PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sanford Fanning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Degen Gambloor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanford Fanning has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fanning
vs
Gambloor

182 cm
21
216 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
21
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sanford Fanning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Degen Gambloor!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, David Schapiro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gambloor scores with a jab to the jaw.
Fanning lands with a right hand.
Gambloor wants to clinch but Fanning slips to the side
letting Fanning counter with a right hand.
Gambloor just misses with a punch to the body.
Gambloor tries to clinch up but Fanning circles away and keeps his distance.
Fanning misses with a looping right.
Gambloor with the counter takedown but Fanning avoids it easily.

Gambloor closes the distance and clinches.
Gambloor misses with a body punch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Gambloor misses with a knee strike.
Fanning tries to break free but Gambloor pushes him back against the cage.

Fanning's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gambloor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gambloor tries to close the distance and clinch but Fanning swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fanning is looking to counter punch.
Gambloor wants to clinch
and Fanning counters with a stiff right hand.
Gambloor slips a jab from Fanning.

Fanning tries to keep at a distance but Gambloor has taken the fight into the clinch.
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!
Fanning wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gambloor has him pressed against the cage.
Gambloor scores with a knee to the head.
Gambloor throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gambloor landing knees to the head.

It looks like Sanford Fanning has been cut.
Gambloor tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gambloor tries to land a knee to the head but Fanning blocks with his arms.
Gambloor keeps control of Fanning as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Fanning misses with some punches.
Gambloor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A frustrated look appears on Gambloor's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gambloor keeps control of Fanning as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Fanning looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Fanning wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gambloor keeps control of Fanning as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gambloor missing with knees to the body.
Gambloor with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gambloor keeps control of Fanning as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Fanning breaks the clinch.
Gambloor tries to clinch up but Fanning circles away and keeps his distance.
A swing and a miss from Fanning.
Gambloor moves in looking to clinch but Fanning pushes him off.

Gambloor has Fanning up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gambloor keeps control of Fanning as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
I was talking to Fanning's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Fanning has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fanning has had enough of the clinch but Gambloor keeps him there for the moment.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gambloor just misses with a elbow thrown towards Fanning's brow.
Gambloor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Fanning blocks it with crossed arms.
Gambloor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fanning.
Gambloor tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gambloor misses with a punch to the body.
Fanning wants to get back to striking at distance but Gambloor won't allow it.
Gambloor misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gambloor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fanning is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Fanning.
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!

Fanning breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gambloor wants to clinch.
Fanning moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanning keeps the fight on the outside.
Gambloor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fanning throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Gambloor tries to clinch there but Fanning circles away.
Fanning throws a hook but Gambloor blocks it.
Fanning bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Fanning is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gambloor.
Gambloor walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Fanning darts in and clinches Gambloor up against the cage.

Fanning pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fanning throws a body shot but no joy.
Fanning throws the left hand but Gambloor avoids the punch easily.
Gambloor ducks under a wild hook from Fanning.
Gambloor moves in looking to clinch but Fanning pushes him off.
Fanning is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Gambloor staying out of range there.

Gambloor moves into the clinch.
Gambloor keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fanning's efforts to push away.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fanning's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fanning throws a shot from downtown. Gambloor moves away and avoids it.
Gambloor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fanning misses with a looping right.
And Gambloor tries to counter it with a takedown but Fanning pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Fanning throws a hook but Gambloor avoids it easily.
Gambloor tries to clinch but Fanning moves out of range.
Gambloor connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A slow jab from Fanning misses its intended target.
Gambloor looks to score with a jab to the body but Fanning is just out of range.
Gambloor is looking to clinch but Fanning is avoiding it.
Degen Gambloor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fanning waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gambloor.

Gambloor rushes Fanning and presses him up against the cage.
Fanning wants to break the clinch but can't.

Fanning escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gambloor tries to clinch
and Fanning counters with a straight right hand.
Gambloor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fanning swats away the attempt to clinch by Gambloor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sanford Fanning will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sanford Fanning's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gambloor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fanning.
Gambloor connects with a good right hand that stumbles Fanning. Fanning circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gambloor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fanning manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Gambloor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Fanning wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gambloor with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Fanning pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gambloor doesn't manage to clinch there - Fanning circles away.
Gambloor lands with an uppercut that bounces Fanning off the cage and back into range.
Fanning takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fanning throws a big shot that misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Fanning looks to land a left hand but Gambloor moved out of range nicely.
Fanning throws a body punch but Gambloor moves out of range.
Fanning misses with a hook.
Fanning throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gambloor sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And Gambloor tries to counter it with a takedown but Fanning pushes his down on his head and steps out.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gambloor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gambloor closes the distance and clinches.
Gambloor scores with a nice hook to the head.
Fanning wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fanning blocks an elbow strike.
Fanning wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gambloor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gambloor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fanning is defending well for now.
Gambloor lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Fanning breaks from the clinch.
Fanning throws a body shot but no joy.
Gambloor moves out of range of the strikes.
Gambloor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fanning swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Decent striking displayed by Fanning there.
Gambloor throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Fanning uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gambloor.
Sanford Fanning is winning the standup battle so far.
Gambloor tries to clinch up but Fanning circles away and keeps his distance.
Fanning avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gambloor connects with a crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice defenses there by Gambloor.
Gambloor moves away from the strike by Fanning.
Fanning circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gambloor moves out of range as Fanning strikes.
Gambloor tries to clinch but Fanning is having none of it.
Fanning avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Fanning gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gambloor throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gambloor with a knee to the head.

