PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Molina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Gagarin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Molina
vs
Gagarin

185 cm
24
194 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Stephen Molina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Yuri Gagarin!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Eliza Hachem and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Molina dives in and scores a takedown into Gagarin's guard.
Gagarin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Gagarin working for a triangle but Molina defends it easily.
Molina trying to control the position from guard on top but Gagarin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gagarin is looking for a triangle but Molina pushes his legs off easily.
Gagarin is trying to control the position but Molina postures up.
Molina wants to stand but Gagarin is controlling his posture from full guard.

Molina got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gagarin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Molina has managed to get both his arms back between Gagarin's legs - danger averted.

Molina avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molina slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Gagarin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Molina doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Molina manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gagarin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Gagarin has his foot on Molina's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Molina works his way back into a safe position though.
Molina looking to pass the guard.

Gagarin looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Molina passes into side control.
Gagarin tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Molina tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gagarin is being controlled here.
Gagarin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gagarin tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Molina easily slips into full mount!
Gagarin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gagarin looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin trying to get back to his feet but Molina is in full control for now.
Gagarin staying busy and making it hard for Molina to control.
Gagarin tries to escape the position.
Molina lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Molina is hanging on to Gagarin's back as he tries to escape.
Gagarin trying to control the hands but Molina breaks the grip.
Molina connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Gagarin to escape the position.
Molina wants to control the position but Gagarin frees himself and scrambles - Molina manages to regain control in side control.
Gagarin wants to control but Molina postures up.
Gagarin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gagarin looks winded!
Gagarin is trying to stand back up but Molina is controlling him
Molina thows a huge punch but Gagarin dodges it nicely.
Molina controlling the pace.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Molina is trying to control the action in half guard but Gagarin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gagarin flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Gagarin pushes Molina off looking to stand but Molina dives back in and keeps control.
Gagarin punching from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Molina wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gagarin keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stephen Molina wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Gagarin fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Molina on the side of the head.
Gagarin swinging wildly here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yuri Gagarin will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Molina gets tackled into the cage by Gagarin. Gagarin maintains the clinch.
Gagarin is trying to break free.
Gagarin tries for a takedown but Molina manages to get underhooks.

Molina manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Molina looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gagarin is one step ahead there.
Molina trying to control the position.
Molina wants to stand but Gagarin is controlling the position.
Gagarin trying to move into half guard but instead Molina has managed to sweep!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gagarin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Gagarin has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Molina is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Gagarin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gagarin is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Molina is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Molina lands a heavy elbow.
Molina can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gagarin is looking to escape.
Gagarin regains half guard.
Gagarin wants to improve his position but Molina is controlling well.
Stephen Molina overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gagarin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Molina prevents Gagarin from standing back up.
Molina wants to stand up but Gagarin is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Molina is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gagarin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Molina.
Gagarin works his way to full guard. Good work.

Gagarin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Molina can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Molina wants to stand but Gagarin is controlling his posture from full guard.

Gagarin working for submissions but it's allowed Molina to get to half guard.
Gagarin is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molina blocks the strikes from Gagarin.
Gagarin manages to get to full guard.
Molina chips away with some ground and pound.

Gagarin has an active guard here but Molina has managed to pass into half guard.
Gagarin wants to sweep but Molina has passed to side control!
The referee asks Molina politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Molina prefers to stall for the moment though.
Gagarin tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Molina presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin can't escape the position.
Molina is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gagarin can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Molina trying to control but Gagarin is having none of it.
Molina postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gagarin looks a forlorn figure.
Gagarin tries to reverse the position but Molina maintains control.
Molina lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gagarin is desperately trying to improve his position but Molina has a good base and remains in mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Molina controlling the position easily from mount.
Gagarin sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
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 Stephen Molina will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Molina throws a sloppy head kick and Gagarin moves out of range easily.

Gagarin moves into the clinch successfully.

Gagarin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gagarin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Molina counters with a two punch combo.

Molina closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Molina lands in his opponent's guard.
Molina is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Molina would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Molina is looking to work some ground and pound but Gagarin has wrist control.
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!
Gagarin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gagarin working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Molina has passed into half guard!
Gagarin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ground and pound from Molina.
Gagarin trying to hold on to Molina's head to control him but Molina postures up.

Gagarin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Molina pulls his head out easily.
Molina controlling the pace.
Gagarin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Molina wants to stand up but Gagarin has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molina is trying to control. Gagarin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Gagarin actively working from the bottom here.
Molina wants to stand up but Gagarin is controlling the position.

Gagarin looking for submissions off his back.
Molina perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Gagarin actively working from the bottom here.
Molina is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin wants to stand back up but Molina manages to pass into side control.

Molina tries for a kimura but Gagarin is defending well.
Molina wants to stand but Gagarin is controlling his arm.
Gagarin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Molina tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin tries to buck Molina off but Molina is having none of it.
Gagarin keeps trying to improve his position.
Molina content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Molina blocks the strikes from Gagarin.
Molina is looking to take a break and control but Gagarin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Molina tries to stand but Gagarin is controlling his head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gagarin is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Molina showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Molina 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Molina!