Gangitano dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rua crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Gangitano - the referee stops the clock and Rua gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Gangitano. Rua manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Gangitano feints and then cracks Rua's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rua down.

Rua drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gangitano is trying to control Rua's posture but Rua avoids it.
Rua controls the position.
Gangitano is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Gangitano is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Pedro Rua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rua is taking a breather. Gangitano says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rua has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Pedro Rua.
Gangitano throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
Rua throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rua stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gangitano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gangitano misses with a head kick.
Gangitano scores with a nice body kick.
Rua misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gangitano.
Gangitano takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Rua is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gangitano's half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Gangitano is looking for a sweep. Rua is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rua trying to control the pace.
Rua's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pedro Rua has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Rua feints and as Gangitano raises his hands in defense, Rua changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rua is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gangitano controls Rua momentarily but Rua frees himself.
Gangitano being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Pedro Rua has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gangitano cracks the inside of Rua's front leg.
Gangitano lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Rua is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gangitano feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rua's calf.

Rua throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Gangitano tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rua is in Gangitano's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gangitano working a defensive guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gangitano can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rua controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro Rua dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gangitano lands a leg kick that knocks Rua off balance momentarily.
Gangitano connects with a solid leg kick.
A good leg kick by Gangitano.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rua.
Rua shoots in looking for a takedown but Gangitano manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rua's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gangitano moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Rua throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gangitano's waist but Gangitano gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rua off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pedro Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gangitano scoring well with a low kick there.
Rua has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gangitano.
Gangitano lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
That kick from Gangitano tenderised Rua's leg. Rua is trying to keep his angry face on.
Gangitano lands a front kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body kick from Gangitano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gangitano lands with a kick to the temple. Rua shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rua takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gangitano lands a front kick.
Gangitano lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rua will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gangitano.
Gangitano lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gangitano buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gangitano throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Gangitano lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rua on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gangitano lets loose with a powerful body kick. Rua will feel that in the morning.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gangitano lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rua's sensitive parts.
Gangitano connects with a leg kick. Rua looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Gangitano moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Gangitano.
Gangitano chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gangitano with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gangitano.
Gangitano bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Gangitano with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gangitano lands a nice looking body kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gangitano, right into the meat.
Gangitano fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rua.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gangitano.
Gangitano throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Gangitano scores with a leg kick.
Rua looks for a takedown but Gangitano sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gangitano.
Gangitano lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gangitano turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gangitano lands a head kick. Rua smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Gangitano moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rua tries for a takedown but Gangitano sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gangitano connects with a leg kick. Rua looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Gangitano with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gangitano thumps Rua with a low kick.
Rua takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gangitano throws a head kick that half lands.
Gangitano throws a nice head kick!
Gangitano plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rua tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rua takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gangitano.
Gangitano throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Gangitano moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Gangitano feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rua's calf.
Rua chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gangitano can pounce on him.
Gangitano throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gangitano bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A looping hook to the body misses from Rua. Gangitano does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gangitano cracks the inside of Rua's front leg.
Gangitano chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A good leg kick by Gangitano.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alphonse Gangitano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gangitano 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alphonse Gangitano!