PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Igor Gago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nova Uniao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Gago
vs
Uniao

186 cm
30
195 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

180 cm
40
198 lbs
23 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good kicks
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 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Igor Gago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nova Uniao!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Uniao waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gago.
Gago throws out a leg kick but Uniao moves out of range and Gago only half commits.
Gago throws a quick inside leg kick.
Igor Gago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gago clinches.
Uniao is pressed up against the cage. Gago has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Uniao down to the mat. Uniao avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Gago darts in and clinches Uniao up against the cage.
Gago drops down looking for an ankle pick but Uniao pulls his leg out and moves away.

Gago closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Uniao fails to land.
Uniao pushes Gago back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gago missing with knees to the body.
Gago landing knees to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gago.
Gago lands with a left to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gago manages to break the clinch.
Gago looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Uniao is fending him off so far but Gago persists. Nope, Uniao circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Gago. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Uniao shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gago's guard.
Gago throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Gago working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uniao with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Uniao is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gago is pulling down on Uniao's head to control his posture.
Uniao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gago is keeping the position for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gago is on top in guard.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gago accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uniao looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gago is one step ahead there.
Gago postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Uniao wants to sweep here but Gago controlling him for the moment.
Gago trying to control but Uniao is working from the bottom.
Uniao wants to sweep here but Gago controlling him for the moment.
Gago trying to control the position from guard on top but Uniao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gago engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gago 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.
Gago throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gago throws a big right hand that misses.
Uniao working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Uniao takes the fight into the clinch.

Gago breaks from the clinch.

Gago drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Uniao wants to sweep but no luck.
Gago trying to control the position from guard on top but Uniao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Uniao is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gago would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Uniao bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gago's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uniao trying to control but Gago is working from the bottom.

Gago is looking for a triangle but Uniao pushes his legs off easily.

Uniao got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gago has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Uniao has managed to get both his arms back between Gago's legs - danger averted.
Gago looking to control.
Uniao throws a big elbow that misses.
Gago thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Uniao being controlled here momentarily.
Uniao trying to control but Gago is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Gago dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gago fails with a takedown attempt.
Uniao is looking to clinch.
Uniao closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Uniao stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Uniao wants it to stay on the feet.

Gago clinches with his opponent.
Uniao misses with a punch on the inside.
Gago looking to slow down the pace here.
The referee calls for Gago to work.
Gago is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Uniao is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Gago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gago using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Uniao has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gago throws a head punch that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Gago obliges.
Uniao working aggressively here.
Uniao jumps guard but Gago stands there with Uniao around his waist. Uniao gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Uniao struggles to land a body shot inside as Gago controls his hands.
Uniao lands a hook that snaps the head of Gago backwards.
Gago fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Uniao gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Uniao not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Uniao seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Uniao missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gago trying to hold on to Uniao's head to control him but Uniao postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gago is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Gago tries to roll over but Uniao keeps him under control.
Gago controlling the position well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gago wants to improve his position but Uniao is controlling well.
Gago trying to control but Uniao postures up.
Uniao takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gago is trying to control but can't.
Gago is looking to improve his position.
Nova Uniao has got the better of the ground game so far.
Uniao is keen to just control but Gago is a slippery customer.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uniao lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Uniao lands strikes from half guard.
Uniao not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gago regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gago not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Uniao throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gago is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Uniao has hold of Gago's hands but Gago slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gago throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gago wants to stand up but Uniao has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Gago thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Uniao actively working from the bottom here.
Gago is thwarting Uniao's attempts to control the position.
Uniao is refusing to be controlled, as Gago sits in half guard.

Gago is working for a kimura but Uniao is defending it quite comfortably.
Gago trying to control the action but Uniao is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gago missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Uniao actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nova Uniao will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Gago shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Uniao as he avoids it easily.
Gago stuffs the takedown.

Gago shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Gago is looking for a kimura but Uniao is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gago to get the leverage.
Uniao gets back to full guard.
Gago showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gago trying to control the position from guard on top but Uniao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Uniao wants to sweep here but Gago controlling him for the moment.
Gago advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gago in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Gago wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Uniao, who protects the arm well.

Gago tries for a kimura but Uniao is defending well.
Gago wants to control but Uniao is keeping him busy.
Gago moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
We've been hearing good reports from Gago's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Uniao tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Gago is trying to get an arm triangle but Uniao is defending well.
Gago is looking to take a break and control but Uniao is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Uniao tries to buck Gago off but Gago is having none of it.
Gago working the ground and pound but Uniao is defending the strikes.
What's Uniao going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uniao tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gago wants to lay and pray for a moment but Uniao keeps working.
Uniao is looking to reverse the position.
The referee asks Gago politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Gago prefers to stall for the moment though.
Uniao is trying to improve his position.

Gago working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Gago decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gago throws a nice looking combination but Uniao bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Gago clinches with his opponent.
Uniao doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Uniao lands a hook that snaps the head of Gago backwards.
Gago makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Uniao gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gago.
A right hand to the body from Gago.

Uniao has Gago pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Uniao pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Gago tumbling to the mat - Uniao dives into Gago's guard.
Gago looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Uniao cracks Gago with a solid left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Gago showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gago 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Gago!
A very excited looking Igor Gago made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.