PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Ortz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alphonso Gatti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ortz
vs
Gatti

180 cm
21
175 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
174 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen Ortz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Alphonso Gatti!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gatti closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ortz is trying to get back to full guard.
Ortz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gatti is working away from the top position though.
Well, if Gatti is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gatti's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Ortz with the active half guard here but Gatti passes nicely into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gatti avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ortz.
Ortz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ortz content to control rather than advance.
Gatti tries to roll over but Ortz keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ortz is looking for a kimura but Gatti is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ortz to get the leverage.
Ortz wants to pass the guard but Gatti is defending well.
Gatti tries to get to full guard but Ortz has control of the leg.
Ortz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gatti wants to control but Ortz is keeping busy.
Ortz wants to control but Gatti is keeping him busy.
Ortz prevents Gatti from improving his position.
Gatti keeping control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortz moves nicely into side control.
Gatti gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Gatti is looking to improve his position but Ortz isn't that keen on the idea.
A nice elbow there by Ortz.
Ortz lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gatti hang on?
Gatti working to try and regain half guard.

Ortz is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gatti can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortz looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ortz trying to control but Gatti is having none of it.

Ortz is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Gatti is surviving well by controlling Ortz's body position as best he can.
Gatti wants to control but Ortz is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ortz wants to control the pace but Gatti is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Ortz dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gatti tries for a takedown but Ortz circles away easily
and Ortz counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Stephen Ortz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gatti with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ortz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gatti tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ortz swivels and escapes.
Ortz swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Stephen Ortz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alphonso Gatti.

Ortz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ortz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gatti is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ortz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortz advances position into side control!
Ortz wants to control for a moment but Gatti uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatti is refusing to be controlled, as Ortz sits in half guard.
Ortz moves nicely into side control.
Gatti stops Ortz from passing to mount.
Gatti manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ortz's best efforts.
Ortz throwing shots but Gatti is blocking nicely.

That's two 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.
Ortz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gatti does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gatti is in trouble now - Ortz has advanced to mount!
Gatti is desperately trying to improve his position but Ortz has a good base and remains in mount.
Ortz landing strikes from the mount.
Ortz looking to control and managing it successfully.
Ortz avoids the attempt from Gatti to control.
Stephen Ortz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ortz breaks from Gatti's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Gatti takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatti working to try and regain half guard.
Ortz wants to control but Gatti has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Gatti tries to roll over but Ortz keeps him under control.
Ortz is trying to control. Gatti wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gatti gets full guard.
Ortz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Gatti escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ortz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ortz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gatti is adopting a defensive guard.

Gatti looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Ortz dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ortz scores with a hook to the body. Gatti takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ortz.
Gatti fails with the takedown
and Ortz counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Jab from Ortz.
Ortz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Gatti fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ortz to the ground. Gatti is now in Ortz's guard.

Ortz has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Gatti has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Gatti takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gatti is working for takedown but Ortz is calmly controlling the position for now.

Ortz has picked Gatti up - he's going for a ride! Ortz dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Ortz is thwarting Gatti's attempts to control the position.

Ortz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortz trying to control from half guard but Gatti is working away.

Ortz is trying to work for a kimura but Gatti is defending well.
Ortz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gatti can do to turn this around?
Gatti wants to get back to full guard.

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.
Gatti missing with punches from the bottom.
Gatti avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ortz.
Gatti is staying active underneath Ortz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Gatti looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gatti is defending against the submission attempts here by Ortz.

Ortz is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatti trying to control but Ortz postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gatti shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ortz sprawls well. Ortz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gatti gets slowly back to his feet.
Stephen Ortz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alphonso Gatti.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gatti is defended easily by Ortz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gatti shoots and misses
and Ortz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gatti.
Gatti darts in looking for a takedown but Ortz gets double underhooks and turns Gatti into the cage.
Ortz works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gatti enables Ortz to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gatti manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Gatti throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Ortz escapes and throws Gatti's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Gatti is not content to let Ortz control the position.
Alphonso Gatti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stephen Ortz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ortz moves into full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Ortz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ortz 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Ortz!