PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aldo Gilbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tuma Tauenga (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.

Gilbert
vs
Tauenga

168 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aldo Gilbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tuma Tauenga!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Chris Dean and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tauenga gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gilbert misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tauenga.
Tauenga changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gilbert fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tauenga throws a body kick that misses.
Tuma Tauenga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tauenga fails in his attempt to clinch.

Tauenga tries to sprawl but Gilbert drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tauenga looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gilbert not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gilbert with the ground and pound but Tauenga uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Tauenga wants to stand up but Gilbert is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tauenga avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gilbert with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tauenga utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tauenga has momentary wrist control but Gilbert slips an elbow through the middle.
Gilbert scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gilbert with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gilbert working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gilbert is looking to work some ground and pound but Tauenga has wrist control.
Gilbert throws a strike but Tauenga rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gilbert seems keen to control Tauenga's posture.
Tauenga is looking to work some ground and pound but Gilbert has wrist control.
Gilbert avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tauenga lands a couple of elbows.
Gilbert looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gilbert is adopting a defensive guard.
Tauenga trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tauenga stopping the sweep attempt from Gilbert.
Gilbert is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Tauenga trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gilbert has Tauenga pulled in close to control his posture.
Gilbert wants to sweep here but Tauenga controlling him for the moment.
Tauenga distracts Gilbert with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tauenga connects with a couple of short punches.
Tauenga has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gilbert working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tauenga.
Tauenga throwing strikes from guard but Gilbert blocks nicely.
Tauenga throws a big elbow that misses.
Tauenga trying to control but Gilbert is working from the bottom.
Tauenga is looking to work some ground and pound but Gilbert has wrist control.
Gilbert is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tauenga stopping the sweep attempt from Gilbert.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert trying to control the position here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tauenga throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gilbert.
A counter left hand to the body from Gilbert misses its target.
Tauenga misses with a jab, cross combination.

Tauenga instigates a clinch.
Tauenga trying to land knees to the body.
Gilbert trying to land knees to the body.
Gilbert can't find room to land a body shot as Tauenga controls the action.
Gilbert lands an uppercut.
Gilbert prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tauenga misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gilbert.

Gilbert is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Tauenga can't fight it off and eventually Gilbert manages to take the fight to the floor. Tauenga looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gilbert throws a strike but Tauenga rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tauenga throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gilbert works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tauenga loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gilbert pulls Tauenga in to control the position.
Tauenga with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tauenga throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gilbert works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gilbert looking to control.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Tauenga preventing the sweep.
Gilbert is breathing heavily.
Gilbert avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tauenga trying to control the position from guard on top but Gilbert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gilbert wants to sweep but no luck.
Tauenga trying to control the position from guard on top but Gilbert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tauenga postures up and lands a big shot to Gilbert's brow.
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 Aldo Gilbert will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tauenga.
Tauenga cracks Gilbert with a big right hand but Gilbert just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
You can see the frustration on Gilbert's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gilbert defending against the ground and pound.
Gilbert on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Tauenga blocks the strikes from Gilbert.
Tauenga working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Gilbert is rocked!
Tauenga lands a strong strike to the head of Gilbert. That's dazed him! Tauenga looking to finish here. Gilbert is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Tauenga lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tuma Tauenga!