PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alberto Del Rio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyrese Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Del Rio comes into the arena with Requiem for a dream blaring out of the sound system. Tyrese Gibson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Del Rio
vs
Gibson

197 cm
36
200 lbs
10 - 19 - 1

187 cm
25
190 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 10 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alberto Del Rio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tyrese Gibson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gibson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Del Rio is fending him off so far but Gibson persists. Nope, Del Rio circles away and we're back to standing.
Del Rio is looking to counter with head kicks.
Gibson shoots for a takedown but Del Rio saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gibson shoots for a double leg takedown but Del Rio sprawls well. He's pushed Gibson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alberto Del Rio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyrese Gibson.

Del Rio fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gibson, pushing him back against the cage.
Gibson tries to circle away but Del Rio has him pinned against the cage.
Gibson goes for a takedown attempt but Del Rio pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gibson shoots in looking for a takedown. Del Rio tries to sprawl out of it but Gibson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Del Rio manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Del Rio moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Del Rio tries to circle away but Gibson has him pinned against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Gibson as the two fighters clinch.
Del Rio lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Rio is pressed up against the cage. Gibson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Del Rio down to the mat. Del Rio avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gibson shoots in but no luck this time.
A nice combination there by Gibson.

It looks like Alberto Del Rio has been cut.

Del Rio clinches up with Gibson and pushes him back against the cage.

Gibson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Del Rio closes the distance and clinches.
Del Rio pushes Gibson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Del Rio content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Gibson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Del Rio tries to break free but Gibson pushes him back against the cage.
Del Rio slowing the pace effectively.
Gibson tries to pull guard but Del Rio forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Del Rio is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Gibson is trying to pull guard but Del Rio has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Del Rio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Gibson gets a clinch.
Gibson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Del Rio in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Del Rio pushes off an throws an elbow but Gibson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Gibson stalling in the clinch but Del Rio improves position.
Del Rio wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gibson has him pressed against the cage.
Gibson is trying to break free.
Gibson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gibson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Del Rio wants to break free but Gibson has control.
Del Rio gets through Gibson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gibson fails to pull guard.
Gibson is trying to drag Del Rio to the mat but Del Rio just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Del Rio wants the takedown. Gibson is fighting it off but Del Rio persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gibson's guard against the cage.

Gibson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Del Rio gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gibson has a closed guard, preventing Del Rio from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Del Rio trying to control but Gibson is working from the bottom.
Del Rio wants to get up but he can't break Gibson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson keeping moving, preventing Del Rio from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

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

Del Rio closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gibson did well to prevent Del Rio getting side control.
Del Rio is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Gibson is looking to improve his position.
Del Rio trying to control from half guard but Gibson is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alberto Del Rio dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alberto Del Rio's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gibson has his takedown stuffed

and Del Rio counters by moving into the clinch.
A short right from Del Rio on the inside.
Gibson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Del Rio walks away with a smile on his face. Gibson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gibson shoots and misses

and Del Rio counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Del Rio.
Alberto Del Rio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyrese Gibson.
Del Rio is pushing Gibson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Del Rio is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A short left from Del Rio.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gibson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gibson tries to pull guard but Del Rio won't allow it.
Gibson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Del Rio to keep the fight standing.
Gibson tries to pull guard but Del Rio won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Rio prevents Gibson from breaking the clinch.
Del Rio has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Del Rio lands with a left to the head.
Del Rio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gibson can do to turn this around?

Del Rio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gibson lands a jab-cross combination.
Gibson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Del Rio defends it nicely.
Del Rio seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Del Rio throws a sloppy head kick and Gibson moves out of range easily.

Del Rio closes the distance and clinches.
Gibson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Del Rio pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Del Rio lands with a left to the head.
Del Rio lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gibson dodges an elbow strike from Del Rio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Del Rio throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Gibson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gibson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Gibson is trying to break the clinch but Del Rio is controlling him.

Del Rio gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gibson pushes Del Rio off and gets back to his feet.
Alberto Del Rio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gibson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Del Rio defends well and Gibson ends up having to push Del Rio into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gibson is breathing heavily.

Del Rio has Gibson up against the cage in a clinch.
Del Rio with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Del Rio has hold of one of Gibson's legs. Gibson is fighting the takedown attempt but Del Rio gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Alberto Del Rio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Del Rio trying to control the position from guard on top but Gibson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibson trying to keep a closed guard but Del Rio is proving a slippery customer.
Gibson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Del Rio wants to get up but he can't break Gibson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Del Rio postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Del Rio decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gibson, up you get!
Gibson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Del Rio moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

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.

Del Rio clinches with his opponent.
Del Rio has Gibson pressed against the cage.
Gibson tries to pull guard but Del Rio holds him up against the cage and eventually Gibson drops back down to his feet.
Gibson tries to circle away but Del Rio has him pinned against the cage.
Gibson is looking for a takedown.
A nice left hand lands by Del Rio.
Gibson is trying to pull guard but Del Rio has him pressed against the cage.
Gibson tries to circle away but Del Rio has him pinned against the cage.
Del Rio stalling against the cage.
Del Rio lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gibson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alberto Del Rio dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alberto Del Rio's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Del Rio displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gibson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Del Rio looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gibson shoots in but no luck this time.

Gibson gets tackled into the cage by Del Rio. Del Rio maintains the clinch.
Gibson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Del Rio has him pressed against the cage.
Del Rio goes for a takedown attempt but Gibson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Del Rio has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gibson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Del Rio to keep the fight standing.
Alberto Del Rio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyrese Gibson.

Del Rio turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson wants to control but Del Rio postures up.
Del Rio trying to control the action but Gibson is working from the bottom.
Gibson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gibson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Del Rio trying to mount his opponent but Gibson defends it.
Del Rio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gibson keeps working.
Gibson tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Del Rio manages to move to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibson tries to lock up and control but Del Rio gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Del Rio looking to control but Gibson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Del Rio controlling from the full mount.

Del Rio get's back to his feet.

Gibson has Del Rio up against the cage in a clinch.
Gibson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Del Rio to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Del Rio works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Del Rio wants to get up but he can't break Gibson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Gibson is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
A shot in the inside from Del Rio.
Del Rio tries a knee to the head but Gibson blocks it.
Gibson managing to block the knees to the body from Del Rio.

Gibson successfully pulls guard.
Gibson is trying to hold Del Rio in close to prevent damage but Del Rio has managed to pass into half guard.
Del Rio is pressing down on Gibson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gibson is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Del Rio has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Del Rio lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Del Rio trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Del Rio is trying to control here but Gibson has managed to regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alberto Del Rio showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Del Rio has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac 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... Alberto Del Rio!