PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Isaiah Maxwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Todd Gunther (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gunther has chosen Common - Make My Day as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be fireworks!

Maxwell
vs
Gunther

174 cm
19
162 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

179 cm
20
162 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Isaiah Maxwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Todd Gunther!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gunther throws a head kick that misses.
Todd Gunther seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maxwell shoots in for a double leg but Gunther sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gunther throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Nice jab there from Gunther.
Gunther wants to clinch up but Maxwell keeps it at a distance.
A good leg kick by Gunther.
Maxwell shoots in and drives through. Gunther sprawls well.
Maxwell is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maxwell shoots in for a double leg but Gunther sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isaiah Maxwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gunther throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gunther pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maxwell walks forward, straight into a front kick from Gunther.
Maxwell avoids the head kick by Gunther.
Gunther comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Gunther connects with a vicious head kick that knocks Maxwell to the floor! Gunther dives in looking for the finish!

Maxwell is rocked!

It looks like Isaiah Maxwell has been cut.

Gunther decides to stand up.
Oh Maxwell is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Gunther closes the distance and clinches.
Maxwell seems to have got his legs back now.
Gunther unloads a knee to the mid-section. Maxwell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gunther lands a knee to the head.
Gunther landing knees to the head.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Maxwell. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Maxwell has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gunther avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunther scores with a knee to the head.
Gunther landing knees to the head.
Gunther using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Gunther.
Gunther landing knees to the head.
Gunther landing knees to the body.
Gunther unloads a knee to the mid-section. Maxwell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gunther using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Gunther landing knees to the body.
Gunther scores a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Gunther.
Gunther landing knees to the head.
Gunther with a knee to the head.
Gunther with a knee to the head.
Gunther with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Maxwell tries to pull guard but Gunther holds him up against the cage and eventually Maxwell drops back down to his feet.
Maxwell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gunther landing knees to the head.
Maxwell jumps guard but Gunther stands there with Maxwell around his waist. Maxwell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gunther lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gunther crunches a lovely knee into Maxwell's ribcage.
Gunther scores with a knee to the head.
Gunther lands a damaging elbow.
Gunther throws a knee to the head but misses.
Maxwell tries to pull guard but Gunther won't allow it.
Gunther prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gunther is pressed up against the cage. Maxwell has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gunther down to the mat. Gunther avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Gunther gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gunther lands a nice knee to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gunther lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gunther landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gunther landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Maxwell takes a knee right on the jaw!
Maxwell jumps guard but Gunther stands there with Maxwell around his waist. Maxwell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Maxwell wants a takedown but no success here.
Gunther lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Maxwell is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gunther gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gunther gets underhooks to prevent Maxwell's takedown attempt.
Gunther scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell can't break the clinch.
Gunther lands an elbow inside.
Gunther's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Gunther connects with a nasty looking knee right to Maxwell's face.
Gunther tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Maxwell managing to block the knees to the body from Gunther.
Gunther lands a nice knee to the body.
Maxwell misses with a body punch.
Gunther scores with a knee to the head.
Gunther prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gunther connects with a knee to the head.
Maxwell on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Maxwell goes for a takedown attempt but Gunther pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Maxwell fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gunther.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gunther scores with a jab to the body.

