PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ruben Gilbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dragan Petkanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gilbert
vs
Petkanov

165 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 Los Angeles, Ruben Gilbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dragan Petkanov!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petkanov throws a head kick that Gilbert semi-blocks.

It looks like Ruben Gilbert has been cut.
Petkanov looks for a takedown but Gilbert sprawls well.
Gilbert scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Gilbert misses with a double jab

and Petkanov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Petkanov.
Petkanov wants to stand and escape but instead Gilbert has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Gilbert wants to stand but Petkanov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Petkanov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gilbert stopping the sweep attempt from Petkanov.
Gilbert really is a fat lump.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilbert trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gilbert throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Gilbert decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Petkanov, up you get!
Gilbert misses with an uppercut.
Petkanov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Gilbert shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Gilbert was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Petkanov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gilbert. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Petkanov is trying to work for a sweep but Gilbert has mounted him!
Gilbert throwing strikes here but Petkanov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Petkanov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gilbert has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petkanov gets back to half guard.
Petkanov is looking for a sweep. Gilbert is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gilbert wants to get back to his feet.
Gilbert sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Petkanov defending well though.
Petkanov is trying to maintain the position but Gilbert is very close to passing his half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Petkanov can do anything to dispel that myth.

Gilbert decides to return to a standing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Petkanov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Petkanov lands a decent elbow from side control.

Petkanov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Gilbert has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Petkanov but great work by Gilbert.
Petkanov looks winded!
Gilbert in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Gilbert stands up and beckons Petkanov to his feet.
Gilbert shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Petkanov defends it nicely.
Gilbert on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert throws a jab but it's blocked by Petkanov.

Petkanov shoots in and gets a takedown into Gilbert's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Petkanov is in close to Gilbert's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Gilbert had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Petkanov defends it easily.
Gilbert is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Petkanov stands up and waves to Gilbert to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dragan Petkanov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ruben Gilbert's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Petkanov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Petkanov shoots in but no luck this time.
Gilbert lands with a straight right. Petkanov didn't see that one coming.
Petkanov shoots for a double leg takedown but Gilbert sprawls well. He's pushed Petkanov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ruben Gilbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dragan Petkanov.
Petkanov shoots in but no luck this time.
Gilbert drops down looking for a counter takedown but Petkanov sprawls and moves away.

Petkanov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Gilbert working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Petkanov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Gilbert is tightening it up a little... Petkanov has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Petkanov reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Petkanov taps out! Nice BJJ there by Gilbert!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Ruben Gilbert!