PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Takanori Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Gambacorto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gomi comes to the ring accompanied by Scary. Takanori Gomi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mark Gambacorto's chin.

Gomi
vs
Gambacorto

173 cm
25
168 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

173 cm
27
168 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takanori Gomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mark Gambacorto!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gambacorto throws a looping overhand right but Gomi ducks down to avoid it.
Gomi throws a predictable looking body shot
and Gambacorto counters with a two punch combo.
Gambacorto misses with a leg kick.
Gomi feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Gambacortos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Gambacorto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gambacorto has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gambacorto there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gomi misses with a looping left.
Gambacorto lands with a hook. Gomi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gambacorto scores with a body shot.
Gambacorto lands a slapping body shot.
Gomi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gambacorto manages to avoid it.
Gomi fails with a takedown attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gomi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gambacorto works the jab nicely.
Nice defenses there by Gambacorto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi misses the shot to the body.

Gambacorto rushes Gomi and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Gambacorto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gambacorto throws a jab when Gomi was well out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gambacorto!
Gomi throws an overhand right that lands on Gambacorto's shoulder, as Gambacorto tries to avoid the shot.
Gambacorto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gambacorto throws a shot from downtown. Gomi moves away and avoids it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gambacorto.
Gomi misses with a combination
enabling Gambacorto to counter with a crisp jab.
Gomi stalks Gambacorto and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gambacorto's face. Gambacorto staggers backwards, shaken.
Gambacorto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gambacorto moves to clinch but Gomi breaks away
and Gomi counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gambacorto ducks under a wild hook from Gomi.
Gomi misses with a hook
and Gambacorto counters with an outside leg kick.
Gomi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gambacorto tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Gomi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A slow jab from Gambacorto misses its intended target.
Gambacorto slips a jab from Gomi.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gomi. Gambacorto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gomi lands a jab to Gambacorto's midsection.

Gambacorto moves into the clinch.

Gomi wants the takedown. Gambacorto is fighting it off but Gomi persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gambacorto's guard against the ropes.
Gomi tries to free his leg and advance position but Gambacorto is retaining full guard.
Gambacorto looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi stays in close to Gambacorto's body and controls the position.
Gomi looking to sit in guard and control but Gambacorto gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gambacorto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gomi is keeping the position for now.
Gomi working a defensive guard but Gambacorto passes into half guard.
Gomi wants to improve his position but Gambacorto is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Gambacorto is stalling here. Gomi is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gambacorto seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Gomi has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Gomi trying to control the position but Gambacorto is working away.
Gomi is really struggling to control Gambacorto but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Gomi in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gambacorto stops Gomi from passing to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gomi throws a strike aimed at the side of Gambacorto's head but Gambacorto avoids it well.
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 Takanori Gomi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gambacorto tries to clinch up.
Gomi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gambacorto misses with a hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gambacorto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gambacorto just misses with a punch to the body.
Gomi ducks under a wild hook from Gambacorto.
Gambacorto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gomi circles away quickly and effectively.
Gambacorto lands a nice shot that snaps Gomi's head back.
Gomi shoots for a takedown but Gambacorto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gomi throws a body punch but Gambacorto moves out of range.
Gambacorto lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Gambacorto.
Gomi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Gomi does it's job there.
Gambacorto moves in looking to clinch but Gomi pushes him off.
Gomi misses with a takedown attempt - Gambacorto sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gambacorto misses with a double jab
and Gomi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gambacorto lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gomi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gomi goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Mark Gambacorto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gomi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gambacorto counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Gambacorto pushes Gomi up against the ropes in a clinch.
Gambacorto landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Gomi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gomi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takanori Gomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi moves out of range as Gambacorto strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gomi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gambacorto misses with a hook.
Gomi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gambacorto at a distance.
Gambacorto cracks Gomi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Gomi connects with a body shot.
Gomi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gomi lands a nice hook to Gambacorto's body. Gambacorto takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Gomi's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gambacorto under the eye.
Gomi moves out of range as Gambacorto strikes.
Gambacorto scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Gambacorto throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gambacorto lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gambacorto walks into a jab.
Mark Gambacorto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gomi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gambacorto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gomi somewhat.
Gambacorto throws a leg kick which misses Gomi's front leg but catches the back leg as Gomi tries to avoid it.
Gambacorto closes the distance but Gomi moves to the side
and Gomi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gomi lands a glancing blow to the side of Gambacorto's head.
Gomi misses the shot to the body.
Gomi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gambacorto looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gomi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mark Gambacorto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gomi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gambacorto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gomi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gomi lands a right hook to the body.
Gambacorto throws an off balance right hand
and Gomi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gomi.
Gomi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gomi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gomi checks the leg kick.
Gambacorto fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gomi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gambacorto did well to prevent Gomi getting side control.
Gambacorto is trying to stand up here but Gomi is controlling him well.
Gomi trying to mount his opponent but Gambacorto defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Takanori Gomi will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Gambacorto walks into a left hand.
Gomi misses with a hook. Gambacorto ducked under it nicely.
Gomi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Gomi throws out a powerful jab.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gomi checks a leg kick.
Gomi scores with a nice head shot.
Gambacorto tries to clinch but Gomi moves away
and Gomi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gomi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gambacorto manages to avoid it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gambacorto, as that shot connected.
Gambacorto thumps Gomi with a low kick.
Gomi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gambacorto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi throws out a powerful jab.
Gambacorto tries to clinch but Gomi moves out of range.
Gambacorto lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gambacorto just misses with a punch to the body.
Gambacorto throws a hook to the side of Gomi's head but Gomi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gomi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gambacorto pinned against the ropes. Gambacorto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gomi misses with a straight right.
Gambacorto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gomi looks to score with a jab to the body but Gambacorto is just out of range.
Gambacorto throws a jab but it's blocked by Gomi.
Gambacorto avoids the body shot from Gomi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi wants to clinch up but Gambacorto keeps it at a distance.
Gambacorto tries to clinch up.
Gambacorto wants to clinch up but Gomi keeps it at a distance.
Gambacorto throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gomi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gambacorto fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gomi looks to land a left hand but Gambacorto moved out of range nicely.
Gambacorto throws a head kick but Gomi moves out of range.
Gomi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gambacorto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice body punch from Gambacorto.
Gambacorto tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Gomi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gomi misses with a looping right.
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!
Gambacorto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick by Gambacorto misses
and Gomi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Gambacorto misses with a body shot.
Gambacorto tries to clinch up
and Gomi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gambacorto thinking.
Gomi checks the leg kick.
Gambacorto tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Gomi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gomi misses with an uppercut.
Nice uppercut lands for Gomi. That snapped Gambacorto's head back.
Gomi misses with a hook
and Gambacorto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gambacorto lands a glancing blow to the side of Gomi's head.
Gambacorto just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi tests Gambacorto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gambacorto throws a body punch but Gomi moves out of range.
Mark Gambacorto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gomi connects with a jab.
Gambacorto misses with a hook.
A jab from Gambacorto misses.
Gambacorto displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gomi throws out the jab.

Gomi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gambacorto napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gomi taking a breather here.
Takanori Gomi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gambacorto defending against the ground and pound.

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 Takanori Gomi.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gomi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Takanori Gomi!
An out of breath Takanori Gomi thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.