PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Genki Dama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Gibiatti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Genki Dama has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dama
vs
Gibiatti

157 cm
35
156 lbs
32 - 17 - 0

165 cm
27
155 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Zipp Zapp
Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 32 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Genki Dama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Frank Gibiatti!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jorge Garcia and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dama lands a nice hook to Gibiatti's body. Gibiatti takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Gibiatti gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Dama counters with a straight right hand.
Gibiatti shoots for a takedown but Dama saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gibiatti has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Dama finds it's way round the side to connect with Gibiatti's head.
Gibiatti tries to close the distance and clinch but Dama swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dama jabs Gibiatti right on the nose. Gibiatti blinks but takes it well.
Dama seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Gibiatti checks a low kick from Dama.
Dama connects with a solid leg kick.
Gibiatti tries to clinch there but Dama circles away.
Gibiatti fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Genki Dama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Gibiatti.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gibiatti misses with an uppercut. Dama saw that one coming.
Dama throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Dama with a nice cross.
Gibiatti lands with an overhand left.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dama gets caught napping as Gibiatti dives in and scores a takedown. Dama manages to retain guard.

Dama had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gibiatti defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dama trying to keep a closed guard but Gibiatti is proving a slippery customer.
Gibiatti missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gibiatti postures up in Dama's guard and throws a big left but Dama blocks it.
Gibiatti loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gibiatti throwing strikes from guard but Dama blocks nicely.
Dama utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibiatti wants to pass the guard but Dama is keeping the position.
Gibiatti loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Dama throws a body punch but Gibiatti moves out of range.
Dama cracks Gibiatti with an open hand slap.
Gibiatti changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dama tries to avoid it but Gibiatti manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dama to the ground. Dama escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gibiatti avoids the body shot from Dama.
Dama throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gibiatti shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dama sprawls well. Dama wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gibiatti gets slowly back to his feet.
Gibiatti shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dama defends it nicely.
Genki Dama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dama lands a jab.
Dama throws an overhand right that lands on Gibiatti's shoulder, as Gibiatti tries to avoid the shot.
Dama throws a leg kick that is checked
and Gibiatti finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Dama ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dama throws a right hand that misses
and Gibiatti counters with a nice uppercut.
Gibiatti clobbers Dama with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Dama throws a head kick but Gibiatti moves out of range.
A jab from Gibiatti misses.
Gibiatti has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Dama.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dama misses with a straight right.
Dama looks to score with a jab to the body but Gibiatti is just out of range.
Gibiatti throws a push kick but Dama slaps the foot to one side.
Gibiatti connects with a body shot that sends Dama's belly button to the back.
Dama scores with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jab, jab by Dama - just one landing.
Gibiatti misses with a head kick.
Dama misses with a few strikes there.
Dama motions for Gibiatti to come forward. Dama throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Dama pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dama lands with an overhand left.
Dama throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A lazy body kick from Dama
and Gibiatti counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Genki Dama dominated that 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.

Gibiatti misses with a head kick.
Gibiatti keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dama.
Dama throws a nice inside leg kick.
Dama throws a sloppy head kick and Gibiatti moves out of range easily.
Gibiatti throws the left hand but Dama avoids the punch easily.
Dama throws a shot from downtown. Gibiatti moves away and avoids it.
Gibiatti fails to land the takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gibiatti.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gibiatti on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Gibiatti throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Dama to counter with a crisp jab.
Dama throws a head kick that misses.
Dama finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibiatti with a hook.
Gibiatti uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dama.
Gibiatti darts in looking for a takedown but Dama gets double underhooks and turns Gibiatti into the cage.
Genki Dama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Gibiatti.
Dama is looking to break free of the clinch but Gibiatti has double underhooks.
Dama lands a shoulder strike.
Dama prevents the takedown attempt.
Dama is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gibiatti can do to turn this around?

Dama manages to break the clinch.
Dama lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Dama throws a head kick that misses.
Gibiatti with a nice cross.
Dama with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Dama waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gibiatti.
Gibiatti has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Dama will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Dama, right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gibiatti scores with a hook to the body. Dama takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Dama throws a lazy right hand but Gibiatti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dama throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Gibiatti counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gibiatti throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dama is trying to hold Gibiatti in close to prevent damage but Gibiatti has managed to pass into half guard.
Gibiatti stalling away here and it's allowed Dama to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Dama trying to keep a closed guard but Gibiatti is proving a slippery customer.
Dama preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibiatti trying to control but Dama is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gibiatti accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gibiatti pushes down on Dama's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gibiatti drops an elbow to the side of Dama's head.
Dama trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gibiatti thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dama's head.
Gibiatti looks to land a strike but Dama avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Dama working for a triangle but Gibiatti defends it easily.
Gibiatti throws a big elbow that misses.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Dama keeping moving, preventing Gibiatti from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Dama misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Genki Dama dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Dama.
Nice takedown defense from Gibiatti. No joy for Dama on that attempt.
A lazy left from Gibiatti finds it's target.
Dama is looking to slow Gibiatti down with leg kicks.
Gibiatti takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gibiatti uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dama.
A left lands for Gibiatti.

Gibiatti gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Dama postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gibiatti seems keen to control Dama's posture.
Dama throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibiatti is looking to sweep but instead, Dama has passed into half guard.
Gibiatti punching from the bottom.
Dama thows a huge punch but Gibiatti dodges it nicely.
Gibiatti on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dama thows a huge punch but Gibiatti dodges it nicely.

Gibiatti looking for submissions off his back.
Gibiatti is trying to maintain the position but Dama is very close to passing his half guard.
Gibiatti has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

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.
Dama wants to control but Gibiatti is keeping him busy.
Frank Gibiatti has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gibiatti wants to control but Dama is keeping busy.
Dama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gibiatti keeps working.

Gibiatti looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gibiatti throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Dama lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Frank Gibiatti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dama throws a hook but Gibiatti avoids it easily.
Gibiatti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dama was well out of range. Poor timing from Gibiatti.
Dama blocks a head kick by Gibiatti.
Gibiatti shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dama as he avoids it easily.
That kick from Dama tenderised Gibiatti's leg. Gibiatti is trying to keep his angry face on.
Dama throws a body kick that misses.
Dama dives in for a single leg takedown but Gibiatti sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Gibiatti throws a head punch that misses.
Dama is trying to drag Gibiatti to the mat but Gibiatti just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Genki Dama. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good body shot from Gibiatti.
Dama working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Dama has a couple of punches blocked by Gibiatti.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibiatti lands a body shot in the clinch.
Dama misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gibiatti has a couple of punches blocked by Dama.
Genki Dama is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gibiatti is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gibiatti struggles to land a body shot inside as Dama controls his hands.
A shot in the inside from Gibiatti.
Dama fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gibiatti looking to throw knees to the head but Dama is blocking nicely.
Dama tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dama pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Gibiatti lands a shoulder strike.

Dama jumps guard and drags Gibiatti to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Dama wants to sweep here but Gibiatti controlling him for the moment.
Dama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Genki Dama showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dama, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Genki Dama!
Our winner, Genki Dama, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.