PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mala Ika (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Gibson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gibson
vs
Ika

176 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

173 cm
20
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Gibson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mala Ika!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gibson tries to bum rush Ika with a series of wild strikes but Ika uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gibson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ika.
Ika rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gibson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ika throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Some wild striking there from Ika.
Gibson looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A jab from Ika misses.
Gibson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ika counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Gibson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gibson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ika.
Gibson wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ika stalling.

Ika wants to work for an arm triangle but Gibson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ika tries to pass to full mount but Gibson defends it.
Ika thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gibson's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ika prevents Gibson from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ika looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ika dodges the punch combination from Gibson.
Gibson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ika misses with a few strikes there.
Gibson checks a low kick from Ika.
Ika misses the shot to the body.
Ika misses with the combination.
Gibson swinging wilding here.
Gibson misses with a takedown

and Ika decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gibson's guard.

Ika thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Gibson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ika wants to control from the top but Gibson keeps moving.
Ika working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gibson looking for a guillotine here but Ika defends easily.
Ika pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gibson is keeping the position for now.
Ika looks gassed!

Ika avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gibson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Gibson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gibson looking for a sweep. Not yet Gibson, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ika avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gibson looking for a guillotine here but Ika defends easily.
Ika would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Gibson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gibson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ika's guard.
Gibson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Gibson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ika throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Ika feints and as Gibson raises his hands in defense, Ika changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Gibson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gibson looking for a guillotine here but Ika defends easily.
Ika must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Gibson throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Ika escapes and throws Gibson's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Gibson is looking for a sweep.
Gibson is working hard here to advance position.
Ika really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gibson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gibson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ika tries for a kimura but Gibson is defending well.
Ika is breathing heavily.
Ika trying to control the action but Gibson is working from the bottom.
Gibson is looking for a sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ika swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gibson counters with a one-two to the body.
Ika swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Gibson to counter with a crisp jab.
Gibson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Gibson has a takedown stuffed.
Gibson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gibson swinging wilding here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gibson throws a series of punches but Ika moves out of range.
Ika ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gibson moves away.
Ika lands with a kick to the ribs.
Ika throws a low kick but Gibson avoids it.
Ika is looking to slow Gibson down with leg kicks.
A combination from Ika does no damage.

Ika scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gibson is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Ika is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Ika landing strikes from the mount and Gibson is in trouble!
Gibson regains half guard.
Gibson tries to get to full guard but Ika has control of the leg.
Ika is looking to advance position but Gibson won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibson gets back to full guard.
Gibson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gibson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gibson works his way into full mount!

Gibson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Ika has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Gibson won't let Ika get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gibson goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ika is on top in guard.

Gibson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ika uses it to pass to side control.

Ika is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gibson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gibson is looking for a sweep.
Gibson looking for a sweep but Ika has passed into full mount! Oh no!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mala Ika will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gibson misses with a two punch combination.

Ika has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ika lands an elbow inside that Gibson shrugs off.
Gibson wants to break free but Ika has control.
Ika looking to throw knees to the head but Gibson is blocking nicely.
Ika lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Ika pulls guard successfully.
Gibsonis looking to pass into half guard but Ika pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Ika is in guard.

Gibson working for a triangle but Ika defends it easily.
Ika won't allow Gibson to sweep him here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gibson is looking for a triangle but Ika pushes his legs off easily.
Ika stopping the sweep attempt from Gibson.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gibson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gibson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ika doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ika manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Ika gets to his feet. Gibson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Some wild striking there from Gibson.
Gibson tries to land a body kick

and Ika counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ika.
Gibson managing to block the knees to the body from Ika.
Ika tries a knee to the head but Gibson blocks it.
Ika lands a damaging elbow.

Ika has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Gibson is trying to keep an underhook but Ika manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Ika prevents Gibson from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gibson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gibson is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Ika pulls his head out easily.

Ika gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Gibson misses with a double jab.
A combination from Ika does no damage.
Ika swinging wilding here.
Gibson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gibson misses with a series of wild punches.
Gibson misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ika moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ika is looking to clinch.
Ika connects with a solid leg kick.
Gibson with a poor takedown

and Ika counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gibson gets back to full guard.

Ika decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gibson, up you get!
Gibson swinging wilding here.

Ika scores a takedown into full mount!
Ika scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Gibson?

Gibson is rocked!

It looks like Michael Gibson has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gibson is looking to improve his position but Ika isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gibson wants to pass the guard but Ika is keeping the position.
Ika tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Ika throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ika is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gibson looking to pass the guard.
Mala Ika has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gibson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ika is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ika has escaped and now he's on top!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mala Ika comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ika has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mala Ika!