PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tony Gibbs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thibault Gourbiere (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thibault Gourbiere will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Gibbs
vs
Gourbiere

156 cm
23
140 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

170 cm
23
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tony Gibbs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Thibault Gourbiere!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gourbiere.
Gibbs went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Gourbiere shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gibbs counters with a shoot takedown. Gourbiere fights it but they end up in guard.
Gourbiere working a defensive guard here.
Gourbiere looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gourbiere working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gourbiere is looking for a triangle but Gibbs pushes his legs off easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gibbs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gourbiere manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gibbs manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gourbiere pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gibbs is keeping the position for now.
Gibbs has his hands on Gourbiere's head, controlling the position.
Gourbiere wants to pass the guard but Gibbs is keeping the position.
Gibbs controlling Gourbiere's posture.
Gibbs keeping moving, preventing Gourbiere from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.
Gibbs trying to control the position here.
Gibbs working a defensive guard here.
Gourbiere looking to sit in guard and control but Gibbs gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gibbs trying to control but Gourbiere is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibbs content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gibbs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gourbiere is trying to control the position but Gibbs postures up.
Gibbs with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gourbiere has a closed guard, preventing Gibbs from standing up.
Gibbs trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gibbs pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gourbiere only half commits to the counter leg kick.

Gourbiere takes the fight into the clinch.
Gibbs could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gourbiere stalling in the clinch but Gibbs improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gourbiere wants a takedown.
Tony Gibbs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thibault Gourbiere.
Gourbiere goes for a takedown attempt but Gibbs pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nice sprawl there from Gibbs as Gourbiere shoots in.
Gibbs was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gibbs swings wildly with an uppercut but Gourbiere uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gibbs prevents the takedown attempt.
Gibbs stops a takedown attempt from Gourbiere.
Gourbiere looks winded!
Gourbiere has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gibbs avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gibbs has a couple of punches blocked by Gourbiere.
Gibbs doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gourbiere drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gibbs pulls his leg out and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Gibbs dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gibbs blocks a leg kick.
Gibbs is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gourbiere can do to turn this around?
Gibbs stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gibbs wants it to stay on the feet.

Gourbiere moves into the clinch.
Gibbs lands a right hand.
Gibbs has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Gibbs tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gibbs stops a takedown attempt from Gourbiere.
Gourbiere blocks a body shot from Gibbs.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gourbiere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gourbiere changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gibbs fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tony Gibbs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thibault Gourbiere.

Gourbiere rushes Gibbs and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gourbiere prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gourbiere managing to block the knees to the body from Gibbs.
Gibbs can't get the takedown.
Gourbiere gets underhooks to prevent Gibbs's takedown attempt.

Gourbiere breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Gourbiere clinches up with Gibbs and pushes him back against the cage.
Gibbs drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gourbiere gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gourbiere manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Gibbs drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gourbiere pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibbs displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gourbiere.
Gourbiere shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gibbs as he jumps to the side.
Gibbs attempts a counter takedown but Gourbiere avoids it well and moves away.
Gourbiere throws a leg kick but Gibbs moved away.
Gourbiere throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gibbs's waist but Gibbs gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gourbiere off to one side.
Gourbiere is breathing heavily.
Gibbs looks to land a combination but Gourbiere avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gourbiere moves into range and clinches up with Gibbs.
Gibbs is working for takedown but Gourbiere is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gibbs blocks a body shot from Gourbiere.
Gourbiere tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gibbs just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gourbiere blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Gibbs wants a takedown.
Gourbiere utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Gourbiere escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gourbiere throws a head kick that misses.
Gourbiere scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gourbiere forces Gibbs back against the cage and clinches.
Gibbs is trying to drag Gourbiere to the mat but Gourbiere just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Gourbiere ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gourbiere no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Gourbiere has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Gibbs has passed into side control.
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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gourbiere wants to control but Gibbs postures up.
Gibbs working the ground and pound.
Gibbs working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thibault Gourbiere 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gourbiere throws a head kick that Gibbs semi-blocks.

Gourbiere instigates a clinch.
Gibbs has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gourbiere after a bit of a struggle.
Gourbiere jumps guard but Gibbs stands there with Gourbiere around his waist. Gourbiere gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gibbs.
Thibault Gourbiere seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gibbs goes for a takedown attempt but Gourbiere pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Gourbiere moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gibbs gets underhooks to prevent Gourbiere's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gourbiere has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gibbs is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tony Gibbs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thibault Gourbiere.

Gibbs lands a takedown into guard.
Gourbiere keeping moving, preventing Gibbs from controlling successfully.
Gibbs is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gibbs connects with a couple of short punches.
Gibbs engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gibbs wanted to stand there but Gourbiere had control of the position.
Gourbiere utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibbs stops Gourbiere from standing up.
Gourbiere is trying to control the position but Gibbs postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gourbiere has a takedown stuffed.
Gibbs drops down looking for a counter takedown but Gourbiere sprawls and moves away.
Gourbiere takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gibbs tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gourbiere paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gourbiere pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gibbs is looking for a counter combo.

Gibbs moves into the clinch.

Gibbs lands a takedown into guard.
Gibbs postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibbs won't allow Gourbiere to sweep him here.
Gibbs in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gibbs is looking to stand up but Gourbiere won't let him.
Gourbiere keeping moving, preventing Gibbs from controlling successfully.
Gibbs not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Gibbs working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gourbiere's head.

Gibbs is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Gibbs clinches up with Gourbiere and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gibbs looking for a takedown.
Gourbiere pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gourbiere wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gourbiere trying to stall but Gibbs improves his position.
Gourbiere tries to pull guard but Gibbs holds him up against the cage and eventually Gourbiere drops back down to his feet.
Gourbiere takes a shot to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gibbs trying to land knees to the body.

Gourbiere breaks the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Gibbs showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gibbs 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Gibbs!