PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Monson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clifton Gearson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Monson
vs
Gearson

175 cm
18
207 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jeff Monson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Clifton Gearson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Monson misses with a looping left.

Gearson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gearson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gearson trying to control the position but Monson is working away.
Monson is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Monson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Monson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Gearson works his way into full mount!
Gearson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Monson is trying desperately to improve position.
Gearson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Gearson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Monson?
Gearson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Monson looks a forlorn figure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Gearson.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gearson landing strikes from the mount and Monson is in trouble!
Monson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Gearson with shots to the head and body - Monson looks very uncomfortable down there.
BOOM! Gearson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Monson is working to get back to half guard.
Gearson lands with some strikes.
Gearson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Monson looks a forlorn figure.
Monson could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gearson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Monson's face.
Gearson cracks Monson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Gearson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Monson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Gearson. What's that going to do exactly?
Monson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gearson with shots to the head and body - Monson looks very uncomfortable down there.
Monson is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gearson landing shots from mount.
Monson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Gearson looks gassed!
Monson won't allow Gearson to pass to mount.
Monson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gearson wants to pass the guard but Monson is keeping the position.

Gearson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gearson trying to control but Monson is working from the bottom.
Gearson looking to pass the guard.

Monson working for a triangle but Gearson defends it easily.
Gearson looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gearson thows a big elbow that misses.

Monson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Monson wants to sweep here but Gearson controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Monson keeping full guard, as Gearson tries to pass.

Monson working for a triangle but Gearson defends it easily.
Gearson stopping the sweep attempt from Monson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Monson working for a triangle but Gearson defends it easily.

Monson looking for a guillotine here but Gearson defends easily.
Gearson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Monson trying to keep a closed guard but Gearson is proving a slippery customer.
Gearson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Monson's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Monson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Monson fails with the takedown

and Gearson counters with a shoot takedown. Monson fights it but they end up in guard.
Gearson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Monson is keeping the position for now.
Gearson lands a couple of elbows.
Gearson is in close to Monson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Monson is on top in guard.

Monson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Monson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Monson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jeff Monson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monson preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gearson is on top in guard.

Monson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gearson is pushing down on Monson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Monson is fighting to maintain full guard but Gearson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gearson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Gearson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Monson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Monson taking some punishment here, with Gearson in his half guard.
Gearson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Monson looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gearson thows a huge punch but Monson dodges it nicely.
Gearson throwing shots but Monson is blocking nicely.
Monson misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Monson looking for submissions off his back.
Gearson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Gearson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gearson is putting a hurting on Monson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Gearson tries to advance to mount but Monson denies him.
Monson regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Monson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gearson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Monson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Monson looking for submissions off his back.
Gearson is nestled in close to Monson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gearson is looking to advance position but Monson won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gearson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four 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.
Monson tries for a takedown but Gearson circles away easily

and Gearson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Monson gets full guard.
Gearson trying to control the position from guard on top but Monson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gearson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clifton Gearson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gearson shoots in and drives through. Monson sprawls well.

Gearson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Monson sprawls well initially but Gearson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Monson looking for submissions off his back.
Gearson winds up and cracks Monson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Gearson trying to mount his opponent but Monson defends it.

Monson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Monson is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Gearson pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gearson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gearson is pressing down on Monson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Monson is holding on for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Monson has his takedown stuffed

and Gearson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gearson passes to full mount!
Monson is bucking up trying to escape but Gearson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Gearson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Monson hang on?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Gearson working the ground and pound effectively.
Gearson is landing with some decent strikes but Monson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Gearson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Gearson looking for a guillotine from mount but Monson is having none of it.
Monson wants to control but Gearson is having none of it.
Gearson working the ground and pound effectively.
Monson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gearson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Monson hang on?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gearson lands a heavy elbow.
Monson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Gearson thows a huge punch but Monson dodges it nicely.
Gearson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Gearson lands with some strikes.
Monson is looking to get to half guard.
Monson is working hard here to advance position.
Gearson working Monson over with strikes here.

Gearson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Gearson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Monson is looking to escape.

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.
Gearson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
A nice elbow there by Gearson.
Gearson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Monson tries to reverse the position but Gearson maintains control.
Gearson lands a big elbow.
Monson is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Monson regains half guard.
Gearson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clifton Gearson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gearson 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clifton Gearson!