PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wang Hongwen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Gibson acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Hongwen
vs
Gibson

185 cm
25
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
20
225 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Wang Hongwen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Gibson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hongwen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gibson.

Hongwen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gibson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hongwen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hongwen's back!
You can see the frustration on Hongwen's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Gibson wants to control but Hongwen is keeping busy.
Hongwen just trying to survive but Gibson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Gibson is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Hongwen defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Hongwen needs to remain patient if he's going to get out of this sticky situation.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.

Gibson looking for the choke from the back.
Gibson controls the position.

Gibson looking for the RNC.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibson tries to keep control of the position but Hongwen is staying busy.

Gibson is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Gibson is hanging on to Hongwen's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Gibson's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Gibson looking to break Hongwen's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Hongwen remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gibson will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Hongwen holding on to Gibson's left wrist, preventing the choke.
Gibson misses with a punch to the head.
Hongwen is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gibson tightening his grip on Hongwen, looking for the choke.
Hongwen looking to control the position.
Hongwen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gibson on the ground.

Gibson is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Gibson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gibson tries for a takedown but Hongwen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gibson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hongwen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Gibson on the side of the head.
Gibson misses with the combination.

Hongwen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gibson's guard.
Gibson has control of Hongwen's left arm, preventing Hongwen from doing any damage.
Hongwen won't allow Gibson to sweep him here.
Hongwen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gibson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
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!
Gibson trying to keep a closed guard but Hongwen is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hongwen tries to free his leg and advance position but Gibson is retaining full guard.
Hongwen wants to control from the top but Gibson keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hongwen.
Gibson tries to clinch up but Hongwen circles away and keeps his distance.
Gibson slips a jab and a cross from Hongwen.
Gibson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Hongwen instigates a clinch.
Hongwen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gibsons head.
Gibson is breathing heavily.

Hongwen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hongwen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gibson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hongwen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gibson moves away.
Gibson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hongwen circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hongwen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hongwen scoring with punches and elbows.
Hongwen is putting a hurting on Gibson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Gibson can't do much from the bottom here.
Gibson stops Hongwen from passing to mount.

Hongwen is trying to get an arm triangle but Gibson is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hongwen just content to control the position.
Hongwen trying to control the action but Gibson is working from the bottom.
Gibson is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Gibson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hongwen working the body and head with strikes.
Hongwen working the ground and pound.
Hongwen working the head and body with strikes.
Gibson is trying to improve his position.
Hongwen taking a break here but Gibson is having none of it and regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gibson pushes Hongwen off looking to stand but Hongwen dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wang Hongwen dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Decent striking displayed by Hongwen there.
Hongwen takes a swing at Gibson's ribcage but misses.
Hongwen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gibson's hands.
Hongwen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Gibson ducks straight into an uppercut from Hongwen and tumbles to the canvas! It’s a flash knockdown though - Gibson manages to regain guard straight away.

Gibson is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hongwen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gibson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hongwen wants to control from the top but Gibson keeps moving.
Hongwen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gibson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hongwen trying to control the position from guard on top but Gibson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Wang Hongwen.
Hongwen tries to clinch up but Gibson circles away and keeps his distance.
Gibson tries to clinch but Hongwen moves out of range.
Gibson wants to clinch up but Hongwen keeps it at a distance.

Hongwen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gibson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hongwen trying to mount his opponent but Gibson defends it.
Hongwen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hongwen wants to take a breather but Gibson is having none of it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hongwen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Wang Hongwen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Hongwen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hongwen trying to control the action but Gibson is working from the bottom.
Hongwen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hongwen connects with a decent elbow.
Hongwen controlling the position.
Gibson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hongwen has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Hongwen lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hongwen looks up at the clock and then as Gibson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hongwen smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Hongwen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gibson can do to turn this around?
Hongwen working the head and body with strikes.
Hongwen lands an elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gibson is trying to get back to half guard.
Hongwen content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Hongwen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gibson, who protects the arm well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hongwen looks up at the clock and then as Gibson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hongwen smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

And that's the end of the fight!
Wang Hongwen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hongwen 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wang Hongwen!