PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mario Puzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paco Gutierrez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Puzo's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Speak Softly Love. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Puzo
vs
Gutierrez

185 cm
19
187 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
192 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mario Puzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paco Gutierrez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gutierrez fails to land the takedown.
Puzo works Gutierrez's body with a nice hook.
Gutierrez throws a right hand that misses
and Gutierrez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Puzo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gutierrez misses with a takedown attempt - Puzo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A little feinted left hand from Puzo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gutierrez walks into a left hand.
Gutierrez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Puzo's waist but Puzo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gutierrez off to one side.
Mario Puzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paco Gutierrez.
Puzo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutierrez swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Puzo stuns Gutierrez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Puzo swings for the body but Gutierrez moves out of range.
Gutierrez misses with an uppercut.
It looked like Puzo was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Gutierrez.
Gutierrez tries to clinch up.
Nice defenses there by Gutierrez.
And Gutierrez tries to counter it with a takedown but Puzo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Puzo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Gutierrez finds it's way round the side to connect with Puzo's head.
Gutierrez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Puzo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gutierrez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Puzo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Puzo half committed to a counter leg kick.
Puzo connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Puzo manages to avoid it.
Puzo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Puzo jabs at Gutierrez's body.
Puzo staying out of range there.
Puzo swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Gutierrez misses with a low kick.
Gutierrez throws a poor cross that misses
and Puzo counters with a good low kick that Gutierrez was not able to check.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Puzo.
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!
Puzo connects with a body shot.
Gutierrez has a takedown stuffed.
Puzo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gutierrez throws an overhand right that lands on Puzo's shoulder, as Puzo tries to avoid the shot.
A little feinted left hand from Puzo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez has his takedown stuffed
and Gutierrez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Gutierrez feints and as Puzo raises his hands in defense, Gutierrez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Puzo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gutierrez is one step ahead there.
Gutierrez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Gutierrez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gutierrez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Puzo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gutierrez wants to control from the top but Puzo keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Puzo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gutierrez is aware though and is defending well.
Gutierrez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Puzo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gutierrez.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gutierrez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gutierrez won't allow Puzo to get back to his feet.
Gutierrez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Gutierrez tries to clinch but Puzo moves away
enabling Puzo to counter with a crisp jab.
Gutierrez is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Puzo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gutierrez.
Gutierrez on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gutierrez misses with a takedown attempt - Puzo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Puzo appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Puzo connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gutierrez momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Puzo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gutierrez missing with a left hand there. Puzo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
It looked like Puzo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A swing and a miss from Gutierrez.
Gutierrez throws a hook but Puzo blocks it.
Gutierrez has his takedown stuffed
and Puzo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Puzo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Puzo just misses with a punch to the body.
Paco Gutierrez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gutierrez looks for a takedown but Puzo sprawls well.
Puzo is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puzo thuds a left hand into Gutierrez's body.
Puzo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gutierrez changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutierrez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mario Puzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paco Gutierrez.
Gutierrez walks into a left hand.
Gutierrez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
No joy there for Puzo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Puzo lands a right hook to the body.

Gutierrez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Puzo has momentary wrist control but Gutierrez slips an elbow through the middle.
Puzo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gutierrez can do to turn this around?
Puzo keeping moving, preventing Gutierrez from controlling successfully.
Puzo has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez throwing strikes but missing.
Gutierrez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Puzo working a defensive guard here.
Gutierrez slips nicely into half guard.
Puzo is refusing to be controlled, as Gutierrez sits in half guard.
Gutierrez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puzo is trying to stand.
Puzo wants to control but Gutierrez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gutierrez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Puzo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gutierrez.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Gutierrez working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Puzo is trying to control but can't.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Puzo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nice defenses there by Puzo.
Puzo is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Puzo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And Gutierrez tries to counter it with a takedown but Puzo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Puzo lands with a good body shot.
Puzo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gutierrez. That did some damage!
Puzo with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez has a takedown stuffed.
A swing and a miss from Gutierrez.
Puzo throwing a counter right hand but Gutierrez manages to avoid it.
Puzo lands a jab.
Puzo is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Puzo lands a nice shot to the body.
Gutierrez swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Puzo throwing a counter right hand but Gutierrez manages to avoid it.
Puzo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gutierrez was well out of range. Poor timing from Puzo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Puzo swats away the attempt to clinch by Gutierrez.
Gutierrez has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Puzo dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gutierrez shoots in for a takedown but Puzo shows good takedown defense.
Gutierrez scores with the left hand. Puzo knows he should have avoided that one.
Puzo sizes up Gutierrez with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gutierrez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sloppy strikes from Gutierrez. Those never looked like landing.
A jab from Puzo does it's job there.
Gutierrez has a takedown stuffed.
An attempted straight right counter from Puzo misses the target.
Mario Puzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paco Gutierrez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left lands for Puzo.
Puzo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gutierrez's hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puzo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Puzo throws a body punch but Gutierrez moves out of range.
Puzo misses the shot to the body.
Puzo uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gutierrez has time to react.
Gutierrez misses with a takedown attempt - Puzo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Puzo tests Gutierrez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gutierrez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Puzo counters with a right hand to the body.
Puzo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puzo stuns Gutierrez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mario Puzo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Puzo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gutierrez manages to avoid it.
Gutierrez throws a leg kick that misses.
A quick step to the side and Puzo tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A lazy body kick from Gutierrez
and Puzo counters with a stiff right hand.
Puzo connects with a right hand. Gutierrez shakes it off.
Gutierrez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Puzo defends it nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Puzo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gutierrez moves away.
Puzo scoring well with a low kick there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puzo keeps the fight on the outside.
Puzo half committed to a counter leg kick.
Puzo scores with a decent looking hook.
Gutierrez tries for a takedown but Puzo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Puzo was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Gutierrez throws a shot from downtown. Puzo moves away and avoids it.
Gutierrez throws a lazy uppercut
and Puzo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Puzo misses with a wild body shot.
Gutierrez throws a leg kick that is checked
and Puzo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Paco Gutierrez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Donk. Puzo catches Gutierrez right on the button with a cross.
Gutierrez is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Puzo throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gutierrez on the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice shot by Puzo.
Puzo lands the left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gutierrez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Puzo but Puzo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gutierrez or perhaps it was just good defense by Puzo, which made it look bad.
Puzo's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gutierrez under the eye.
Gutierrez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mario Puzo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gutierrez misses with a hook
and Puzo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Puzo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Puzo, 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Puzo!
A pretty intense looking Mario Puzo took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.
In defeat, Paco Gutierrez stepped up to the mic, saying 'I ain't workin at no McDonald, partner - you'll see me back in here, and I'll be better than ever!'.