PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Salvatore Gattuso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Guigui Borgne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gattuso
vs
Borgne

179 cm
29
169 lbs
18 - 14 - 0

169 cm
34
160 lbs
12 - 28 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Salvatore Gattuso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 28 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Guigui Borgne!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Chad Campbell and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Borgne shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gattuso defends it nicely.
Borgne shoots in but Gattuso avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gattuso tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Guigui Borgne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gattuso shoots in and gets a takedown into Borgne's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Borgne wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Gattuso manages to pass to side control.
Gattuso is keen to just control but Borgne is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gattuso with the ground and pound but Borgne uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Gattuso not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Gattuso trying to control but Borgne is working from the bottom.
Gattuso not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gattuso stops Borgne from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Salvatore Gattuso just wasn't active enough.

Gattuso has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nice elbow from Gattuso.

It looks like Guigui Borgne has been cut.
Gattuso lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gattuso blocks an uppercut.
Borgne is pushing Gattuso up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Borgne drags the fight down to the ground.
Gattuso trying to control the position from guard on top but Borgne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gattuso pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Borgne is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borgne wants to stand up but Gattuso is controlling him.
Borgne keeping moving, preventing Gattuso from controlling successfully.
Gattuso prevents Borgne from getting back to his feet.
Gattuso is looking to advance position but Borgne has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Gattuso is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gattuso is working hard here to advance position.

Borgne stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso keeps the fight on the outside.

Gattuso rushes Borgne and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gattuso lands an elbow inside that Borgne shrugs off.
Gattuso lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gattuso tries to land a knee to the head but Borgne blocks with his arms.
Borgne unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gattuso lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gattuso misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Borgne.

Borgne manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Gattuso throws a big right hand that misses.
Gattuso tries to free his leg and advance position but Borgne is retaining full guard.
Gattuso forces his way into half guard.
Gattuso is pressing down on Borgne's thigh, looking to free his foot. Borgne is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borgne is staying active underneath Gattuso, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Borgne manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gattuso clinches up against the cage.
Gattuso with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gattuso misses with a knee to the head.
Gattuso lands an elbow that stopped Borgne in his tracks for a moment.
A short body shot lands from Borgne as the two fighters clinch.
Gattuso tries to land a knee to the head but Borgne blocks with his arms.
Borgne will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gattuso up against the cage.
Gattuso stalling in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Borgne is trying to pull guard but Gattuso has him pressed against the cage.
Salvatore Gattuso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Guigui Borgne.
Gattuso tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvatore Gattuso dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Guigui Borgne's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Borgne fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gattuso avoids it really well and circles away.

Gattuso closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gattuso pushes Borgne back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gattuso using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Borgne has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Borgne tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gattuso just stands there and leans against the cage.
Borgne letting Gattuso take a breather here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Borgne.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Gattuso.
Borgne pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gattuso misses with a knee to the head.
Gattuso looking to throw knees to the head but Borgne is blocking nicely.

Borgne pulls guard.
Gattuso won't allow Borgne to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gattuso with a nice head shot there.
Gattuso tries to free his leg and advance position but Borgne is retaining full guard.
Gattuso trying to control the position from guard on top but Borgne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salvatore Gattuso overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Borgne wants to stand up but Gattuso is controlling him.
Gattuso looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borgne keeping moving, preventing Gattuso from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Borgne wants to stand and escape but Gattuso is having none of it.
Borgne can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gattuso controls the pace.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Borgne tries to land a knee to the head but Gattuso blocks with his arms.
Gattuso with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gattuso lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borgne tries to pull guard but Gattuso forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Salvatore Gattuso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Guigui Borgne.
Gattuso throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Gattuso lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gattuso lands a left hand that snaps the head of Borgne backwards.
Gattuso taking a breather.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Borgne creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gattuso blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gattuso blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Borgne is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Gattuso.
Gattuso lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Gattuso managing to block the knees to the body from Borgne.

Borgne jumps into guard, dragging Gattuso to the mat.
Gattuso slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gattuso trying to control the position from guard on top but Borgne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Borgne wants to get back to his feet but Gattuso drags him back down.
Gattuso is looking to take a break and control but Borgne is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gattuso is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Borgne has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvatore Gattuso dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Guigui Borgne's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gattuso throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gattuso swats away the attempt to clinch by Borgne.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gattuso connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Borgne is looking to clinch.

Borgne tries to keep at a distance but Gattuso has taken the fight into the clinch.
Borgne can't find room to land a body shot as Gattuso controls the action.

Borgne jumps into guard, dragging Gattuso to the mat.
Gattuso won't allow Borgne to get back to his feet.
Gattuso pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Borgne is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borgne wants to stand and escape but Gattuso is having none of it.
Gattuso postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gattuso missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Borgne wants to get back to his feet but Gattuso is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gattuso looking to pass the guard.
Gattuso trying to control but Borgne is working from the bottom.
Salvatore Gattuso is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso prevents Borgne from getting back to his feet.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Borgne keeping moving, preventing Gattuso from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Salvatore Gattuso wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Gattuso takes the fight into the clinch.
Borgne throws a knee to the head but misses.
Borgne managing to block the knees to the body from Gattuso.
Borgne throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Salvatore Gattuso has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Borgne fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso tries to land knees in the clinch but Borgne avoids the damage to the body.
Borgne avoids a wild elbow strike from Gattuso.
Borgne missing with knees to the body.
Borgne missing with knees to the body.
Gattuso unloads a knee to the mid-section. Borgne lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Borgne throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gattuso blocks it with crossed arms.
Borgne missing with knees to the body.
Borgne throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gattuso tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso managing to block the knees to the body from Borgne.
Guigui Borgne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gattuso blocks a body shot from Borgne.
Borgne is trying to maintain a safe position but Gattuso gets an underhook and turns Borgne into the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Borgne throws an elbow but misses.
Borgne misses with some punches.
Gattuso goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Borgne is trying to pull guard but Gattuso has him pressed against the cage.
Borgne tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gattuso avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Borgne is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gattuso is defending well for now.
Gattuso dodges an elbow strike from Borgne.
Borgne tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gattuso avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Salvatore Gattuso.
Well Gattuso 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salvatore Gattuso!
Salvatore Gattuso very nearly forgot to thank FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!) amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.