PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Oliver Gideon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Connor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Connor is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Irish Celebration. John Connor has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Oliver Gideon's chin.

Gideon
vs
Connor

201 cm
27
225 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

199 cm
25
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Mohito Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Oliver Gideon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Connor!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Connor moves in looking to clinch but Gideon pushes him off.

Connor gets a clinch.
Connor throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Gideon lands a takedown into guard.

Connor has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Gideon off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Gideon closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Connor quickly recovers to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gideon wants to control but Connor is keeping him busy.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gideon in particular looking to stall.
Connor wants to improve his position but Gideon is controlling well.

Connor is defending against the submission attempts here by Gideon.

Connor makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connor stuffs the takedown.
Connor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gideon defends it nicely.
Horrible takedown attempt by Connor or perhaps it was just good defense by Gideon, which made it look bad.

Connor takes the fight into the clinch.
Connor tries to score a body lock takedown but Gideon shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Oliver Gideon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Connor.
Gideon gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Connor.

Gideon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gideon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Gideon closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Gideon breaks the clinch.
Connor fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gideon is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Gideon defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Connor.
Gideon stuffs the takedown attempt from Connor. Connor gets slowly back to his feet.
Connor looks winded!

Connor gets tackled into the cage by Gideon. Gideon maintains the clinch.

Gideon manages to break the clinch.

Gideon moves into the clinch.
Gideon is struggling to control the position.

Connor turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Gideon throws Connor to one side and escapes!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gideon moves into the clinch.
Gideon has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Connor avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gideon has Connor pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Connor manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Gideon breaks the clinch.
Connor shoots for a takedown but Gideon saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Gideon closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gideon trying to control the position but Connor is working away.
Gideon working the ground and pound but Connor is defending the strikes.
Connor felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Gideon trying to control the action but Connor is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gideon works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connor tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

Gideon decides to stand back up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Connor shoots for a double leg takedown but Gideon sprawls well. He's pushed Connor's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Connor fails with a takedown attempt.

Gideon throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Connor was covering up waiting for the punch and Gideon finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Gideon chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oliver Gideon dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Connor tries for a takedown but Gideon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Connor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gideon sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Connor somewhat.

Gideon forces Connor back against the cage and clinches.

Gideon has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Connor regains guard immediately.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gideon stands up from Connor's guard - Gideon perhaps looking for a knockout.
Connor with a poor takedown

and Gideon counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gideon.

Connor kicks Gideon off and gets to his feet.
Oliver Gideon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Connor.
Connor is breathing heavily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gideon shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Connor pinned against the cage. Connor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Gideon closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Connor to the mat! Connor manages to get full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gideon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Connor is keeping the position for now.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gideon's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gideon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Connor swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gideon has gone for a leg lock! Connor slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gideon's guard.

Gideon seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gideon bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Connor's guard.

Connor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gideon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Connor is keeping the position for now.
Gideon is working hard here to advance position.

Gideon gets to his feet - Connor follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gideon shoots for a double leg takedown but Connor sprawls well. He's pushed Gideon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Connor is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Connor shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gideon's guard.

Connor drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gideon manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Connor has Gideon in his guard.

Gideon controlling from the top position.
Gideon has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Connor uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Gideon defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Connor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gideon shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Connor napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Connor wants to control but Gideon postures up.
Gideon tries to move to mount but Connor blocks the move with his legs.
Gideon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Connor can do to turn this around?
Connor being controlled for a moment.
Gideon advances to mount.

Gideon goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Connor is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Oliver Gideon will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gideon closes the distance and pushes Connor back into the cage.

Connor turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Connor manages to end up in side control.
Connor is looking to take a break and control but Gideon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Connor tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Connor has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gideon struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gideon pushes Connor away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Connor gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gideon regains half guard.
Gideon pushes Connor off looking to stand but Connor dives back in and keeps control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Gideon looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gideon is looking for a sweep. Connor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Gideon pushes Connor off and gets back to his feet.

Gideon moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connor misses with an elbow over the top.

Gideon gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Connor regains guard.

Gideon stands up from Connor's guard - Gideon perhaps looking for a knockout.

Connor clinches up with Gideon and pushes him back against the cage.

Connor has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gideon uses from the top position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Connor working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gideon doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gideon manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Connor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Connor working for a triangle but Gideon defends it easily.
Gideon throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gideon is working Connor over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gideon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gideon's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gideon works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gideon seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ground and pound from Gideon.
Gideon looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Connor with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gideon is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
John Connor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Oliver Gideon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Gideon gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

And that's the end of the fight!
Oliver Gideon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gideon 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oliver Gideon!