PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Haloti Gnata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Youngblood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Youngblood has chosen Linkin Park - Numb as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Gnata
vs
Youngblood

192 cm
28
209 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

183 cm
28
218 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

BeastMode
Sparta Fightware

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Haloti Gnata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Youngblood!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Roberts and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gnata misses with an uppercut.
Youngblood thumps Gnata with a low kick.
Youngblood ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Youngblood misses with a hook. Gnata ducked under it nicely.
Youngblood takes one to the chin there.
Youngblood swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Good shot there by Youngblood.
We've been hearing reports that Gnata has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Gnata ducks right into an uppercut from Youngblood.
The fight stays on the outside here - Youngblood looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Youngblood tries to clinch but Gnata is having none of it.
Gnata walks into a jab.
Youngblood looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Matt Youngblood seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Youngblood shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Youngblood takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Youngblood is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A head kick misses from Youngblood.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Youngblood misses with a head kick.
Gnata misses with a hook.
Gnata waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Youngblood.

Youngblood forces Gnata back against the cage and clinches.
Gnata trying to land knees to the body.

Gnata breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Youngblood dives in for a single leg takedown but Gnata sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Gnata struggles to land a body shot inside as Youngblood controls his hands.
Gnata is stalling here.
Gnata doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gnata misses with a punch to the body.
Gnata misses with a short punch on the inside.
Good body shot from Youngblood.
Youngblood is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Gnata breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Youngblood slips a jab and a cross from Gnata.
Gnata throws a hook but Youngblood blocks it.
A head kick misses from Youngblood.
Youngblood fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Haloti Gnata has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Youngblood.
Youngblood connects with a right hand. Gnata shakes it off.
Haloti Gnata is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gnata takes a swing at Youngblood's ribcage but misses.
Gnata swinging wildly here.
Youngblood throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Youngblood tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gnata defends well and Youngblood ends up having to push Gnata into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Youngblood swings wildly with an uppercut but Gnata uses good head movement to avoid it.
Youngblood misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gnata has a couple of punches blocked by Youngblood.
Youngblood can't find room to land a body shot as Gnata controls the action.
Gnata scores with a nice hook to the head.
Youngblood is struggling to control the position.
Gnata is trying to break the clinch but Youngblood has him pressed against the cage.
Gnata doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gnata misses with a body punch.
Gnata misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gnata wants to break free but Youngblood has control.
Gnata can't find room to land a body shot as Youngblood controls the action.
Youngblood is trying to pull guard but Gnata has him pressed against the cage.
Youngblood lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gnata slowing the pace effectively.
Gnata pushes Youngblood back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Youngblood misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Youngblood swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gnata blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Youngblood swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Youngblood misses with a punch on the inside.
Youngblood lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Youngblood content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Youngblood jumps guard but Gnata turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Youngblood misses with a hook to the ribs.
Youngblood jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gnata walks away with a smile on his face. Youngblood gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Youngblood pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Youngblood is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Youngblood staying out of range there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Youngblood throws a jab but it's blocked by Gnata.
Gnata lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Youngblood looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gnata!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Youngblood dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Youngblood lunges at Gnata with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gnata's hand.
Gnata throws a nice inside leg kick.
Youngblood connects with a nice looking jab.
Matt Youngblood seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The fighters circling - Gnata throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Youngblood avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gnata doesn't manage to clinch there - Youngblood circles away.
Gnata swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Youngblood connects with a jab.
Youngblood misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gnata.
The fight stays on the outside here - Youngblood looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gnata lands a jab to Youngblood's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gnata throws a hook to the side of Youngblood's head but Youngblood sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gnata misses with a hook.
Youngblood tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Youngblood just misses with a punch to the body.
Youngblood looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gnata is fending him off so far but Youngblood persists. Nope, Gnata circles away and we're back to standing.
Gnata is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Youngblood misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Youngblood misses the jab.
Youngblood takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Youngblood misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gnata.
Youngblood throws out a loose jab but Gnata uses good head movement to avoid it.
Youngblood tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gnata swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gnata sizes up Youngblood with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A telegraphed right hand from Youngblood misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gnata throws a right hand that misses
and Youngblood counters with a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gnata cracks a nice hook into Youngblood's ribs.

Youngblood forces Gnata back against the cage and clinches.
Youngblood prevents a body shot from Gnata.
Gnata lands with a left to the head.
Gnata looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Youngblood avoids the elbow strike from Gnata, against the cage.
Gnata lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Gnata avoiding damage.
Youngblood looking to slow down the pace here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gnata doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Youngblood ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Youngblood no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gnata throws a strike but Youngblood rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gnata is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gnata wants to sweep but no luck.
Gnata manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gnata is landing with some decent strikes but Youngblood is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Gnata trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Youngblood is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gnata looking to secure an arm triangle but Youngblood defends it well.
Youngblood is trying to escape the mount.
Gnata throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Gnata throws some wild stikes that Youngblood manages to avoid easily.
Youngblood regains half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Youngblood has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gnata is working away from the top position though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gnata trying to control from half guard but Youngblood is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haloti Gnata dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Youngblood misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Youngblood loads up on a big right hand but Gnata slips the punch.
Youngblood tries to clinch but Gnata is having none of it.
Youngblood connects with a body shot.
Youngblood wants to clinch up but Gnata keeps it at a distance.
Youngblood moves out of range as Gnata strikes.
Youngblood moves out of range of the strikes.
Youngblood tries to close the distance and clinch but Gnata swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Youngblood just misses with a punch to the body.
Youngblood uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gnata.
Youngblood scores with a head kick. Gnata tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Gnata rushes Youngblood and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gnata swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gnata doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gnata tries to work over Youngblood's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Youngblood fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gnata manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Youngblood lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gnata tries a body shot but Youngblood blocks it.
Youngblood lands a shoulder strike.
Gnata swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Gnata breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Youngblood tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gnata defends well and Youngblood ends up having to push Gnata into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gnata misses with a body punch.
Youngblood misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gnata manages to break the clinch.
Gnata swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Youngblood.

Youngblood has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gnata misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Youngblood pushes Gnata back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Youngblood blocks a body shot from Gnata.
Youngblood misses with some punches.
Gnata wants to stall.
Gnata tries to work over Youngblood's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gnata prevents a body shot from Youngblood.
Youngblood has a couple of punches blocked by Gnata.
Youngblood throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gnatas head.
Gnata misses with a punch to the body.
Matt Youngblood seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gnata wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Youngblood tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Youngblood goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Youngblood.
Gnata tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Gnata breaks the clinch.
Youngblood lands a leg kick that knocks Gnata off balance momentarily.
Gnata misses with the combination.
Youngblood tries to clinch but Gnata moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Gnata.
Youngblood lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Youngblood prevents a body shot from Gnata.
Gnata blocks a body shot from Youngblood.
A right handed body shot lands from Youngblood.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gnata wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Youngblood is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Youngblood fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Youngblood tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Youngblood on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Youngblood misses with some punches.
Gnata is trying to push Youngblood away but Youngblood has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gnata misses with a punch on the inside.
Youngblood lands a shoulder strike.
Gnata tries a body shot but Youngblood blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gnata misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Youngblood.
Gnata misses with a body punch.
Youngblood prevents a body shot from Gnata.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Youngblood comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Youngblood has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Youngblood!
After winning the bout, Matt Youngblood thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.