PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shaun Gate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasil Toshev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gate
vs
Toshev

188 cm
23
191 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 Montreal, Shaun Gate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vasil Toshev!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Toshev slaps away a takedown attempt from Gate, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Toshev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gate shoots in but no luck this time.
Gate throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Gate changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Toshev tries to avoid it but Gate manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Toshev to the ground. Toshev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaun Gate. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gate displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Toshev.
Toshev fails with a takedown attempt.
Toshev scores with a kick to the body.
Toshev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Toshev misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toshev closes the distance and clinches up with Gate, looking for a takedown. Toshev pushes Gate against the cage but Gate circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Toshev tries to clinch there but Gate circles away.
Toshev defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gate.
Gate shoots in for a double leg but Toshev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Toshev throws a head kick but Gate moves out of range.
Toshev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gate sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Toshev somewhat.
Gate fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Toshev doesn't manage to clinch there - Gate circles away.
Toshev fails to land the takedown.
Toshev looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gate works the jab nicely.
Gate shoots for a double leg takedown but Toshev sprawls well. He's pushed Gate's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Toshev takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Toshev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gate lands a slapping body shot.
Toshev stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Toshev wants it to stay on the feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Toshev slaps away a takedown attempt from Gate, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Toshev tries to clinch

and Gate counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gate is pressed up against the cage. Toshev has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gate down to the mat. Gate avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gate stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toshev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gate swivels and escapes.

Gate has taken the fight to the clinch.

Gate breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Toshev slaps away a takedown attempt from Gate, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Gate clinches up with Toshev and pushes him back against the cage.
Toshev pushes off an throws an elbow but Gate leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Gate breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gate shoots in but no luck this time.

Toshev moves into the clinch.
Gate has Toshev pressed against the cage, preventing Toshev from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gate is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Toshev is defending well.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Toshev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Toshev tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gate just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gate has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Toshev avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Toshev is trying to pull guard but Gate has him pressed against the cage.

Gate manages to break the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gate delivers a nice body kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Toshev is looking to chop away at Gate's legs.
No luck for Toshev with that takedown attempt.
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 Shaun Gate will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gate lunges at Toshev with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Toshev's hand.
Toshev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shaun Gate is winning the standup battle so far.
Gate slaps away a takedown attempt from Toshev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gate throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Toshev's waist but Toshev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gate off to one side.
Toshev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gate paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gate shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Toshev pinned against the cage. Toshev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Toshev tries to clinch up.
Toshev dives in and grabs Gate's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gate pushes down on Toshev's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toshev fails to land with a series of punches.
Toshev is breathing heavily.
Gate shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaun Gate. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Toshev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gate as he avoids it easily.
Toshev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Gate moves into range and clinches up with Toshev.
Gate wants a takedown but no success here.

Gate breaks from the clinch.
Gate throws a head kick but Toshev moves out of range.
Gate tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Gate closes the distance and pushes Toshev back into the cage.
Toshev is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toshev is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gate gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Gate breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gate tries to clinch up.

Gate has taken the fight to the clinch.
Toshev slows down the pace here.
Gate has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Toshev avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Toshev is trying to pull guard but Gate turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gate wants a takedown.
Gate is pressed up against the cage. Toshev has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gate down to the mat. Gate avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gate shoots in for a takedown but Toshev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Toshev misses with a body kick.
Gate misses with a jab to the body
and Toshev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gate tries to clinch but Toshev moves out of range.
Gate keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gate fails to land the takedown.

Toshev clinches up against the cage.
Gate trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gate decides to pull guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Toshev postures up and lands a big shot to Gate's brow.
Toshev tries to free his leg and advance position but Gate is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Toshev wants to control from the top but Gate keeps moving.
Gate controls Toshev momentarily but Toshev frees himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gate manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Toshev manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Gate dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gate forces Toshev back against the cage and clinches.
Toshev tries to score a body lock takedown but Gate shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gate stalling against the cage.

Gate breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gate avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gate blocks a head kick by Toshev.

Gate moves into range and clinches up with Toshev.
Toshev tries to break free but Gate pushes him back against the cage.

Gate escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Toshev stuffs the takedown attempt from Gate. Gate gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toshev stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Toshev wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gate checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Gate tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Toshev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Toshev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gate paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gate tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Toshev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Toshev closes the distance and clinches.

Gate breaks from the clinch.
Shaun Gate is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Toshev.
Gate will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gate needs to keep his hands up - Toshev had a free shot at his head there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gate slips a jab and a cross from Toshev.
Toshev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gate swivels and escapes.
Shaun Gate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vasil Toshev.

Gate clinches up with Toshev and pushes him back against the cage.

Gate works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Gate with a nice head shot there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gate trying to control but Toshev is working from the bottom.

Gate stands up and waves to Toshev to follow him.

Gate forces Toshev back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toshev wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gate has him pressed against the cage.
Toshev is looking for a takedown.
Toshev wants to break the clinch but can't.
Toshev is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Gate manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Toshev trying to control the position from guard on top but Gate is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gate looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gate is trying to control the position but Toshev postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toshev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gate is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Toshev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gate swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Toshev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Gate pushes Toshev off and scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gate blocks a low kick nicely.
Vasil Toshev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shaun Gate is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gate shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Toshev sprawls well. Toshev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gate gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shaun Gate showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gate has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shaun Gate!