PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tito Gomez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Saban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gomez
vs
Saban

180 cm
19
195 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

180 cm
24
189 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

Machine Fight Gear

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tito Gomez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Saban!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Felipe Paraventi and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gomez looks for a takedown but Saban sprawls well.

Gomez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Saban looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saban tries to get to full guard but Gomez has control of the leg.
Gomez moves into full mount! Saban won't be happy about that!
Gomez punishing his opponent with strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gomez goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Saban turns into him and now he's in Gomez's guard.
Saban preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez keeping moving, preventing Saban from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gomez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saban manages to get himself to full guard.

Gomez advances to half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Gomez'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.
Gomez working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Saban's thigh. Saban counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Gomez pushes down on Saban's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Saban trying to hold on to Gomez's head to control him but Gomez postures up.
Saban really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gomez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gomez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saban keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gomez is looking for a kimura here.
Gomez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saban keeps working.

Saban manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Gomez feints and as Saban raises his hands in defense, Gomez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Saban manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gomez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saban escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saban displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gomez.
As Gomez backs off Saban throws a huge counter combo but Gomez manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tito Gomez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saban fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gomez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gomez was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Gomez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Saban sprawls well initially but Gomez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gomez is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Saban reverses the position - he's now on top in Gomez's guard.

Gomez has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Saban should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Gomez has tightened it up now! Saban should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Tito Gomez!
After winning the bout, Tito Gomez thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.