PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Speedy Gamboa (ranked 8691 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jez Beltran (ranked 23838 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gamboa
vs
Beltran

171 cm
26
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

169 cm
21
153 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Speedy Gamboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jez Beltran!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Eliza Hachem and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gamboa blocks a head kick by Beltran.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gamboa!

Beltran clinches up with Gamboa and pushes him back against the cage.
Gamboa blocks a body shot from Beltran.
Beltran prevents a takedown attempt there.
Beltran is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gamboa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Beltran using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gamboa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Beltran escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Gamboa moves into range and clinches up with Beltran.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beltran pushes off an throws an elbow but Gamboa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Gamboa has had enough of the clinch but Beltran keeps him there for the moment.
Beltran misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gamboa blocks a body shot from Beltran.
Gamboa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Beltran has picked Gamboa up - he's going for a ride! Beltran dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Gamboa makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Gamboa goes for a double leg but Beltran avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Beltran continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Speedy Gamboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gamboa tries for a takedown but Beltran sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gamboa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Beltran shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gamboa as he jumps to the side.
A quick step to the side and Gamboa tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Beltran closes the distance and clinches up with Gamboa, looking for a takedown. Beltran pushes Gamboa against the cage but Gamboa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gamboa throws a sloppy head kick and Beltran moves out of range easily.
Beltran is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Gamboa has Beltran up against the cage in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gamboa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Beltran is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gamboa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gamboa drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Beltran looking to throw knees to the head but Gamboa is blocking nicely.
Gamboa tries to pull guard but Beltran holds him up against the cage and eventually Gamboa drops back down to his feet.
Gamboa wants to break the clinch but can't.

Beltran breaks the clinch.
Gamboa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gamboa throws a half hearted mid kick.

Beltran fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gamboa sprawls well initially but Beltran persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gamboa has his hands clasped together around Beltran's back. He's all about the action.
Beltran is trying to control the action in half guard but Gamboa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Beltran tries to stand and escape but Gamboa is controlling the position.
Gamboa trying to control here.
It looks like Beltran is going to stand back up.
Beltran wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gamboa keeps working.

That's four 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.

Gamboa manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Beltran misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Beltran.
As Beltran tries to get set, Gamboa tries to push him back and clinch up but Beltran manages to avoid the attempt.
Gamboa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Beltran sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gamboa somewhat.
Beltran is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Beltran misses with a series of wild punches.
Gamboa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Beltran.
Gamboa half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Beltran shoots in looking for a takedown. Gamboa tries to sprawl out of it but Beltran keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gamboa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
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 Speedy Gamboa will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Beltran avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gamboa shoots in looking for a takedown but Beltran manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gamboa's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Beltran instigates a clinch.
Gamboa digs a right hand underneath Beltran's ribcage. Beltran let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Gamboa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Beltran misses with some punches.
Beltran using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gamboa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Gamboa manages to pull guard.
Gamboa controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gamboa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Beltran's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beltran wants to control from the top but Gamboa keeps moving.

Gamboa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gamboa is trying to keep Beltran in close.
Gamboa can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Beltran controls the pace.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
No luck for Beltran with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gamboa or perhaps it was just good defense by Beltran, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Speedy Gamboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gamboa dives in for a single leg takedown but Beltran sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Beltran drives through with a takedown into Gamboa's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Gamboa uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Gamboa shoots in for a double leg but Beltran sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Despite the aggression on Beltran's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Beltran throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gamboa was covering up waiting for the punch and Beltran finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Gamboa has his feet on Beltran's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Gamboa has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beltran with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gamboa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Beltran has Gamboa up against the cage in a clinch.
Beltran has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gamboa avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gamboa is trying to stall.
Gamboa tries to pull guard but Beltran holds him up against the cage and eventually Gamboa drops back down to his feet.
Beltran is trying to drag Gamboa to the mat but Gamboa just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gamboa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beltran has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gamboa after a bit of a struggle.
Beltran misses with a short punch on the inside.

Beltran manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gamboa is defended easily by Beltran.
Beltran looks to land a combination but Gamboa avoids it well.
Gamboa throws a series of punches but Beltran moves out of range.
Gamboa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gamboa wants to clinch up but Beltran keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Speedy Gamboa will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Gamboa tries to clinch there but Beltran circles away.
Gamboa fails to land the takedown.
Jez Beltran seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Beltran fails with a takedown attempt.
Gamboa goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Beltran wants to counter the offense by Gamboa and move into the clinch position.
Gamboa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Beltran tries to avoid it but Gamboa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Beltran to the ground. Beltran escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Beltran raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Gamboa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Speedy Gamboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beltran swats away the attempt to clinch by Gamboa.
Beltran shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gamboa as he avoids it easily.
Gamboa was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gamboa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beltran goes for a double leg but Gamboa avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gamboa continues to drive forward.
Gamboa is looking to clinch.
As Gamboa backs off Beltran throws a huge counter combo but Gamboa manages to avoid it all.
Gamboa bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gamboa.
Beltran changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Beltran moves into the clinch.
Gamboa is working for takedown but Beltran is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gamboa tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gamboa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gamboa is trying to drag Beltran to the mat but Beltran just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gamboa is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Beltran to keep the fight standing.

Beltran breaks the clinch.
Beltran misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Beltran. Gamboa does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Gamboa on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Gamboa avoids the body shot from Beltran.
Beltran tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Beltran drives through with a takedown into Gamboa's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Gamboa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gamboa trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beltran wants to control from the top but Gamboa keeps moving.
Beltran tries to free his leg and advance position but Gamboa is retaining full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Beltran tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Beltran doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gamboa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Beltran keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Beltran shoots for a takedown but Gamboa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Beltran displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gamboa.
Gamboa darts in looking for a takedown but Beltran gets double underhooks and turns Gamboa into the cage.
Beltran flicks out a counter leg kick but Gamboa steps away.
Beltran closes the distance and clinches up with Gamboa, looking for a takedown. Beltran pushes Gamboa against the cage but Gamboa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gamboa fails to land the takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gamboa tries to keep at a distance but Beltran has taken the fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jez Beltran comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gamboa has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!