PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Taj Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gratien Coquerelle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gratien Coquerelle has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gibson
vs
Coquerelle

189 cm
30
185 lbs
8 - 9 - 1

189 cm
20
190 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

FJCP Healthy Nutrition

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 8 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taj Gibson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gratien Coquerelle!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Damien Edna and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gibson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Coquerelle throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gibson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Coquerelle gets a double leg takedown into Gibson's guard.
Gibson keeping moving, preventing Coquerelle from controlling successfully.
Coquerelle throws a big right hand that misses.
Gibson wants to stand and escape but Coquerelle is having none of it.
Coquerelle throwing strikes but missing.
Coquerelle is in close to Gibson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gibson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Coquerelle.
Coquerelle controls from within his opponent's guard.
Coquerelle in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Coquerelle is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Coquerelle wants to control from the top but Gibson keeps moving.
Coquerelle looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gibson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Coquerelle changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gibson tries to avoid it but Coquerelle manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gibson to the ground. Gibson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Coquerelle ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gibson moves away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Coquerelle.

Coquerelle shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Coquerelle showed some decent athleticism there.

Coquerelle is working for a kimura here but Gibson manages to reverse the position and he's now in Coquerelle's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gibson stops Coquerelle from standing up.
Gibson is fighting to break Coquerelle's control of his arms but Coquerelle is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Coquerelle is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Coquerelle controlling Gibson's posture.
Gibson wanted to stand there but Coquerelle had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Coquerelle 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.
Coquerelle is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Coquerelle prevents Gibson from standing back up.
Coquerelle working over Gibson with some ground and pound. Gibson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gibson has hold of Coquerelle's hands but Coquerelle slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Coquerelle slips a nice elbow through Gibson's hands, connecting with Gibson's forehead.
Coquerelle takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Coquerelle decides to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gratien Coquerelle dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Coquerelle connects with a left and a right that sees a clearly hurt Gibson covering up! Coquerelle comes in with a big uppercut and Gibson goes doooown! He's slumped up against the cage, eyes staring blankly into space.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Gratien Coquerelle!
Gratien Coquerelle managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, FJCP Healthy Nutrition, into his post fight interview.