PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dave Gahan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Punch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Punch has chosen Get Knocked Out as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Gahan
vs
Punch

180 cm
32
190 lbs
15 - 12 - 0

193 cm
30
201 lbs
15 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Dave Gahan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Ray Punch!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gahan avoids the body shot from Punch.

Gahan drives through and clinches with Punch against the ropes.
Punch is trying to break the clinch but Gahan has him pressed against the ropes.
Gahan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gahan misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gahan is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Punch is defending well.
Gahan scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Punch's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Punch shoots in for a takedown but Gahan shows good takedown defense.
Gahan takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Gahan tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Punch counters with a right hand to the body.
Gahan slips a jab from Punch.
Gahan takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Punch lands a jab to Gahan's midsection.
Punch moves away from the strike by Gahan.

Gahan moves into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Punch lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gahan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gahan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gahan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Punch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Punch connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Gahan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Punch pinned against the ropes. Punch gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Gahan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot to the liver by Punch. Beautiful body shot.
Gahan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Punch lands a jab to Gahan's midsection.
Gahan wants to clinch up but Punch keeps it at a distance.
Punch shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gahan gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Punch.
Punch misses with an uppercut. Gahan saw that one coming.
Punch is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gahan rather than just go for the knockout.
Gahan doesn't manage to clinch there - Punch circles away.
Gahan tries to clinch but Punch is having none of it.
Punch avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gahan wants to clinch
and Punch counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gahan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Punch fails to land with a series of punches.
Gahan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Punch thows a left - swing and a miss!
A slow jab from Punch misses its intended target.
Punch throws a hook but Gahan blocks it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gahan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Punch to score with a decent uppercut.
Punch misses with a double jab.
Gahan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Punch.
Gahan is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Punch pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Punch fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Gahan bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Punch is trying to escape the position but Gahan is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gahan in side control, throwing shots but Punch defends.
Gahan working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Punch is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Gahan has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Gahan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Punch keeps working.
Gahan throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Punch struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gahan is looking to take a break and control but Punch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
An elbow from Gahan crashes against the mat.
Gahan in side control, just content to control the action for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Punch closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gahan did well to prevent Punch getting side control.
Gahan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Punch wants to stand up but Gahan is controlling the position.
Punch frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gahan blocking the ground and pound.
Punch trying to control but Gahan is having none of it.
Punch looking to ground and pound but Gahan is blocking nicely.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Punch throws some wild stikes that Gahan manages to avoid easily.
Punch throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Punch lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gahan hang on?
Punch throws some wild stikes that Gahan manages to avoid easily.
Punch throwing strikes but Gahan recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Gahan regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Punch.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Punch throws an elbow that misses. Gahan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Punch's guard. Nice move by Gahan!
Punch working a defensive guard but Gahan passes into half guard.
Gahan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gahan wants to free his trapped foot but Punch is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Punch really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gahan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Punch wants to get back to full guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Punch wants to get back to his feet.
Gahan throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Punch to regain full guard.
Gahan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gahan slips nicely into half guard.
Gahan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Punch does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gahan throwing shots but Punch is blocking nicely.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Gahan throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Punch to regain full guard.
Gahan is working Punch over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gahan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gahan chips away with some ground and pound.
Gahan postures up.
Gahan wants to pass the guard but Punch is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gahan prevents Punch from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ray Punch will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gahan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gahan takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Jab, jab by Punch - just one landing.
Dave Gahan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice shot by Punch.
Gahan tries to clinch up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Punch. Gahan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Punch circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Punch counter with a right hand.
Gahan slips a jab from Punch.
Punch keeps the fight on the outside.
Punch throws a one two combo.
Gahan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Punch counters with a nice low kick that buckles Gahan's knee momentarily.
Punch throws a leg kick which misses Gahan's front leg but catches the back leg as Gahan tries to avoid it.
Punch misses the shot to the body.
Punch swings for the body but Gahan moves out of range.
Gahan doesn't manage to clinch there - Punch circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gahan tries to close the distance and clinch but Punch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Punch throws a body punch but Gahan moves out of range.
Gahan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gahan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gahan takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Gahan shoots in looking for a takedown but Punch manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gahan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Punch scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A punch combination from Gahan misses.
Gahan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Punch.
Gahan drops his hands momentarily and Punch takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Gahan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gahan tries to clinch but Punch moves out of range.
Punch shoots in for a takedown but Gahan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gahan walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice uppercut lands for Punch. That snapped Gahan's head back.
Punch lands a nice looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gahan clinches with his opponent.
Gahan manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Punch fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gahan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Punch backwards.
Gahan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Punch drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Gahan breaks from the clinch.
Gahan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gahan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Dave Gahan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch lands to the side of Gahan 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Punch has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gahan dives in and grabs Punch's left leg, looking for a takedown. Punch pushes down on Gahan's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Gahan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Punch shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gahan eats them both and turns towards Punch to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Punch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gahan throws a leg kick that is checked
and Punch counters with a nice body shot.
Punch delivers a nice body kick.
Punch lands a glancing blow to the side of Gahan's head.
Punch connects with a body shot that sends Gahan's belly button to the back.
Punch is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Gahan is looking to clinch.
Punch tries for a takedown but Gahan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Punch circles away from the clinch attempt

