PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between ZaZa Mutombo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tarik Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mutombo comes to the cage accompanied by Wyclef Jean - 911. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mutombo
vs
Gibson

185 cm
33
190 lbs
20 - 8 - 0

186 cm
33
192 lbs
23 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

MayheM sportswear

Sun-Tzu

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 20 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, ZaZa Mutombo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Tarik Gibson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mutombo blocks a head kick by Gibson.
Gibson wants to clinch.

Gibson moves into range and clinches up with Mutombo.
Mutombo throws a head punch that misses.
Mutombo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gibson's elbow.
Gibson stalls.
Mutombo misses with a punch to the body.
Gibson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mutombo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gibson landing knees to the head.

It looks like ZaZa Mutombo has been cut.
Mutombo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gibson misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mutombo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A short right from Gibson.
Mutombo misses with a punch on the inside.
Gibson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mutombo.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Gibson.

Mutombo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mutombo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Mutombo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mutombo throws a leg kick
and Gibson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Mutombo checks a low kick from Gibson.
Mutombo swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Gibson counters with a slapping leg kick.
Gibson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Mutombo lands a two punch combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gibson checks a leg kick.
Gibson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mutombo throwing a counter right hand but Gibson manages to avoid it.
A right-left combo lands from Gibson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gibson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mutombo is looking to counter punch.
Gibson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mutombo was well out of range. Poor timing from Gibson.
Gibson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mutombo feints a jab promting Gibson to slip. Mutombo then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Gibson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Mutombo takes the fight into the clinch.
Gibson lands with a right to the head.
Gibson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mutombo backwards.
Gibson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gibson presses Mutombo against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Gibson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A nice left hand lands by Gibson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mutombo pressing his opponent against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gibson.
The referee calls for Mutombo to work.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A right hand to the body from Mutombo.
Gibson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mutombo pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gibson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gibson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A short uppercut from Gibson.
Mutombo tries to work over Gibson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mutombo will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gibson up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson stalling in the clinch.
Gibson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Mutombo lands a right hand.
Gibson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mutombo slows down the pace here.
Gibson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gibson struggles to land a body shot inside as Mutombo controls his hands.
Mutombo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mutombo misses with some punches.
Mutombo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mutombo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

It looks like Tarik Gibson has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gibson slows down the pace here.
A left hand lands to the body for Mutombo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarik Gibson dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A thudding body kick lands there by Gibson!
Gibson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gibson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gibson throws a nice head kick!
Mutombo connects with a single shot there.
Mutombo throws a body kick that misses.
Gibson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Mutombo slips under a jab from Gibson.
Mutombo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Mutombo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Mutombo works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Gibson swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Mutombo clinches.
Mutombo is looking to control Gibson's arms but Gibson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mutombo has his back to the cage.
Gibson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gibson gets through Mutombo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gibson lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson just leaning against Mutombo, taking a breather.
Gibson trying to control the position but instead, Mutombo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gibson into the cage.
A shot in the inside from Mutombo.
Gibson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mutombo is trying to stall.
Mutombo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mutombo trying to stall but Gibson improves his position.
Gibson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gibson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gibson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Tarik Gibson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gibson blocks an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Gibson.
Gibson is stalling here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mutombo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gibson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Mutombo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
ZaZa Mutombo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Mutombo misses.
Gibson lands with a straight right. Mutombo didn't see that one coming.
Mutombo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A head kick by Gibson misses
and Mutombo counters with a low kick, right behind Gibson 's knee.
Mutombo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gibson rushes Mutombo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
The referee calls for Gibson to work.
Gibson managing to block the knees to the body from Mutombo.
Mutombo tries to throw a body punch but Gibson avoids it by throwing Mutombo back against the cage.
Mutombo swings wildly with an uppercut but Gibson uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mutombo looking to stall.
Mutombo is trying to break the clinch but Gibson has him pressed against the cage.
Gibson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Mutombo breaks from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Mutombo.
Mutombo shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gibson eats them both and turns towards Mutombo to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Gibson checks a low kick from Mutombo.
And Gibson responds with a good body kick, but Mutombo manages to step out the way in time.
Mutombo takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Mutombo is looking to clinch but Gibson is avoiding it.

Gibson has closed the distance and engaged Mutombo in a clinch.
Gibson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Gibson prevents a body shot from Mutombo.
Gibson prevents a body shot from Mutombo.
Gibson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gibson throws an elbow that misses.

Gibson breaks from the clinch.
Mutombo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
ZaZa Mutombo is winning the standup battle so far.
Gibson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mutombo misses with a low kick.
The fighters circling - Gibson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gibson swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Gibson connects with a right hand. Mutombo shakes it off.
Mutombo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Gibson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Mutombo throws a series of punches but Gibson moves out of range.
Mutombo misses with a few strikes there.
Gibson wants to slow Mutombo down by chopping away at his legs.
Mutombo takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mutombo tries a low kick but Gibson avoids it.
Mutombo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gibson counters with a nice body kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Mutombo as he connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarik Gibson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gibson darts in and clinches Mutombo up against the cage.
Gibson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Gibson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mutombo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Mutombo fails to land.
Gibson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mutombo stalls.

Gibson breaks from the clinch.
We've been told by Mutombo's head coaches at V Elite Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Gibson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mutombo checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Gibson throws a head kick that misses
and Mutombo counters with a series of strikes. Gibson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gibson blocks a leg kick.
Gibson lands with an uppercut that bounces Mutombo off the cage and back into range.
Mutombo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gibson is looking to clinch.
Gibson scoring well with a low kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mutombo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gibson is looking to clinch.
A good leg kick by Mutombo.
Gibson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mutombo.
Mutombo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gibson.
Gibson lands the left hand.
Gibson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mutombo checks a low kick from Gibson.
Mutombo checks a low kick from Gibson.
Mutombo tries to land a body kick
and Gibson counters with a thumping low kick.
Gibson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gibson shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Mutombo walks into a stiff left hand from Gibson.
Gibson scores with a head kick.

Gibson moves into the clinch.
Mutombo slowing the pace effectively.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gibson.
ZaZa Mutombo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mutombo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
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!
A short right from Mutombo on the inside.
Mutombo misses with a punch to the body.
Mutombo tries to land knees in the clinch but Gibson avoids the damage to the body.
Gibson misses with an elbow strike.
Gibson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mutombo tries to circle away but Gibson has him pinned against the cage.
Gibson is stalling here.
Gibson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mutombo's defenses.
Mutombo swings wildly with an uppercut but Gibson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gibson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gibson trying to stall but Mutombo improves his position.
Mutombo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gibson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Gibson misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mutombo stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Gibson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Mutombo breaks the clinch.
A punch combination from Gibson misses.
A head kick misses from Gibson.
Gibson throws a body shot but no joy.
Mutombo avoids the head kick by Gibson.
Mutombo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gibson's calf.

Mutombo moves into range and clinches up with Gibson.

Mutombo breaks from the clinch.
Mutombo wants to clinch up but Gibson keeps it at a distance.
Mutombo cracks Gibson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Tarik Gibson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mutombo throws a front kick aimed at Gibson's knee but Gibson avoids it well.
Gibson looks to clinch
and Mutombo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gibson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A lazy body kick from Mutombo
and Gibson counters with a straight right hand.
Gibson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mutombo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Gibson is looking to score with low kicks.
Gibson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gibson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Crack! A monster head kick from Mutombo and Gibson falls like a tree - timbeeeeeeeeeeerrrr! A highlight reel knockout by Mutombo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). ZaZa Mutombo!
Our winner, ZaZa Mutombo, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.