PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Archer Christian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Gatho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gatho has chosen 666 - Bomba! as his entrance music. Archer Christian has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Christian
vs
Gatho

190 cm
27
193 lbs
14 - 8 - 1

175 cm
25
187 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 14 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Archer Christian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Gatho!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Russell Pearce and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Christian misses with a leg kick
and Gatho counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Christian takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Christian uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gatho has time to react.
Gatho scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Gatho defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Christian.
Christian connects with a solid leg kick.
Gatho scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gatho is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Christian is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gatho.
Christian slips under a jab.
Gatho avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatho thows a left - swing and a miss!
Christian uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gatho.
Gatho thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gatho scores with a jab. Christian acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Gatho throws a hook but Christian blocks it.
Gatho attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Gatho tests Christian's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gatho with a jab.
Gatho lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Christian at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatho misses with a double jab.
Gatho will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gatho lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Christian walks into a jab.
Gatho misses with a few strikes there.
Gatho misses with an attempted mid kick.
Christian fails with a takedown attempt.
Christian swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Christian misses
and Gatho counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Christian blocks a low kick nicely.
Christian bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

It looks like Ben Gatho has been cut.
Gatho throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gatho throws the kick towards the body but Christian avoids it.
Christian tries to clinch but Gatho moves out of range.
Gatho 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.
Gatho steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Christian.
Ben Gatho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gatho scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Gatho misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatho jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gatho wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gatho swats away the attempt to clinch by Christian.
Gatho jabs at Christian's body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Christian looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gatho tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Christian counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Christian ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gatho moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Gatho dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ben Gatho's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Christian will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Christian lands with a straight right. Gatho didn't see that one coming.
Christian misses with a jab to the body
and Gatho counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Gatho swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gatho lands a head shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Gatho misses the target.
Christian blocks a jab.
Christian ducks under a wild hook from Gatho.
A looping hook to the body misses from Christian. Gatho does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christian tries to close the distance and clinch but Gatho swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Christian throws a shot to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Christian.
Christian throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gatho misses with a hook. Christian ducked under it nicely.
Christian avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Christian staying out of range there.
Gatho getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Christian falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gatho counters with a good low kick that Christian was not able to check.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gatho.
Christian misses with a looping right.
Christian rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gatho moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Christian will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gatho misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gatho takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gatho misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Christian.
Gatho will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatho connects with the punch.
Christian bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gatho dodges the punch combination from Christian.
Gatho throws a hook but Christian avoids it easily.
Gatho rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Christian moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Christian is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gatho throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gatho tries to close the distance and clinch but Christian swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatho scores with a decent looking hook.
Gatho throws a jab but it's blocked by Christian.
Gatho scores with a shot to the body.
Christian throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Christian slips under a jab.
Gatho keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gatho misses with a looping left.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gatho takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Christian misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ben Gatho will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ben Gatho's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Christian avoids a kick to the body.
Christian doesn't manage to clinch there - Gatho circles away.
Gatho misses with a left hand

and Christian counters with a nice double leg into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gatho working a defensive guard here.
Gatho wants to sweep here but Christian controlling him for the moment.
Christian works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gatho on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gatho is trying to control but can't.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Well, if Christian is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Gatho wants to get back to full guard.
Christian not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christian drops an elbow to the side of Gatho's head.
Christian will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Christian seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gatho does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Christian stalling away here and it's allowed Gatho to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Gatho working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Christian.

Gatho working for a triangle but Christian defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Christian accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gatho keeping full guard, as Christian tries to pass.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Christian working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Christian trying to control the position from guard on top but Gatho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Christian stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gatho swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christian landing some decent shots from guard.
Christian keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gatho's head.
Gatho trying to control the position.
Archer Christian overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gatho utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Christian connects with a couple of short punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Christian accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gatho looking to control.
Christian throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gatho works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Christian passes into half guard.
Christian thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gatho is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gatho manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ben Gatho is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christian throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gatho works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gatho tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Christian tries to free his leg and advance position but Gatho is retaining full guard.
Christian throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gatho works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Christian throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gatho works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gatho is adopting a defensive guard.
Christian trying to control the position from guard on top but Gatho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Christian working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gatho looking for a sweep. Not yet Gatho, not yet.
Gatho can't keep his opponent in guard - Christian advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Christian wants to free his trapped foot but Gatho is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Christian thows a huge punch but Gatho dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatho is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Christian not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gatho taking some punishment here, with Christian in his half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gatho manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Christian working some strikes from top position.
Gatho is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Christian tries to kick Gatho off but Gatho keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Christian tries to roll over but Gatho keeps him under control.
Gatho is taking a breather. Christian 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.
Archer Christian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Archer Christian showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gatho 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!