PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jose Gomez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Kralaiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gomez
vs
Kralaiev

175 cm
36
175 lbs
24 - 27 - 2

191 cm
36
240 lbs
19 - 21 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

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 24 - 27 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jose Gomez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ivan Kralaiev!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kralaiev wants to clinch up but Gomez keeps it at a distance.
A head kick from Kralaiev lands but Gomez takes it in his stride.

It looks like Jose Gomez has been cut.
Kralaiev tries to clinch up.
Gomez avoids the head kick by Kralaiev.
Kralaiev tries a head kick but it misses.
Gomez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Gomez counters with a left to the body.
Gomez avoids the head kick by Kralaiev.
Gomez ducks under a wild hook from Kralaiev.
Kralaiev tries to clinch but Gomez moves away

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gomez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kralaiev keeping moving, preventing Gomez from controlling successfully.
Gomez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gomez wants to pass the guard but Kralaiev is keeping the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Jose Gomez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gomez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kralaiev looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kralaiev closes the distance but Gomez moves to the side
and Gomez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kralaiev thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kralaiev tries to clinch up.
Kralaiev tries to clinch
and Gomez counters with a nice body shot.
Kralaiev closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gomez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kralaiev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Gomez moves into the clinch successfully.
Kralaiev throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomez is working for takedown but Kralaiev is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gomez can't get the takedown.
A frustrated look appears on Gomez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gomez can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Gomez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kralaiev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gomez takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gomez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kralaiev avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kralaiev prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gomez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kralaiev with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Kralaiev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kralaiev throws a lazy right hand but Gomez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kralaiev misses with a head kick.
Kralaiev closes the distance but Gomez moves to the side
and Gomez counters with a nice uppercut.
Kralaiev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ivan Kralaiev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kralaiev throws a hook but Gomez blocks it.
Gomez circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ivan Kralaiev will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jose Gomez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gomez swats away the attempt to clinch by Kralaiev.
Kralaiev throws an overhand right that lands on Gomez's shoulder, as Gomez tries to avoid the shot.

Gomez shoots in and gets a takedown into Kralaiev's guard.
Gomez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gomez's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Kralaiev wants to stand and escape but Gomez is having none of it.
Gomez wants to get up but he can't break Kralaiev's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kralaiev wants to get back to his feet but Gomez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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

Kralaiev has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kralaiev is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Gomez has hold of one of Kralaiev's legs. Kralaiev is fighting the takedown attempt but Gomez gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Kralaiev keeping moving, preventing Gomez from controlling successfully.
Kralaiev wants to get back to his feet but Gomez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gomez tries to free his leg and advance position but Kralaiev is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kralaiev pushes Gomez off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Kralaiev tries to clinch but Gomez moves out of range.
Kralaiev tries to clinch there but Gomez circles away.

Kralaiev instigates a clinch.
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!
Gomez wants to get back to striking at distance but Kralaiev won't allow it.
Kralaiev tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gomez avoids it.
Gomez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kralaiev avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gomez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kralaiev is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Gomez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gomez avoiding damage as Kralaiev throws knees to the body.
Gomez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kralaiev prevents it.
Gomez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kralaiev pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gomez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kralaiev has him pressed against the cage.
Gomez is trying to break free.
Kralaiev misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gomez.
Kralaiev unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gomez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Our sources have told us that Gomez has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Kralaiev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kralaiev tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gomez avoids it.
Gomez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gomez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kralaiev walks away with a smile on his face. Gomez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kralaiev wants to clinch
and Gomez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kralaiev slips under a jab from Gomez.
Kralaiev tries to close the distance and clinch but Gomez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
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 Jose Gomez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jose Gomez's cut.
That's time! Gomez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kralaiev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kralaiev misses the jab.
Gomez avoids the head kick by Kralaiev.
Gomez misses with a looping left.
Kralaiev moves in looking to clinch but Gomez pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kralaiev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kralaiev throws a head kick but Gomez moves out of range.
Kralaiev misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Gomez counters with a right hand to the body.
Kralaiev tries to clinch up but Gomez circles away and keeps his distance.
Kralaiev moves out of range of the strikes.
Gomez's corner calls for a 1-2. Gomez obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Gomez swats away the attempt to clinch by Kralaiev.
Kralaiev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kralaiev tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Gomez is able to avoid easily.
Gomez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kralaiev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gomez somewhat.
Jose Gomez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gomez blocks a jab.
Ivan Kralaiev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gomez dives in and scores a takedown into Kralaiev's guard.
Gomez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kralaiev can't keep his opponent in guard - Gomez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomez stalling away here and it's allowed Kralaiev to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Gomez won't allow Kralaiev to get back to his feet.
Gomez tries to stand but Kralaiev is controlling from the bottom.
Gomez trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Gomez looking to pass the guard.
Gomez advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomez is looking to take a break and control but Kralaiev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kralaiev is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
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.
Kralaiev prevents Gomez from improving position.
Gomez moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Gomez wants to control but Kralaiev is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Gomez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gomez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jose Gomez!
A relieved looking Jose Gomez thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.