PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Washington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pete Cuban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Washington comes into the arena with Big Pun feat.Fat Joe-Twinz (Deep Cover) blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Washington
vs
Cuban

191 cm
27
213 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

190 cm
28
205 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gabriel Washington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Pete Cuban!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Roger Salmon and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cuban rushes Washington and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cuban jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Washington walks away with a smile on his face. Cuban gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Cuban moves into the clinch.

Cuban has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Washington clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Washington tries to roll but Cuban sticks to his back.
Washington is keeping busy.

Washington is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Cuban gets his way!
Washington tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Washington regains half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cuban is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cuban trying to control the action but Washington is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Washington is defending against the submission attempts here by Cuban.
Washington has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cuban is working away from the top position though.

Cuban is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Cuban is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washington trying to control but Cuban postures up.

Cuban seems to be looking for submissions.
Cuban tries to pass the half guard into mount. Washington knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Washington is trying to get back to full guard.
Washington gets back to full guard.
Cuban forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuban is looking to stall here but Washington recovers full guard.
Cuban trying to control but Washington is working from the bottom.
Cuban looking to pass the guard.

Cuban is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Washington is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Washington has escaped and now he's on top!
Washington trying to control the position from guard on top but Cuban is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cuban looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Washington pushes down on Cuban's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Washington trying to control the action but Cuban is working from the bottom.
Cuban wants to get back to full guard.
Cuban is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Washington is trying to control the action in half guard but Cuban is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Washington looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cuban looks for a takedown but Washington sprawls well.

Cuban rushes Washington and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Washington is pressed up against the cage. Cuban has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Washington down to the mat. Washington avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Washington gets caught napping as Cuban dives in and scores a takedown. Washington manages to retain guard.
Cuban is fighting to break Washington's control of his arms but Washington is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Washington is trying to control the position but Cuban postures up.

Cuban drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Washington dives on top into guard.
Cuban tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Washington accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Washington slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuban is not content to let Washington control the position.
Pete Cuban has got the better of the ground game so far.
Washington in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Cuban manages to get back to half guard.
Washington wants to control but Cuban is keeping him busy.
Cuban trying to control from the bottom.
Washington lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Washington wants to control but Cuban is keeping him busy.
Cuban tries to get to full guard but Washington has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washington sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cuban defending well though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Washington lands a nice short elbow.
Washington slows the pace down in half guard.
Cuban is refusing to be controlled, as Washington sits in half guard.

Cuban looking for submissions off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cuban looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Washington is trying to control the action in half guard but Cuban is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washington stalling away here and it's allowed Cuban to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Washington advances position into side control!
Cuban is trying to control Washington's posture but Washington avoids it.
Cuban avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Washington.
Cuban is trying to get back to half guard.
Washington throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cuban prevents Washington from moving into mount.
Cuban is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Washington is looking to take a break and control but Cuban is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cuban is letting Washington control him for a moment.
Cuban is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Washington seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cuban does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Washington slows the pace down in half guard.
Washington is looking to take a break and control but Cuban is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Washington dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Washington closes the distance and pushes Cuban back into the cage.
Cuban jumps guard but Washington turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Cuban has hold of one of Washington's legs. Washington is fighting the takedown attempt but Cuban gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Washington pulls Cuban in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Washington is on top in guard.

Cuban had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Washington defends it easily.

Cuban is looking for a triangle but Washington pushes his legs off easily.

Cuban has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Washington can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuban looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Washington pushes down on Cuban's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Washington wants to take a breather but Cuban is having none of it.
Washington not doing much here.

Cuban looking for submissions off his back.
Cuban is trying to control but can't.
Cuban felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washington controlling the action here.
Washington takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Washington seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cuban does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cuban wants to get back to full guard.
Washington takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cuban is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Washington's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Washington's back!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Washington tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Washington is desperately trying to improve his position but Cuban has a good base and remains in mount.

Cuban is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Washington has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Washington!
Cuban takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cuban looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washington is working Cuban over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Washington won't allow Cuban to sweep him here.

Cuban escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Washington gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Washington controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Washington with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Cuban looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Washington content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cuban keeping moving, preventing Washington from controlling successfully.
Washington is working Cuban over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Washington sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Washington tries to free his leg and advance position but Cuban is retaining full guard.
Cuban keeping moving, preventing Washington from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Cuban looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cuban working a defensive guard but Washington passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Washington showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Washington 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Washington!