PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steve Gondolan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Iam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gondolan
vs
Iam

175 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steve Gondolan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Will Iam!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gondolan just misses with a punch to the body.
Gondolan tries to bum rush Iam with a series of wild strikes but Iam uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Iam throws a series of strikes that have Gondolan backpedaling.

It looks like Steve Gondolan has been cut.
Iam ducks under a wild hook from Gondolan.
Iam displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gondolan.
Gondolan throws an off balance right hand

and Iam counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gondolan won't be happy with that.
Gondolan tries to bench press Iam off him but Iam keeps the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Iam controls the position.
Iam's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
You can see the frustration on Gondolan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iam wants to control but Gondolan is keeping him busy.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Will Iam wasn't active enough on the ground.

Gondolan gets tackled into the cage by Iam. Iam maintains the clinch.
Gondolan tries for a takedown but Iam manages to get underhooks.

Iam's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gondolan shoots in for a double leg but Iam sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Gondolan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Iam throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gondolan was covering up waiting for the punch and Iam finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Gondolan keeping full guard, as Iam tries to pass.

Iam stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Gondolan throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gondolan moves to clinch but Iam breaks away

and Iam decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gondolan's guard.
Gondolan is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gondolan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Iam is one step ahead there.
Iam looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Iam decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iam uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Iam closes the distance and clinches.

Iam has picked Gondolan up - he's going for a ride! Iam dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Iam sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Iam works his way into side control.

Iam tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Iam is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gondolan has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Iam prevents Gondolan from escaping the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Iam lands an elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gondolan takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Iam wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gondolan keeps working.

Iam decides to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Iam dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Gondolan's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Iam tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gondolan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Steve Gondolan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gondolan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Iam rushes Gondolan and presses him up against the cage.
Iam just leaning against Gondolan, taking a breather.

Iam is trying to trip Gondolan. He has hold of a leg but Gondolan is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Iam persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Iam decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gondolan, up you get!
Iam tries to close the distance and clinch but Gondolan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Horrible takedown by Iam or perhaps it was just good defense by Gondolan which made him look bad.
Gondolan misses with a body shot.
Iam fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gondolan avoids it really well and circles away.
Iam shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gondolan pinned against the cage. Gondolan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Steve Gondolan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Iam.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Iam instigates a clinch.

Iam's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Iam throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice sprawl there from Gondolan as Iam shoots in.
Gondolan looks for a takedown but Iam sprawls well.
Gondolan dives in and grabs Iam's left leg, looking for a takedown. Iam pushes down on Gondolan's head and hops out.

Gondolan tries to sprawl but Iam drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Iam takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iam looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Iam perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Gondolan actively working from the bottom here.
Iam has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gondolan has hold of Iam's hands but Iam slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Iam throwing shots but Gondolan is blocking nicely.
Gondolan is looking to improve his position.
Iam passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iam controlling his opponent.
Gondolan takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Iam lands a big elbow.
Iam tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Iam takes Gondolan's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Gondolan is in trouble.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iam has good solid back control here.

Iam has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Gondolan has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Iam patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Iam showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steve Gondolan's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Iam is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gondolan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Iam throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gondolan on the side of the head.

Iam shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Iam was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Iam sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gondolan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Iam wants to finish this one by submission but Gondolan is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Iam.
Iam in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iam has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gondolan's face.
Gondolan wants to hold on but Iam pushes him away.
Gondolan is desperately trying to improve his position but Iam has a good base and remains in mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Iam is landing with some decent strikes but Gondolan is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Iam tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Iam with shots to the head and body - Gondolan looks very uncomfortable down there.
Iam sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Iam breaks from Gondolan's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iam lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gondolan hang on?
Iam landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Iam quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Iam but it's paid off an Gondolan is forced to tap! Nice work by Iam.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Will Iam!