PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between dave mastain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hal Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

mastain
vs
Gibson

184 cm
19
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
20
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, dave mastain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hal Gibson!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

mastain drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gibson wants to sweep here but mastain controlling him for the moment.

Gibson is looking for a triangle but mastain pushes his legs off easily.
mastain won't allow Gibson to sweep him here.
mastain trying to control but Gibson is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
mastain wants to stand but Gibson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gibson keeping moving, preventing mastain from controlling successfully.
mastain wants to pass the guard but Gibson is keeping the position.

Gibson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
mastain showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
mastain in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
mastain slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
mastain tries to free his leg and advance position but Gibson is retaining full guard.
Gibson trying to keep a closed guard but mastain is proving a slippery customer.
mastain wants to control from the top but Gibson keeps moving.

Gibson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
mastain trying to control but Gibson is working from the bottom.
mastain might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Gibson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
mastain trying to control the position from guard on top but Gibson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gibson looking for a sweep. Not yet Gibson, not yet.
mastain slips nicely into half guard.

mastain is working for a submission of some sort.
mastain not landing any meaningful shots this time.
mastain wants to pass to mount but Gibson is defending the position.
mastain wants to control but Gibson is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

mastain is trying to work for a kimura but Gibson is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
mastain has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Gibson defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from mastain.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

mastain is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Gibson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Gibson!
mastain manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gibson manages to get himself to full guard.
Gibson keeping full guard, as mastain tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson controls mastain momentarily but mastain frees himself.
Gibson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
mastain trying to control but Gibson is working from the bottom.
mastain throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gibson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
mastain tries to free his leg and advance position but Gibson is retaining full guard.
mastain has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gibson is proving hard to escape from.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Gibson drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hal Gibson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

mastain gets the takedown into side control.
mastain misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
mastain trying to control the action but Gibson is working from the bottom.
mastain misses with the ground and pound.
mastain trying to control the position but Gibson is working away.
Gibson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

mastain tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gibson tries to buck mastain off but mastain is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

mastain closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

mastain is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gibson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gibson tries to control the position but he's not in luck - mastain easily slips into full mount!

mastain has hold of Gibson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gibson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

mastain working for a submission but Gibson is keeping him at bay.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
mastain fails to advance to Gibson's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibson regains half guard.
Gibson is in trouble now - mastain has advanced to mount!
Gibson is looking to get to half guard.
mastain moves to his opponent's back but Gibson bucks him off and ends up in guard. A bit of a disaster there for mastain.
Gibson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
mastain looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gibson is one step ahead there.
Gibson wants to control from the top but mastain keeps moving.
Gibson preventing the sweep.

mastain has his feet on Gibson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Gibson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and mastain counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
mastain seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
dave mastain overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
mastain wants to control but Gibson is keeping him busy.
mastain wants to free his trapped foot but Gibson is holding on for dear life with his legs.

mastain is looking for a kimura but Gibson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for mastain to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
mastain is keen to just control but Gibson is a slippery customer.
Well, if mastain 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.
mastain wants to stand up but Gibson has a hold of him and won't allow it.
mastain thows a huge punch but Gibson dodges it nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

mastain scores a takedown into full mount!
mastain tries to control but Gibson wriggling away.
mastain wants to take Gibson's back but he can't do it this time.
Gibson wants to hold on but mastain pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

dave mastain dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Gibson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and mastain counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
mastain wants to pass the guard but Gibson is keeping the position.
mastain is working hard here to advance position.
mastain trying to control the position from guard on top but Gibson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gibson being controlled here, momentarily.
mastain trying to control but Gibson is working from the bottom.

mastain gets to his feet - Gibson follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson with a poor takedown

so mastain counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gibson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
mastain trying to control the position from guard on top but Gibson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
mastain stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gibson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gibson has his foot on mastain's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. mastain works his way back into a safe position though.
mastain trying to control but Gibson is working from the bottom.
mastain has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
mastain is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Gibson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but mastain can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
mastain wants to pass the guard but Gibson is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
mastain tries to get to full guard but Gibson has control of the leg.
Gibson wants to take a breather but mastain is having none of it.
Gibson prevents mastain from improving his position.
Gibson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Gibson working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. mastain looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Gibson! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Hal Gibson!