Gunther has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gunther tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gunther prevents Maxwell from breaking the clinch.
Gunther scores a nice knee to the body.
Maxwell is looking to control Gunther's arms but Gunther gets an underhook and turns him. Now Maxwell has his back to the cage.
Gunther connects with a nasty looking knee right to Maxwell's face.
Maxwell can't get the takedown.
Gunther stops a takedown attempt from Maxwell.
Gunther crunches a lovely knee into Maxwell's ribcage.
Maxwell takes a knee right on the jaw!
Maxwell drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gunther pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gunther misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A punch lands to the side of Maxwell 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Gunther closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Gunther gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Gunther dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Isaiah Maxwell's cut.
That's time! Maxwell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gunther throws a head kick that half lands.
Gunther connects with a high kick.
Gunther loads up on a big right hand but Maxwell slips the punch.
Nice cross by Gunther.
Isaiah Maxwell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maxwell throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Maxwell keeps the fight on the outside.
Gunther tries to clinch there but Maxwell circles away.
Maxwell closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gunther circles away.
Gunther tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gunther throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Maxwell's head.
Maxwell avoids a kick to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gunther is breathing heavily.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Maxwell is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gunther has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Knees to the body from Gunther.
Gunther lands a nice knee to the body.
Gunther comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Gunther lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunther with a knee to the head.
Gunther gets underhooks to prevent Maxwell's takedown attempt.
Gunther misses with a knee to the head.
Maxwell wants to get back to striking at distance but Gunther won't allow it.
Gunther landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gunther connects with a nasty looking knee right to Maxwell's face.
Gunther connects with a nasty looking knee right to Maxwell's face.
Gunther lands an elbow that stopped Maxwell in his tracks for a moment.
Gunther has Maxwell pressed against the cage.
Maxwell wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isaiah Maxwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gunther missing with knees to the body.
Gunther landing knees to the head.
Maxwell has Gunther pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gunther manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gunther with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Maxwell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gunther connects with a nasty looking knee right to Maxwell's face.
The referee calls for Gunther to work.
Gunther prevents the takedown attempt.
Gunther lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gunther using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Gunther looking to throw knees to the head but Maxwell is blocking nicely.
Maxwell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gunther landing knees to the body.
Gunther slowing the pace effectively.
Gunther with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Maxwell is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gunther gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gunther with a knee to the head.
Gunther creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Maxwell's defenses.
Gunther crunches a lovely knee into Maxwell's ribcage.
Nice elbow from Gunther.
Gunther tries a knee to the head but Maxwell blocks it.
Maxwell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Maxwell drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gunther gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gunther prevents the takedown attempt.
Gunther with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gunther landing knees to the head.
Maxwell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gunther scores with a knee to the head.
Maxwell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gunther landing knees to the head.
Gunther landing knees to the body.
Maxwell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gunther pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gunther connects with a nasty looking knee right to Maxwell's face.
Maxwell fails to pull guard.
Gunther connects with a knee to the head.
Gunther using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Maxwell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Maxwell fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Maxwell fails to pull guard.
Gunther landing knees to the head.
Gunther landing knees to the head.
Maxwell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gunther wants to stall.
Maxwell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Maxwell takes a knee right on the jaw!
Maxwell fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunther using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Maxwell wants to break free but Gunther has control.
Gunther lands a knee to the head.
Maxwell is trying to break the clinch but Gunther has him pressed against the cage.
Maxwell is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gunther is keeping busy.
Maxwell can't get the takedown.
Gunther with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gunther scores with a knee to the head.
Maxwell is trying to drag Gunther to the mat but Gunther just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gunther landing knees to the head.
Gunther landing knees to the head.
Gunther is trying to stall.
Maxwell tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gunther smiles and moves away.
Maxwell shoots for a double leg takedown but Gunther sprawls well. He's pushed Maxwell's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Gunther showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Isaiah Maxwell's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.

Gunther scores with a head kick.
Gunther throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Gunther scores with a shot to the body.
Maxwell changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gunther tries to avoid it but Maxwell manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gunther to the ground. Gunther escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gunther misses with a head kick.
Maxwell misses with a takedown attempt - Gunther sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gunther lands with a kick to the temple. Maxwell shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Maxwell shoots in for a takedown but Gunther shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isaiah Maxwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gunther plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Maxwell avoids the head kick by Gunther.
Maxwell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gunther as he avoids it easily.
Gunther dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gunther tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Maxwell shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maxwell looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Gunther kicks Maxwell off and gets back to his feet.
Gunther throws a right hand that Maxwell ducks under and follows up with a left that Maxwell also avoids with ease.
Gunther stuffs the takedown attempt from Maxwell. Maxwell gets slowly back to his feet.
Todd Gunther is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gunther misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maxwell shoots in and drives through. Gunther sprawls well.
Maxwell steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gunther.
Gunther throws a sloppy head kick and Maxwell moves out of range easily.
Gunther throws a head kick but Maxwell moves out of range.
Maxwell avoids the body shot from Gunther.
Gunther throws a right and a left that Maxwell avoids nicely.
Maxwell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gunther as he avoids it easily.
Maxwell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Maxwell attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Maxwell shoots in and drives through. Gunther sprawls well.
Gunther doesn't manage to clinch there - Maxwell circles away.
A thudding body kick lands there by Gunther!

Gunther has closed the distance and engaged Maxwell in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Gunther.
Maxwell fails to pull guard.
A knee to the head by Gunther.
Gunther scores with a knee to the head.
Gunther gets underhooks to prevent Maxwell's takedown attempt.
Gunther landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Maxwell is trying to drag Gunther to the mat but Gunther just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Maxwell takes an elbow to the forehead.
Gunther lands a knee to the head.
Maxwell changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gunther fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gunther throws a right hand that Maxwell ducks under and follows up with a left that Maxwell also avoids with ease.

Gunther pushes Maxwell up against the cage in a clinch.
Todd Gunther is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gunther using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gunther.
Gunther misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gunther pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gunther with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gunther scores a nice knee to the body.
Maxwell is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gunther gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gunther with a knee to the head.
Maxwell is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gunther unloads a knee to the mid-section. Maxwell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Maxwell misses with an elbow strike.
Gunther lands an elbow that stopped Maxwell in his tracks for a moment.
Gunther gets underhooks to prevent Maxwell's takedown attempt.
Gunther with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gunther unloads a knee to the mid-section. Maxwell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Maxwell goes for a takedown attempt but Gunther pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Maxwell avoids the body shot from Gunther.
Isaiah Maxwell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gunther dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Maxwell. That did some damage!
Gunther throws a lazy body kick

and Maxwell counters with a single leg into guard. Gunther didn't expect that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Todd Gunther comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gunther winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 25:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 25:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Todd Gunther!