PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Billy Gros (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sosthene Ndikumana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Gros
vs
Ndikumana

188 cm
28
196 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

182 cm
21
184 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Billy Gros!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sosthene Ndikumana!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Paul Aken and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gros feints and as Ndikumana raises his hands in defense, Gros changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ndikumana avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gros has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ndikumana tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gros wants to control from the top but Ndikumana keeps moving.
Gros lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gros trying to control but Ndikumana is working from the bottom.
Gros working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ndikumana's head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ndikumana can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gros chips away with some ground and pound.
Ndikumana trying to keep a closed guard but Gros is proving a slippery customer.
Ndikumana avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gros accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gros throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gros throwing strikes from guard but Ndikumana blocks nicely.
Ndikumana working a defensive guard here.
Gros cracks Ndikumana with a solid left hand.
Gros wants to control from the top but Ndikumana keeps moving.
Gros lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gros wants to control from the top but Ndikumana keeps moving.
Gros in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ndikumana keeping moving, preventing Gros from controlling successfully.
Gros postures up in Ndikumana's guard and throws a big left but Ndikumana blocks it.
Gros engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gros in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gros in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gros trying to control the position from guard on top but Ndikumana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gros keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ndikumana's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gros postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ndikumana is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've been hearing good reports from Gros's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gros working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ndikumana's head.
Ndikumana trying to keep a closed guard but Gros is proving a slippery customer.
Ndikumana keeping moving, preventing Gros from controlling successfully.
Gros postures up.
Gros throws a big right hand that misses.
Gros wants to control from the top but Ndikumana keeps moving.
Gros missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gros throwing strikes from guard but Ndikumana blocks nicely.
Ndikumana preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ndikumana utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gros trying to control the position from guard on top but Ndikumana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gros trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gros stands up over Ndikumana, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gros wants to control from the top but Ndikumana keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ndikumana wants to sweep but no luck.
Ndikumana is still trying to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Gros dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ndikumana lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Billy Gros is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ndikumana loads up on a big right hand but Gros slips the punch.

Gros decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gros trying to control the action but Ndikumana is working from the bottom.
Ndikumana keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ndikumana keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ndikumana is trying to maintain the position but Gros is very close to passing his half guard.
Gros wants to free his trapped foot but Ndikumana is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gros thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ndikumana's head.
Billy Gros overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gros drops an elbow to the side of Ndikumana's head.
Gros wants to take a breather but Ndikumana is having none of it.
Ndikumana really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gros. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gros is thwarting Ndikumana's attempts to control the position.
Gros wants to control but Ndikumana is keeping him busy.
Gros wants to pass to mount but Ndikumana is defending the position.
Ndikumana is trying to get back to full guard.
Gros is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ndikumana keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Gros is looking to advance position but Ndikumana won't allow it.
Ndikumana is refusing to be controlled, as Gros sits in half guard.
Ndikumana trying to control but Gros postures up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ndikumana swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ndikumana throws an off balance right hand

and Gros counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ndikumana won't be happy with that.
Ndikumana is not content to let Gros control the position.
Ndikumana tries to improve position but can't.
Ndikumana can't do much from the bottom here.
Gros working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Ndikumana can't do much from the bottom here.
Gros looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ndikumana is avoiding damage well.
The ground and pound from Gros seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gros lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gros connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ndikumana some visible discomfort.
Gros misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ndikumana is trying to get back to half guard.
Gros creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ndikumana sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Ndikumana is trying to get back to his feet.
Ndikumana is not content to let Gros control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Gros 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!

Gros shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ndikumana sprawls well. Ndikumana wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gros gets slowly back to his feet.

Ndikumana moves into range and clinches up with Gros.
Gros goes for a takedown attempt but Ndikumana pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ndikumana clobbers Gros with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Gros fails with an attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gros is defended easily by Ndikumana.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Gros. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ndikumana fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gros, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gros drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gros tries for a takedown but Ndikumana manages to get underhooks.
Gros is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ndikumana is defending well.
Gros blocks a body shot from Ndikumana.
A head punch on the inside from Ndikumana fails to land.
Gros changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ndikumana fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ndikumana tries to clinch up but Gros circles away and keeps his distance.
Ndikumana connects with a single shot there.
Ndikumana's coach down at The Exiled BJJ and Wrestling was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Ndikumana's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Ndikumana has closed the distance and engaged Gros in a clinch.
Ndikumana can't find room to land a body shot as Gros controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ndikumana is trying to stall.
Gros has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ndikumana avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gros has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ndikumana after a bit of a struggle.
Ndikumana prevents the takedown attempt.
Ndikumana is pressed up against the cage. Gros has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ndikumana down to the mat. Ndikumana avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sosthene Ndikumana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gros shoots in looking for a takedown but Ndikumana manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gros's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Ndikumana closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ndikumana.
A short left from Ndikumana.
Ndikumana softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ndikumana working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Gros blocks a body shot from Ndikumana.
Good body shot from Ndikumana.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ndikumana goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ndikumana misses with a punch to the body.
A short body shot lands from Ndikumana as the two fighters clinch.

Ndikumana breaks the clinch.
The crowd cheers as Ndikumana lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gros doesn't seem phased though.

Ndikumana moves into the clinch successfully.
Ndikumana throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gross head.

Ndikumana pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ndikumana drives through and clinches with Gros against the cage.
Ndikumana lands a left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gros tries to score a body lock takedown but Ndikumana shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ndikumana will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gros up against the cage.
Gros blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gros is looking to take this one to the mat.
Gros looking for a takedown.
Ndikumana gets underhooks to prevent Gros's takedown attempt.
Gros is working for takedown but Ndikumana is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ndikumana can't find room to land a body shot as Gros controls the action.
Ndikumana throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gross head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ndikumana.
Ndikumana lands a left hand.
Ndikumana lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ndikumana lands an uppercut.
Ndikumana lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gros backwards.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ndikumana throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gross head.
Ndikumana lands with a right to the head.
Sosthene Ndikumana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gros is looking to take this one to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sosthene Ndikumana comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gros 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Gros!
Billy Gros seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.