PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Emil Gustafsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gugo Ograni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ograni is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Ameno - Era . 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.

Gustafsson
vs
Ograni

190 cm
21
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
46
195 lbs
40 - 15 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Emil Gustafsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 40 - 15 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gugo Ograni!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ograni staying out of range there.
Ograni clobbers Gustafsson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gustafsson!

It looks like Gugo Ograni has been cut.
Ograni misses with a double jab.
Gustafsson feinted with a counter takedown.
Gustafsson tries to clinch up
and Ograni counters with a two punch combo.
Gustafsson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ograni connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gustafsson misses with the body kick
and Ograni counters with a one-two to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gustafsson gets a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustafsson is trying to push Ograni away but Ograni has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ograni working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Gustafsson has clasped his hands together around Ograni's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Gustafsson trying to control the position but Ograni is working away.
Ograni gets back to half guard.

Ograni looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gustafsson passes into side control, despite Ograni's attempt to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson cracks Ograni with a big right hand but Ograni just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Gustafsson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Ograni is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Ograni tries to bench press Gustafsson off him but Gustafsson keeps the position.
Gustafsson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Gustafsson trying to control the position but Ograni is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gustafsson is really struggling to control Ograni but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Ograni is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gustafsson off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Gustafsson's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Ograni is riding his opponent, not letting Gustafsson buck him off.

Ograni is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Gustafsson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Gustafsson for a finish.
Gustafsson tries to roll but Ograni sticks to his back.
Ograni throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Gustafsson!
Gustafsson tries to escape the position.

Ograni patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ograni controlling well, preventing Gustafsson from escaping the position.

Ograni has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gustafsson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Ograni lands a big elbow.
Ograni breaks from Gustafsson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ograni looking to control but Gustafsson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
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!
Ograni prevents Gustafsson from getting the reversal.
Gustafsson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Gustafsson tries to roll over but Ograni keeps him under control.
Ograni uses his free foot to push down on Gustafsson's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gustafsson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gugo Ograni dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gugo Ograni's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gustafsson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ograni did well to prevent Gustafsson getting side control.
Gustafsson wants to control but Ograni is keeping him busy.
Gustafsson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Gustafsson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ograni is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ograni is pressing down on Gustafsson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Gustafsson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ograni can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gustafsson controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ograni preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Ograni looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Ograni is looking for a triangle but Gustafsson pushes his legs off easily.
Gustafsson is in close to Ograni's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Gustafsson chips away with some ground and pound.
Emil Gustafsson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ograni has his foot on Gustafsson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gustafsson works his way back into a safe position though.

Ograni is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ograni is looking for a triangle but Gustafsson pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson passes Ograni's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gustafsson throwing shots but Ograni is blocking nicely.

Gustafsson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ograni doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gustafsson.

Ograni looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gustafsson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Gustafsson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Gustafsson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ograni knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Ograni looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gustafsson thows a huge punch but Ograni dodges it nicely.
Gustafsson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four 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.

Ograni actively working from the bottom here.
Gustafsson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gustafsson is trying to control. Ograni wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gustafsson winds up and cracks Ograni with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Gustafsson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ograni is not content to let Gustafsson control the position.

Gustafsson is working for a submission of some sort.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ograni tries to roll over but Gustafsson keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emil Gustafsson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gugo Ograni's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ograni scores with a one two! Gustafsson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Gustafsson wants to clinch but Ograni slips to the side
and Ograni counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ograni closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Gustafsson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Gustafsson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ograni is not content to let Gustafsson control the position.
Gustafsson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ograni is looking for a sweep. Gustafsson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustafsson is trying to control the action in half guard but Ograni is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ograni regains full guard. Nicely done.

Ograni looking for a guillotine here but Gustafsson defends easily.

Ograni escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gustafsson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gustafsson controlling from the top position.
Gustafsson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ograni for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gustafsson wants to control from the top but Ograni keeps moving.

Ograni is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gustafsson defends well.

Ograni is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gustafsson defends well.
Gustafsson tries to free his leg and advance position but Ograni is retaining full guard.
Gustafsson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gustafsson throws a strike but Ograni rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson wants to sweep but no luck.
Ograni working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ograni slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Ograni working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Ograni is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gustafsson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Ograni swings around for an armbar but Gustafsson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ograni's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Ograni looking for a guillotine here but Gustafsson defends easily.
Ograni utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gustafsson landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gustafsson stands up over Ograni, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Ograni escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gustafsson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gugo Ograni.
I think Ograni has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gugo Ograni!
A victorious Gugo Ograni thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.