PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Prince Tan Gapuz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gray
vs
Tan Gapuz

168 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

179 cm
23
160 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paul Gray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Prince Tan Gapuz!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Winston Howard and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gapuz looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Gray!
Gapuz throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Gray gets back to half guard.
Gapuz wants to stand but Gray has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Gray slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gray throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gray is on top in guard.
Gray sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gray landing some decent shots from guard.
Gray 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray postures up.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Gray is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gapuz wants to stand but Gray is controlling the position.
Gray controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gray stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gapuz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Gapuz wants to sweep here but Gray controlling him for the moment.
Gapuz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gapuz throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gapuz shoots for a double leg takedown but Gray sprawls well. He's pushed Gapuz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gapuz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Gapuz looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Gapuz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Gray moves into range and clinches up with Gapuz.
Gray lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Gray manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Gray with that takedown attempt.
Gray lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gapuz tries to clinch up
letting Gray counter with a right hand.
Gapuz shoots in but Gray avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Gray instigates a clinch.

Gray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gray lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gapuz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gray tries to avoid it but Gapuz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gray to the ground. Gray escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Paul Gray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Prince Tan Gapuz.

Gray gets a takedown into half guard.
Gray is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gapuz wants to improve his position but Gray is controlling well.
Gray prevents Gapuz from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paul Gray will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gapuz has his takedown stuffed
and Gray counters with a nice body shot.
A combination from Gray does no damage.
A left and a right from Gapuz both land. Nice combination.
Nice uppercut there from Gapuz.
Gapuz throws a combination that misses

and Gray holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gray has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gapuz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Gray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gapuz tries to clinch

and Gray counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gray.
Gapuz tries to break the clinch but Gray is controlling the position.
Gapuz is trying to maintain a safe position but Gray gets an underhook and turns Gapuz into the ropes.
Gapuz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gray is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gapuz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gapuz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Paul Gray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Prince Tan Gapuz.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gray tries to score a body lock takedown but Gapuz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gray is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Gapuz gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gapuz is looking to break free of the clinch but Gray has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.

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

Gapuz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gapuz trying to control the action but Gray is working from the bottom.
Gray wants to get back to his feet.
Gray is pressing down on Gapuz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gapuz trying to control but Gray is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gray holds on and takes a little breather.
Gapuz is looking to stand up but Gray won't let him.
Gray looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Gapuz stopping the sweep attempt from Gray.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray pulls Gapuz in close to prevent any damage.
Gapuz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gray. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gray keeping moving, preventing Gapuz from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gapuz prevents Gray from getting back to his feet.
Gray tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Gapuz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gapuz is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gapuz is trying to break the clinch but Gray has him pressed against the ropes.
Gapuz tries to stall but Gray uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gapuz wants to get back to striking at distance but Gray won't allow it.
Gapuz working aggressively here.
Gapuz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gray.

Gray breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Prince Tan Gapuz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Gray fails with a takedown attempt.
Gapuz throws a one two combo.

Gapuz rushes Gray and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Gapuz scores with a shot to the side of Gray's head.
Gray prevents Gapuz from breaking the clinch.
Gray keeps control of Gapuz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gapuz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Gapuz breaks the clinch.
Gapuz throws a leg kick
and Gray counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Gapuz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gapuz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gray holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gapuz tries to pull guard but Gray won't allow it.
Paul Gray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Prince Tan Gapuz.
Gray prevents a body shot from Gapuz.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gray successfully pulls guard.
Gapuz stopping the sweep attempt from Gray.
Gray throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Gray is pulling down on Gapuz's head. It's preventing any offense from Gapuz, at least for the moment.

Gray escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gapuz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gray might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gray is trying to control the position but Gapuz postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gray wants to sweep here but Gapuz controlling him for the moment.

Gray looking for a guillotine here but Gapuz defends easily.
Gray controls Gapuz momentarily but Gapuz frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gray tries to clinch
and Gapuz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gray on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Gapuz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gapuz throws a combination that misses
and Gray counters with a leg kick.
Gapuz tries to clinch up but Gray circles away and keeps his distance.
Prince Tan Gapuz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gray swats away the attempt to clinch by Gapuz.

Gray feints and as Gapuz raises his hands in defense, Gray changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Gray stands and steps away. Gapuz gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gapuz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gray closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gapuz circles away.
Gapuz tries to clinch but Gray moves out of range.
Gapuz throws a nice looking combination but Gray bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gapuz works over Gray's head and body with a nice combination.
Gray showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gapuz.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gapuz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gray has a takedown stuffed.
Gapuz misses with a two punch combination.
Gray tries for a takedown but Gapuz circles away easily
and Gapuz counters with a big head kick but Gray shrugs it off.
Gray shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gapuz but Gapuz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gapuz closes the distance looking to clinch

and Gray counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gapuz's guard now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Gray showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gray 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Gray!