PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leigh Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yezu Kiyani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leigh Gibson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Gibson
vs
Kiyani

221 cm
20
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Leigh Gibson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Yezu Kiyani!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kiyani shoots in for a takedown but Gibson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kiyani shoots and misses

and Gibson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kiyani's guard now.
Gibson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kiyani wants to sweep here but Gibson controlling him for the moment.
Gibson wanted to stand there but Kiyani had control of the position.
Gibson throws a big right hand that misses.
Kiyani is trying to control the position but Gibson postures up.
Gibson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gibson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gibson wants to stand but Kiyani has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gibson gets to his feet - Kiyani follows without any prompting.
Kiyani keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kiyani has Gibson up against the cage in a clinch.
Kiyani stalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiyani gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gibson.
Gibson is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leigh Gibson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kiyani breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kiyani misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gibson darts in looking for a takedown but Kiyani gets double underhooks and turns Gibson into the cage.
Gibson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kiyani fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kiyani.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Kiyani.
Kiyani shoots in but no luck this time.

Kiyani rushes Gibson and presses him up against the cage.
Gibson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kiyani is defending well.
Kiyani tries for a takedown. No joy.

Kiyani breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kiyani doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gibson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kiyani looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiyani fails to land the takedown.

Kiyani shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gibson is trying to defend but Kiyani finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Gibson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kiyani not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gibson trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kiyani stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Gibson to get to his feet.

Kiyani gets a clinch.
Kiyani is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gibson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kiyani is working for takedown but Gibson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gibson wants to get back to striking at distance but Kiyani won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gibson jumps guard but Kiyani turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Kiyani drags the fight down to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gibson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gibson throws an elbow that misses. Kiyani uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gibson's guard. Nice move by Kiyani!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yezu Kiyani will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kiyani tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gibson swivels and escapes.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kiyani or perhaps it was just good defense by Gibson, which made it look bad.

Kiyani gets tackled into the cage by Gibson. Gibson maintains the clinch.

Kiyani breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kiyani fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Leigh Gibson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yezu Kiyani.
Kiyani shoots in and drives through. Gibson sprawls well.
Kiyani is breathing heavily.
Gibson tries to clinch up.
Kiyani keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kiyani sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kiyani shoots in looking for a takedown. Gibson tries to sprawl out of it but Kiyani keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gibson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gibson has a takedown stuffed.
Kiyani swinging wildly here.

Gibson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kiyani on his heels. He'll look to pass Kiyani's guard now, I'm sure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gibson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gibson wants to stand but Kiyani is controlling his posture from full guard.

Gibson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kiyani is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gibson, into his guard.
Gibson has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kiyani has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kiyani is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gibson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kiyani is looking to take a break and control but Gibson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Gibson is trying to improve his position.
Leigh Gibson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiyani trying to control the action but Gibson is working from the bottom.

Kiyani tries for a kimura but Gibson is defending well.
Kiyani tries to advance to mount but Gibson denies him.
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 Leigh Gibson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kiyani takes the fight into the clinch.

Gibson manages to break the clinch.
Kiyani misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kiyani changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gibson tries to avoid it but Kiyani manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gibson to the ground. Gibson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Yezu Kiyani is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kiyani throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gibson's waist but Gibson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kiyani off to one side.
Leigh Gibson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yezu Kiyani.
Kiyani stuffs the takedown attempt from Gibson. Gibson gets slowly back to his feet.
Kiyani lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gibson's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiyani shoots in but no luck this time.
Kiyani takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gibson shoots in but no luck this time.
Gibson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kiyani is fending him off so far but Gibson persists. Nope, Kiyani circles away and we're back to standing.

Kiyani gets a clinch.
Gibson is trying to break the clinch but Kiyani has him pressed against the cage.
Gibson wants to break the clinch but can't.

Gibson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Gibson has managed to clinch.
Kiyani jumps guard but Gibson stands there with Kiyani around his waist. Kiyani gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Gibson successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiyani looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gibson is on top in guard.

Gibson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kiyani throws a series of punches but Gibson avoids them all with ease.
Gibson stuffs the takedown attempt from Kiyani. Kiyani gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gibson or perhaps it was just good defense by Kiyani, which made it look bad.

Kiyani instigates a clinch.
Gibson is looking to control Kiyani's arms but Kiyani gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gibson has his back to the cage.

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

Kiyani rushes Gibson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Knees to the body from Kiyani.
Gibson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kiyani has him pressed against the cage.
Nice body punch from Kiyani.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kiyani manages to break the clinch.
Kiyani misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gibson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kiyani sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Kiyani closes the distance and pushes Gibson back into the cage.
Gibson goes for a takedown attempt but Kiyani pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kiyani misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gibson on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yezu Kiyani comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kiyani 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yezu Kiyani!