Fanning breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gambloor tries to bum rush Fanning with a series of wild strikes but Fanning uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Gambloor drives through and clinches with Fanning against the cage.
Gambloor tries to break the clinch but Fanning is controlling the position.
Gambloor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Fanning blocks it with crossed arms.
Fanning on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gambloor looking to throw knees to the head but Fanning is blocking nicely.
Gambloor lands an elbow that stopped Fanning in his tracks for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanning is trying to push Gambloor away but Gambloor has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A nice right hand lands inside from Fanning.
Fanning blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fanning is trying to force a seperation but Gambloor has the dominant position.
Gambloor looking to throw knees to the head but Fanning is blocking nicely.

Fanning breaks from the clinch.
Fanning misses with a hook. Gambloor ducked under it nicely.
Fanning has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gambloor.
Gambloor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fanning swats away the attempt to clinch by Gambloor.

Fanning clinches.
A hook to the body from Gambloor.

Fanning's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gambloor blocks a jab.
And Gambloor tries to counter it with a takedown but Fanning pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Gambloor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fanning paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gambloor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gambloor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Gambloor rushes Fanning and presses him up against the cage.

Fanning escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gambloor tries to clinch but Fanning moves out of range.

Gambloor lands a left and a right that send Fanning crashing to the mat, dazed. Gambloor thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fanning scores with a shot to the body.
Fanning ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gambloor moves away.

Gambloor clinches up with Fanning and pushes him back against the cage.
Gambloor using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gambloor putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Fanning in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Gambloor is trying to stall.
Gambloor tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gambloor scores with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Degen Gambloor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sanford Fanning's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Fanning keeps the fight on the outside.
Fanning keeps the fight on the outside.
Fanning throws a body punch but Gambloor moves out of range.
Gambloor feints the counter takedown.
Gambloor fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Fanning.

Fanning closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Gambloor.
Fanning is looking to break free of the clinch but Gambloor has double underhooks.
Nice elbow from Gambloor.
Fanning has had enough of the clinch but Gambloor keeps him there for the moment.
Gambloor landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Fanning blocks an elbow strike.
Fanning takes an elbow to the temple.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gambloor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Fanning blocks it with crossed arms.
Gambloor tries a knee to the head but Fanning blocks it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gambloor takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Fanning wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gambloor keeps control of Fanning as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for Gambloor to work.
Fanning is trying to force a seperation but Gambloor has the dominant position.
Fanning wants to get back to striking at distance but Gambloor won't allow it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gambloor just misses with a elbow thrown towards Fanning's brow.
Knees to the body from Gambloor.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gambloor trying to land knees to the body.
Fanning is trying to push Gambloor away but Gambloor has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A bit of stalling here from Gambloor.
Gambloor throws an elbow but it misses.
Gambloor tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Gambloor.
Fanning tries to break free but Gambloor pushes him back against the cage.
Gambloor unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Gambloor unloads a knee to the mid-section. Fanning lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees to the body from Gambloor.
Gambloor tries a knee to the head but Fanning blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gambloor comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Gambloor lands a knee to the head.
A short left from Gambloor.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fanning avoiding damage as Gambloor throws knees to the body.
Gambloor tries to stall but Fanning uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gambloor stalling in the clinch but Fanning improves position.
Gambloor looking to throw knees to the head but Fanning is blocking nicely.
Gambloor misses with a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gambloor just misses with a elbow thrown towards Fanning's brow.
Gambloor throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gambloor stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Gambloor landing knees to the head.
Gambloor tries to break the clinch but Fanning is controlling the position.
Fanning wants to break the clinch but can't.

Fanning breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fanning circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanning keeps the fight on the outside.
Gambloor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fanning manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Fanning moves into range and clinches up with Gambloor.
Fanning 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.
Fanning wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gambloor creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Degen Gambloor seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Fanning wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gambloor has him pressed against the cage.
Fanning can't break the clinch.
Fanning has had enough of the clinch but Gambloor keeps him there for the moment.
Gambloor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Fanning blocks it with crossed arms.

Fanning's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Gambloor pushes Fanning up against the cage in a clinch.
Gambloor tries a knee to the head but Fanning blocks it.
Fanning looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gambloor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fanning is defending well for now.
Gambloor lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Fanning escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gambloor misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gambloor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fanning manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fanning swats away the attempt to clinch by Gambloor.
A little feinted left hand from Fanning on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Gambloor tries to close the distance and clinch but Fanning swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fanning is looking to counter the offense by Gambloor and move into the clinch.
Fanning swings for the body but Gambloor moves out of range.
Fanning circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gambloor tries to clinch but Fanning is having none of it.
Gambloor tries to clinch but Fanning is having none of it.
Gambloor moves in looking to clinch but Fanning pushes him off.
A telegraphed right hand from Fanning misses the target.
Gambloor moves out of range as Fanning strikes.
Gambloor wants to clinch.
Gambloor darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Degen Gambloor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gambloor has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Degen Gambloor!