PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Elijah Gilbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and ALex Azenders (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.

Gilbert
vs
Azenders

217 cm
24
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Dangerous GnP
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 Tokyo, Elijah Gilbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, ALex Azenders!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Azenders moves into the clinch.

Azenders decides to pull guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Azenders looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Azenders trying to control the position here.
Azenders striking from his own guard.
Gilbert throws a big right hand that misses.
Azenders not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gilbert will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Azenders might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gilbert haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Gilbert preventing the sweep.
Azenders is trying to keep Gilbert in close.
Gilbert won't allow Azenders to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by ALex Azenders.
Gilbert swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Azenders shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gilbert sprawls well. Gilbert wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Azenders gets slowly back to his feet.
Gilbert with a poor takedown

and Azenders counters with a shoot takedown. Gilbert fights it but they end up in guard.

Gilbert looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gilbert wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Azenders is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Azenders manages to get himself to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azenders keeping moving, preventing Gilbert from controlling successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Azenders can do anything to dispel that myth.
Azenders seems keen to control Gilbert's posture.
Gilbert trying to control but Azenders is working from the bottom.
Gilbert is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert trying to control but Azenders is working from the bottom.

Elijah Gilbert has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Azenders gets a double leg takedown into Gilbert's guard.
Gilbert looking to hit a scissor sweep but Azenders is one step ahead there.
Azenders passes into half guard.
Gilbert tries to roll over but Azenders keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azenders sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gilbert defending well though.
Gilbert manages to get to full guard.
Azenders content to stall in guard here.

Azenders gets to his feet. Gilbert looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gilbert looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gilbert is trying hard to land a takedown here. Azenders sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ALex Azenders dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gilbert is trying hard to land a takedown here. Azenders sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Azenders misses with an uppercut.
Gilbert tries to close the distance and clinch but Azenders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Gilbert forces Azenders back against the cage and clinches.
Azenders gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gilbert.

Azenders successfully pulls guard.
Gilbert loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Azenders is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Azenders throws his legs up looking for a submission but Gilbert uses it to pass to side control.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Azenders. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azenders is looking to regain half guard here but Gilbert keeps moving and retains side control.

Gilbert decides to stand back up.
Gilbert looks for a takedown but Azenders sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elijah Gilbert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gilbert circles away from the clinch attempt.

Azenders dives in and scores a takedown into Gilbert's guard.
Azenders throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Azenders connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Azenders stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Gilbert shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Azenders as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Azenders wants to clinch up but Gilbert keeps it at a distance.
Azenders changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gilbert tries to avoid it but Azenders manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gilbert to the ground. Gilbert escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azenders is looking to clinch but Gilbert is avoiding it.
Azenders shoots for a takedown but Gilbert saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gilbert shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Azenders as he jumps to the side.
Azenders looks for the body kick but Gilbert saw that one coming.
Azenders misses with a combination

and Gilbert counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gilbert.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azenders prevents the takedown attempt.

Gilbert jumps into guard, dragging Azenders to the mat.
Gilbert wants to stand and escape but Azenders is having none of it.
Azenders throws a big right hand that misses.
ALex Azenders has got the better of the ground game so far.
Azenders tries to free his leg and advance position but Gilbert is retaining full guard.

Gilbert working for a triangle but Azenders defends it easily.
Azenders must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Azenders works over Gilbert with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azenders wants to control from the top but Gilbert keeps moving.

Azenders stands up and waves to Gilbert to follow him.
Gilbert avoids the head kick by Azenders.
Gilbert shoots for a takedown but Azenders saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gilbert shoots in for a double leg but Azenders sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azenders ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Azenders feints and as Gilbert raises his hands in defense, Azenders changes levels and drives through with a takedown into 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!
Azenders trying to control but Gilbert is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ALex Azenders showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gilbert tries to clinch up but Azenders circles away and keeps his distance.
Azenders throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Gilbert to counter with a crisp jab.

Azenders dives in and scores a takedown into Gilbert's guard.
Gilbert keeping moving, preventing Azenders from controlling successfully.
Gilbert looking to hit a scissor sweep but Azenders is one step ahead there.

Gilbert is working an open guard so Azenders takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Azenders throws an off balance right hand
and Gilbert counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gilbert checks a leg kick.
Azenders takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Azenders tries to clinch up but Gilbert circles away and keeps his distance.
Azenders tries for a takedown but Gilbert sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gilbert shoots in for a takedown but Azenders shows good takedown defense.
Azenders misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gilbert closes the distance and clinches up with Azenders, looking for a takedown. Gilbert pushes Azenders against the cage but Azenders circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Azenders shoots in but Gilbert avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Elijah Gilbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of ALex Azenders.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gilbert looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gilbert shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert misses with a few strikes there.
Azenders tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gilbert defends well and Azenders ends up having to push Gilbert into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Azenders is trying to break the clinch but Gilbert has him pressed against the cage.

Gilbert decides to pull guard.
Azenders trying to control the position from guard on top but Gilbert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Azenders wants to get up but he can't break Gilbert's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Gilbert working for a triangle but Azenders defends it easily.
Azenders wants to control from the top but Gilbert keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azenders controlling from the top position.

ALex Azenders has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Azenders moves in looking to clinch but Gilbert pushes him off.
Elijah Gilbert is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Azenders fails with an attempt to clinch.
Azenders stuffs the takedown attempt from Gilbert. Gilbert gets slowly back to his feet.
Gilbert shoots in and drives through. Azenders sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Azenders closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Azenders is taking a breather. Gilbert says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Gilbert is staying active underneath Azenders, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. ALex Azenders was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Azenders moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
ALex Azenders comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Azenders 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... ALex Azenders!