PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lennon Gazzola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Trainer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Trainer's choice of entrance music: Nas - Hate Me Now. Johnny Trainer will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gazzola
vs
Trainer

180 cm
26
200 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

185 cm
20
191 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lennon Gazzola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Johnny Trainer!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gazzola changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Trainer looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gazzola is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Gazzola landing a few strikes.

Gazzola has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Gazzola darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Trainer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gazzola.

Gazzola stands up and beckons Trainer to join him on the feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gazzola tries to keep at a distance but Trainer has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gazzola is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Trainer is defending well.
Gazzola wants to get back to striking at distance but Trainer won't allow it.
Trainer throws a knee to the head but misses.
Trainer is looking to control Gazzola's arms but Gazzola gets an underhook and turns him. Now Trainer has his back to the cage.
Trainer taking a breather.
Gazzola is trying to break the clinch but Trainer has him pressed against the cage.
Gazzola misses with an elbow over the top.
Trainer scores a nice knee to the body.
Trainer lands a knee to the body.

Trainer manages to break the clinch.
Trainer closes the distance but Gazzola moves to the side

and Gazzola counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gazzola.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gazzola stands up from Trainer's guard - Gazzola perhaps looking for a knockout.

Gazzola has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nice elbow from Trainer.

It looks like Lennon Gazzola has been cut.

Gazzola jumps guard and drags Trainer to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Trainer stops Gazzola from standing up.
Gazzola pulls Trainer in to control the position.
Trainer working some strikes from top position.
Trainer trying to move into half guard but instead Gazzola has managed to sweep!
Gazzola stops Trainer from standing up.
Gazzola passes Trainer's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gazzola stalling.
Gazzola passes the guard and advances to mount!
Trainer looks winded!

Gazzola swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Trainer is now in Gazzola's guard. A big mistake from Gazzola there, giving up the dominant position!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gazzola is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gazzola sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Trainer's guard.
Gazzola is controlling the pace.
Trainer won't allow Gazzola to pass to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gazzola content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Gazzola lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lennon Gazzola dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lennon Gazzola's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gazzola has Trainer pressed against the cage, preventing Trainer from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gazzola tries to pull guard but Trainer forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Trainer tries to stall but Gazzola uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Trainer tries to land knees in the clinch but Gazzola avoids the damage to the body.

Trainer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Trainer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gazzola paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Gazzola drives through and clinches with Trainer against the cage.
Gazzola looking to throw knees to the head but Trainer is blocking nicely.
A nice left hand lands by Trainer.
Trainer being controlled against the cage.
Trainer is trying to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trainer avoids the elbow strike from Gazzola, against the cage.
Trainer looking to throw knees to the head but Gazzola is blocking nicely.

Gazzola jumps into guard, dragging Trainer to the mat.
Trainer being controlled here momentarily.
Gazzola is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Trainer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Gazzola scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Johnny Trainer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Trainer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gazzola swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gazzola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Trainer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gazzola gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Trainer breaks the clinch.
Gazzola shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Trainer as he jumps to the side.

Gazzola drives through and clinches with Trainer against the cage.
Gazzola tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Trainer just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lennon Gazzola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Trainer throws a punch but it's blocked by Gazzola.
Trainer throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gazzola blocks it with crossed arms.
Trainer is trying to stall.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Trainer throws a punch but it's blocked by Gazzola.
Gazzola leaning his opponent against the cage.
Trainer misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trainer tries to circle away but Gazzola has him pinned against the cage.
Trainer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gazzola is defending well for now.

Gazzola lands a takedown into guard.
Trainer can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gazzola controls the pace.
Gazzola trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gazzola engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gazzola passes Trainer's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gazzola takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Gazzola is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Trainer has managed to free his arm - good work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gazzola in particular looking to stall.
Gazzola looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Trainer with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gazzola decides to return to a standing position.
Gazzola avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lennon Gazzola dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lennon Gazzola's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Trainer moves into range and connects with a jab.
Gazzola tries a head kick but it misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Trainer, right into the meat.
Gazzola fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Trainer connects with a high kick.
Trainer wants to clinch but Gazzola slips to the side

and Gazzola counters by clinching up.
Gazzola is trying to break the clinch but Trainer has him pressed against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Trainer gets underhooks to prevent Gazzola's takedown attempt.
Gazzola stalling.
Trainer lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Trainer is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gazzola is keeping busy.
Gazzola managing to block the knees to the body from Trainer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trainer tries to break the clinch but Gazzola is controlling the position.
Gazzola wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gazzola is looking to break free of the clinch but Trainer has double underhooks.
Trainer is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gazzola stalling in the clinch.
Trainer tries to land a knee to the head but Gazzola blocks with his arms.
Trainer scores with a knee to the head.
Gazzola managing to block the knees to the body from Trainer.
Trainer is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Gazzola looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gazzola is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Trainer to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lennon Gazzola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Trainer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gazzola is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trainer throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Gazzola is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Trainer manages to break the clinch.
Trainer closes the distance but Gazzola moves to the side

and Gazzola holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Trainer looking to stall.
Trainer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Gazzola jumps guard.

Trainer drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gazzola looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gazzola looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gazzola!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gazzola scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Trainer to see if he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gazzola moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Gazzola has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Trainer tries to clinch up

and Gazzola counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gazzola.

Gazzola stands and steps away. Trainer gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Trainer gets tackled into the cage by Gazzola. Gazzola maintains the clinch.

Gazzola decides to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gazzola has Trainer pulled in close to control his posture.

Gazzola is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Trainer throwing strikes from guard but Gazzola blocks nicely.
Gazzola on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gazzola tries to get out of the position.
Gazzola manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Lennon Gazzola overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gazzola controlling the position easily from mount.
Johnny Trainer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lennon Gazzola 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lennon Gazzola showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gazzola, 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lennon Gazzola!