PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gerard Combs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ander Juaristi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Combs
vs
Juaristi

185 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 New York, Gerard Combs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ander Juaristi!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Bruno Lombardi and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Juaristi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Juaristi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Combs pinned against the cage. Combs gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Juaristi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Combs defends well and Juaristi ends up having to push Combs into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Combs shoots in for a takedown but Juaristi shows good takedown defense.

Juaristi dives in and scores a takedown into Combs's guard.
Juaristi wants to pass the guard but Combs is keeping the position.
Combs looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Juaristi slips nicely into half guard.
Juaristi prevents Combs from improving his position.
Juaristi passes into side control, despite Combs's attempt to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juaristi lands an elbow.
Juaristi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Combs is looking to reverse the position.
Combs sneaks back into half guard.
Combs is looking to control Juaristi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Combs avoid being mounted?
Juaristi seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Juaristi trying to control from half guard but Combs is working away.
Juaristi wants to free his trapped foot but Combs is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Combs looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juaristi trying to mount his opponent but Combs defends it.
Combs trying to control from the bottom.
Juaristi works his way into full mount!
Combs flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Juaristi controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Juaristi with shots to the head and body - Combs looks very uncomfortable down there.

Juaristi goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Combs turns into him and now he's in Juaristi's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Combs would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Combs stops Juaristi from standing up.
Juaristi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Juaristi seems keen to control Combs's posture.
Combs trying to control but Juaristi is working from the bottom.

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.
Juaristi wants to hit a switch here but Combs passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Juaristi there!

Combs working for a submission but Juaristi is keeping him at bay.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Combs misses with a head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ander Juaristi dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Juaristi dives in for a single leg takedown but Combs sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Combs forces Juaristi back against the cage and clinches.

Juaristi decides to pull guard.
Juaristi controls Combs momentarily but Combs frees himself.
Juaristi wants to stand but Combs is controlling the position.
Juaristi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Juaristi trying to mount his opponent but Combs defends it.
Combs is trying to maintain the position but Juaristi is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juaristi tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Combs is refusing to be controlled, as Juaristi sits in half guard.
Juaristi is nestled in close to Combs, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Combs regains full guard. Nicely done.
Juaristi postures up.
Combs has momentary wrist control but Juaristi slips an elbow through the middle.
Juaristi is looking to stand up but Combs won't let him.
Combs keeping moving, preventing Juaristi from controlling successfully.
Combs is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Juaristi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Combs looking for a sweep. Not yet Combs, not yet.
Juaristi wants to pass the guard but Combs is keeping the position.
Combs looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Juaristi.
Combs can't do much from the bottom here.
Combs prevents Juaristi from improving position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juaristi trying to control the position but Combs is working away.

Juaristi tries for a kimura but Combs is defending well.
Combs gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Combs wants to improve his position but Juaristi is controlling well.
Combs has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Juaristi is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Combs preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Juaristi is looking to take a break and control but Combs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Combs manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Combs looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Juaristi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Combs trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Combs wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Juaristi is now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ander Juaristi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Juaristi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Combs lands a decent shot there.
Combs keeping moving, preventing Juaristi from controlling successfully.
Ander Juaristi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Combs wants to sweep here but Juaristi controlling him for the moment.
Juaristi is working Combs over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Combs looking to hit a scissor sweep but Juaristi is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Juaristi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Combs is not content to let Juaristi control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Combs misses with a strike from the bottom.
Juaristi is looking to take a break and control but Combs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Juaristi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Juaristi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Combs is looking to regain half guard here but Juaristi keeps moving and retains side control.
Combs is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Juaristi landing strikes.
Juaristi wants to control but Combs is keeping him busy.
Combs manages to get back to half guard.
Juaristi is looking to take a break and control but Combs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Juaristi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Combs trying to hold on to Juaristi's head to control him but Juaristi postures up.
Combs tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Juaristi postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Combs to stand up.

Juaristi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Combs napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juaristi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Combs keeps working.
Combs is looking for a sweep.

Juaristi stands up.
Juaristi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Combs sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Combs pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Combs closes the distance and clinches.
Combs throws a punch but it's blocked by Juaristi.

Juaristi pulls guard effortlessly.
Combs trying to control but Juaristi is working from the bottom.
Juaristi trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Combs stopping the sweep attempt from Juaristi.

Combs stands up and waves to Juaristi to follow him.

Juaristi moves into the clinch.
Ander Juaristi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Juaristi prevents a body shot from Combs.
Combs content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Gerard Combs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Combs fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ander Juaristi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Juaristi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ander Juaristi!