PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jay Gatsby (ranked 157 p4p, 22 weight class) and Joe Walcott (ranked 1613 p4p, 218 weight class). 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.

Gatsby
vs
Walcott

175 cm
36
193 lbs
27 - 16 - 0

187 cm
28
190 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160
Aspire Clothing

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 27 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jay Gatsby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Walcott!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, David Schapiro and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gatsby connects with a looping right hand.
Walcott throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Gatsby misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Walcott counters with a stiff right hand.
Walcott avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A little jabbing left from Walcott on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Gatsby takes the fight into the clinch.
Gatsby blocks a punch to the side of the head.
I was talking to Gatsby's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Walcott misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gatsby blocking some punches.
Gatsby swings wildly with an uppercut but Walcott uses good head movement to avoid it.
Walcott lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gatsby backwards.
Nice body punch from Walcott.
Walcott misses with a punch to the body.
Gatsby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gatsby can't find room to land a body shot as Walcott controls the action.
Walcott pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gatsby lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gatsby misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Gatsby.
Gatsby lands a right hand that snaps the head of Walcott backwards.
Gatsby misses with a short punch on the inside.

Walcott escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gatsby feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Walcotts jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Gatsby slips a straight right by Walcott.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gatsby.
Gatsby misses with a low kick as Walcott jumps back.
Gatsby throws an overhand right that lands on Walcott's shoulder, as Walcott tries to avoid the shot.
Walcott throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gatsby throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gatsby takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Jay Gatsby has been cut.
Walcott's corner calls for a 1-2. Walcott obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gatsby misses with a leg kick
and Walcott counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Gatsby thuds a left hand into Walcott's body.
Gatsby lands a nice leg kick that just misses Walcott's sensitive parts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Gatsby. That's going to slow Walcott down.
Gatsby uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Gatsby thuds his right hand into Walcott's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gatsby misses with a wild body shot.
Walcott looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A leg kick checked by Gatsby.
Gatsby tries to close the distance and clinch but Walcott swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Walcott ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gatsby moves away.

Gatsby clinches with his opponent.
A left hand lands to the body for Walcott.

Walcott breaks from the clinch.
Gatsby lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Walcott at a distance.
Walcott ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Walcott uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gatsby.
Gatsby fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gatsby does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gatsby has managed to clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Gatsby.
Walcott working hard to break the clinch.
Gatsby tries a body shot but Walcott blocks it.
Gatsby can't find room to land a body shot as Walcott controls the action.
Walcott trying to control the position but instead, Gatsby has worked for underhooks and has pushed Walcott into the cage.
Gatsby misses with a short punch on the inside.
Walcott tries a body shot but Gatsby blocks it.
Gatsby prevents a body shot from Walcott.
Gatsby tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Gatsby fails to land.
Good body shot from Walcott.
Walcott tries a body shot but Gatsby blocks it.
Gatsby misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gatsby lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Walcott lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gatsby creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walcott blocks an uppercut.
Walcott throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Gatsby tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Walcott's elbow.
Gatsby lands a left hand.
Walcott has had enough of the clinch but Gatsby keeps him there for the moment.
Good body shot from Walcott.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gatsby tries to work over Walcott's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gatsby lands a nice uppercut.

Walcott breaks from the clinch.
Gatsby looks for the body kick but Walcott saw that one coming.
Walcott throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gatsby sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gatsby is looking to clinch.
It seemed like Walcott was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Walcott misses with a kick to the body.
Walcott takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gatsby. Walcott does a little dance to reset his feet.
Walcott follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

Gatsby throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Walcott tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gatsby is in Walcott's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Walcott is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Gatsby dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jay Gatsby's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Walcott tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gatsby was well out of range. Poor timing from Walcott.
Walcott fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gatsby has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gatsby misses with a wild body shot.
Walcott looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Gatsby tries to land a leg kick but Walcott saw it coming and moves away.
Walcott digs a good hook to Gatsby's body.
Walcott looks to throw the jab but Gatsby is out of range.
Walcott paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Walcott takes one to the chin there.
Gatsby connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Walcott misses with an uppercut. Gatsby saw that one coming.
Gatsby is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Walcott can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gatsby throws a big shot that misses.
Walcott scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Jab by Gatsby.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Walcott takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A shot to the liver by Walcott. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A cross from Gatsby lands.
Gatsby lands with a hook. Walcott tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gatsby throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Walcott.
Jab by Walcott.
Gatsby wants to clinch up but Walcott keeps it at a distance.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Walcott! But no joy.

