PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Serge Ibaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ramsey Garner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ibaka comes into the arena with Eros Ramazzotti - Un'Emozione Per Sempre blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ibaka
vs
Garner

170 cm
27
143 lbs
14 - 0 - 0

167 cm
27
138 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Alcatraz Apparel
Atlantis

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 14 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Serge Ibaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ramsey Garner!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Michael Johnstone and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Garner.
Ibaka lands a jab to the head.

Garner gets a takedown into half guard.
Garner thows a huge punch but Ibaka dodges it nicely.
Garner looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ibaka with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ibaka has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Garner is working away from the top position though.
Ibaka is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Garner's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Garner's back!
Garner wants to escape the position.
Ibaka keeps control of the position easily here as Garner tries to buck him off.
Garner can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
I would not like to be Garner right now.
Garner is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Ibaka definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Ibaka is looking to control Garner but Garner is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Ibaka doesn't have the hooks in and Garner manages to turn into his guard.
Ibaka manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Garner manages to get himself to full guard.

Ibaka got a little sloppy there for a moment and Garner has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ibaka has managed to get both his arms back between Garner's legs - danger averted.
Garner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ibaka is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garner controls Ibaka momentarily but Ibaka frees himself.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Garner can do anything to dispel that myth.
Garner lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Garner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ibaka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Garner trying to control the position from guard on top but Ibaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ibaka has his hands on Garner's head, controlling the position.
Ibaka not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Garner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ibaka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garner postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Garner preventing the sweep.
Ibaka keeping moving, preventing Garner from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Garner is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ibaka working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ibaka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Garner.
Nice takedown defense from Ibaka. No joy for Garner on that attempt.
A big left from Garner misses.
A quick step to the side and Ibaka tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka throws a looping overhand right but Garner ducks down to avoid it.
Garner has a takedown stuffed.
Serge Ibaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ramsey Garner.
Garner ducks under a wild hook from Ibaka.
Garner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ibaka manages to avoid it.
Garner shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ibaka tries to bum rush Garner with a series of wild strikes but Garner uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Garner looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ibaka with a jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Garner feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Garner connects with a couple of short punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garner would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ibaka managing to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ramsey Garner will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Garner staying out of range there.
Garner shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ibaka pinned against the cage. Ibaka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ibaka throws a looping overhand right but Garner ducks down to avoid it.
Garner is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ibaka sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Garner or perhaps it was just good defense by Ibaka, which made it look bad.
Serge Ibaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ramsey Garner.
Garner misses with a takedown attempt
and Ibaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ibaka stuns Garner with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibaka slaps away a takedown attempt from Garner, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ibaka scores with a jab. Garner acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ibaka slaps away a takedown attempt from Garner, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Garner has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Serge Ibaka is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garner fails with the takedown
and Ibaka counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Garner is rocked!
Ibaka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Garner can do to turn this around?
Ibaka shakes his hands by his side, trying to relax. Garner takes his eyes off the ball for a moment - Ibaka sees the opportunity and cracks him with a massive hook! Garner bends double and collapses on top of himself - he's out! The crowd are going absolutely nuts! Wow, what a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Serge Ibaka!
During a confident post fight interview, Serge Ibaka thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.