and Punch counters with a shoot takedown. Gahan fights it but they end up in guard.
Gahan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gahan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Punch.
Punch slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gahan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ray Punch has got the better of the ground game so far.
Punch is trying to control but can't.
Punch taking some punishment here, with Gahan in his half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Gahan working the head and body with strikes.
Gahan passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Punch!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Gahan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gahan looking to control but Punch is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gahan in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Gahan working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Punch really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gahan thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Gahan working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Punch is desperately trying to improve his position but Gahan has a good base and remains in mount.
Gahan pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gahan controlling the position easily from mount.
Gahan trying to control but Punch is having none of it.
Gahan thowing shots but they're missing.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Punch bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Punch trying to control the position from guard on top but Gahan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Punch looking to sit in guard and control but Gahan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gahan sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Punch looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ray Punch.
Gahan shoots in for a takedown but Punch shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Punch connects with a leg kick. Gahan looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gahan takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Punch lands with a right hand.
Punch lands a jab to the head.
Gahan tries to clinch up but Punch circles away and keeps his distance.
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 Dave Gahan will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Punch misses with a wild body shot.
Punch throws a nice looking combination but Gahan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Punch swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Gahan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Punch wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Punch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gahan looks to clinch
and Punch counters with a straight right hand.
Punch fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gahan manages to avoid it.
Punch throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gahan on the side of the head.
Punch circles away from the clinch attempt

and Punch counters with a takedown into side control.
Punch working the head with strikes.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Punch postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Gahan tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punch grinds an elbow into Gahan's temple.
Punch throws a strike aimed at the side of Gahan's head but Gahan avoids it well.
Punch is working Gahan over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Punch.

Gahan sneaks out the side door and pushes Punch away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Sloppy strikes from Gahan. Those never looked like landing.

Gahan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Punch tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gahan trying to control the position but Punch is working away.
Punch tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gahan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gahan connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Punch some visible discomfort.
Gahan just content to control the position.
Punch is working to avoid the ground and pound but Gahan connects with a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gahan is staying tight to Punch's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Gahan trying to control the action but Punch is working from the bottom.
Gahan is trying to move to mount but Punch reverses beautifully and ends up in Gahan's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gahan keeping moving, preventing Punch from controlling successfully.
Gahan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Punch accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gahan is looking to stand up but Punch isn't so interested in that idea.
Punch postures up in Gahan's guard and throws a big left but Gahan blocks it.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Punch controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ray Punch.
Punch throws a hook to the side of Gahan's head but Gahan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Gahan drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gahan distracts Punch with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Punch keeping moving, preventing Gahan from controlling successfully.
Gahan wants to pass the guard but Punch is keeping the position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gahan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gahan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gahan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Punch keeps working.
Punch parries the strikes from Gahan easily there. Gahan is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Punch to escape.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gahan wants to control but Punch is keeping him busy.
Gahan tries to move into full mount but can't pass Punch's legs.
Punch gets back to half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Gahan tries to pass the half guard into mount. Punch knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Gahan trying to control the action but Punch is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dave Gahan just wasn't active enough.
Gahan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Punch throws out the jab.
Punch's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gahan under the eye.
Punch throws a jab when Gahan was well out of range.
Punch lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gahan at a distance.
Gahan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Punch scores with a shot to the body.
Gahan looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Gahan avoids the body shot from Punch.
Punch digs a good hook to Gahan's body.
Gahan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Punch.
Some wild striking there from Punch.
Punch plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Punch misses the shot to the body.
Punch scores with a shot to the body.
Punch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gahan tries to clinch but Punch moves away
and Punch counters with a stiff right hand.
Gahan throws a left and a right that both miss
and Punch counters with a leg kick.
Punch scores with a nice strike.
Punch scores with a nice head shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ray Punch.
I think Punch 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 James Glass scores the fight for Ray Punch!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!