Gatsby shoots in and gets a takedown into Walcott's guard.
Walcott looking for a sweep. Not yet Walcott, not yet.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Walcott pulls Gatsby in close to prevent any damage.
Gatsby content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gatsby stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Walcott swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gatsby postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatsby stands and throws Walcott's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gatsby fails to land a wild elbow strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gatsby misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Gatsby in the domination position with Walcott hanging on.
Gatsby looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Walcott is avoiding damage well.
Gatsby working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatsby fails to land a wild elbow strike.
An elbow from Gatsby crashes against the mat.
Gatsby trying to control the position but Walcott is working away.
Walcott wants to control but Gatsby postures up.
Check out the look on Gatsby's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Walcott parries the strikes from Gatsby easily there. Gatsby is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Walcott to escape.
Walcott regains half guard, as Gatsby was trying to land strikes.
Gatsby thows a huge punch but Walcott dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatsby drops an elbow to the side of Walcott's head.
Gatsby is nestled in close to Walcott, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gatsby is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gatsby missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Walcott is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Walcott avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gatsby.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Gatsby dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jay Gatsby's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A slapping leg kick lands for Gatsby.
Gatsby lands with a kick to the ribs.
Walcott slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Gatsby lands a really nice looking cross but Walcott seems unphased.
Walcott misses with a straight left.
Walcott throws a body kick that misses.

Gatsby darts in and clinches Walcott up against the cage.
Gatsby misses with a punch on the inside.
Walcott is trying to maintain a safe position but Gatsby gets an underhook and turns Walcott into the cage.
Gatsby lands a right hand.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Walcott.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gatsby pushes Walcott back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Walcott lands a hook that snaps the head of Gatsby backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gatsby misses with a punch on the inside.
Walcott tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Gatsby fails to land.
Gatsby swings wildly with an uppercut but Walcott uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walcott tries a body shot but Gatsby blocks it.
Gatsby tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Walcott scores with a nice short uppercut.
Walcott misses with a punch on the inside.
A body shot lands from Walcott.
A right hand to the body from Walcott.

Walcott breaks from the clinch.
Walcott connects with a jab.
Jay Gatsby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gatsby connects with a jab.
Walcott works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Gatsby moves into the clinch successfully.
Walcott stalling in the clinch.
Walcott lands with a light punch inside.
Gatsby misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Walcott.
Walcott misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gatsby blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gatsby.
Walcott scores with a hook to the body.
Walcott tries to throw a body punch but Gatsby avoids it by throwing Walcott back against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Walcott takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Walcott is trying to maintain a safe position but Gatsby gets an underhook and turns Walcott into the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Gatsby.
Walcott takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Gatsby lands with a right to the head.
Gatsby gets through Walcott's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Walcott is trying to break the clinch but Gatsby is controlling him.
Gatsby lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Walcott swings wildly with an uppercut but Gatsby uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gatsby blocking some punches.
Walcott has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Walcott misses with a punch to the body.
Gatsby doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gatsby fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walcott's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Walcott lands with a light punch inside.
Nice body punch from Gatsby.
Walcott can't find room to land a body shot as Gatsby controls the action.
Walcott cracks Gatsby with a nice body shot.
Walcott working aggressively here.
Gatsby lands with a right to the head.
Walcott misses with a short punch on the inside.
Walcott tries a body shot but Gatsby blocks it.
Walcott content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Walcott scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Walcott misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gatsby.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gatsby creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gatsby is working Walcott over against the cage.
Gatsby swings wildly with an uppercut but Walcott uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gatsby swings wildly with an uppercut but Walcott uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Walcott breaks the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gatsby tries to clinch up but Walcott circles away and keeps his distance.
Walcott uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gatsby.
Walcott misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gatsby.
Gatsby looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Gatsby has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Walcott finds it's way round the side to connect with Gatsby's head.
Walcott rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gatsby counters with a stiff right hand.
Walcott takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Walcott misses the jab.
Gatsby misses with a lunging right hand
and Walcott cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Gatsby moves into range and clinches up with Walcott.
Walcott misses with some punches.
Walcott lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Joe Walcott has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Walcott tries to work over Gatsby's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jay Gatsby.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gatsby, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight for Jay Gatsby!
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight for Jay Gatsby!
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight for Jay Gatsby!

Jay Gatsby wins by unanimous decision!
An intense looking Jay Gatsby took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'My life, old sport, my life... my life has got to be like this... It's got to keep going on.'.