PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tal Gator (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shae Wright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shae Wright has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gator
vs
Wright

193 cm
23
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
201 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tal Gator!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Shae Wright!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Roger Salmon and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wright doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gator counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Wright clinches up against the cage.
Wright keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gator's efforts to push away.
Wright misses with the head strike.
Gator has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Wright after a bit of a struggle.

Wright's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Wright gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gator manages to break the clinch.
Wright scores with a nice body kick.
Gator misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gator has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Wright.
Gator shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wright pinned against the cage. Wright gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tal Gator. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Wright fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gator, pushing him back against the cage.
Wright stops a takedown attempt from Gator.

Wright pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Wright darts in and clinches Gator up against the cage.
Gator drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Wright gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gator tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gator goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Wright is stalling here.
Gator on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Wright breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gator displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wright.
Wright shoots in for a takedown but Gator shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gator looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wright.
Shae Wright seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gator closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Gator thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Gator decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Wright moves into the clinch.
Wright taking a breather.
Gator goes for a takedown in the clinch but Wright prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wright stalling against the cage.

Wright breaks the clinch.
No luck for Gator with that takedown attempt.
Gator tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Wright defends well and Gator ends up having to push Wright into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Wright pushes Gator up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Wright manages to break the clinch.

Wright forces Gator back against the cage and clinches.

Wright successfully pulls guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shae Wright dominated that round.
That's time! Gator's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gator tries to score a power double leg takedown but Wright sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gator somewhat.
Gator blocks a head kick by Wright.
Wright misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wright lands a nice looking kick to the body. Gator takes a step back to recover.

Wright has closed the distance and engaged Gator in a clinch.
Gator wants to get back to striking at distance but Wright won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gator has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Wright uses from the top position.
Wright postures up.

Wright stands up from Gator's guard - Wright perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wright instigates a clinch.
Wright jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gator walks away with a smile on his face. Wright gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Wright has closed the distance and engaged Gator in a clinch.
Wright misses with a knee to the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Wright takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Shae Wright seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gator will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Wright up against the cage.

Wright breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wright has Gator up against the cage in a clinch.
Wright is trying to pull guard but Gator turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gator changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Wright fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Wright moves into the clinch.

Gator breaks the clinch.
Wright has a takedown stuffed.
Tal Gator has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shae Wright.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gator changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wright tries to avoid it but Gator manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wright to the ground. Wright escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shae Wright seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Wright darts in and clinches Gator up against the cage.
Gator drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Wright gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Gator is struggling to control the position.
Wright throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gator is trying to pull guard but Wright turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Wright escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gator throws a solid leg kick but Wright takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Gator.

Gator shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wright is trying to control but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Wright is defending against the submission attempts here by Gator.

Gator is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shae Wright showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Gator.

Wright pushes Gator up against the cage in a clinch.
Gator is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Wright gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gator blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gator wants to take the fight to the mat but Wright manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tal Gator. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wright controlling the action here for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gator takes an elbow to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright taking a breather.
Wright avoids a wild elbow strike from Gator.
Gator is working for takedown but Wright is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gator is trying to pull guard but Wright turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Wright pulls guard.

Gator drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gator jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gator postures up in Wright's guard and throws a big left but Wright blocks it.
Wright is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gator is controlling him.
Gator trying to control the position from guard on top but Wright is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gator scoring with punches to the head and body.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gator 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Wright manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Gator wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Wright has him pressed against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Gator - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Wright has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Wright breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gator closes the distance and clinches up with Wright, looking for a takedown. Gator pushes Wright against the cage but Wright circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wright tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gator defends well and Wright ends up having to push Gator into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gator shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wright as he jumps to the side.
Tal Gator is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wright throws a sloppy head kick and Gator moves out of range easily.
Gator swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Gator shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wright but Wright pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Wright pushes Gator up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gator is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Wright to keep the fight standing.
Gator can't get the takedown.
Gator is looking for a takedown.
Gator wants to get back to striking at distance but Wright won't allow it.
Wright holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Wright manages to pull guard.
Tal Gator has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gator drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gator jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Wright wants to sweep here but Gator controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shae Wright comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wright winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shae Wright!