PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Gardner (ranked 6162 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelo Rios (ranked 6161 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gardner
vs
Rios

188 cm
20
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
19
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Stephen Gardner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcelo Rios!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rios shoots in but Gardner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rios shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gardner as he jumps to the side.

Rios clinches with his opponent.

Gardner jumps into guard, dragging Rios to the mat.
Gardner keeping moving, preventing Rios from controlling successfully.
Gardner pulls Rios in close to his closed guard and prevents Rios from doing any damage or advancing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gardner wants to sweep but no luck.

Gardner has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rios can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner is trying to keep Rios in close.
Rios wants to control from the top but Gardner keeps moving.
Gardner manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rios manages to get himself to full guard.

Rios wants to stand up but Gardner is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gardner is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two 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.
Rios is trying to control the position but Gardner postures up.

Rios working for a triangle but Gardner defends it easily.

Gardner 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 referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Gardner is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rios fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stephen Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelo Rios.
Gardner leaves Rios with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gardner misses with a two punch combination.

Gardner closes the distance and clinches.
Gardner is pressed up against the cage. Rios has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gardner down to the mat. Gardner avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gardner throws a head kick that misses.

Gardner gets caught flat footed, as Rios shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Gardner manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Rios tries for a takedown but Gardner manages to get underhooks.
Rios looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gardner gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rios.
Gardner just leaning against Rios, taking a breather.
Gardner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rios drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gardner pulls his leg out and moves away.

Gardner has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gardner is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rios keeps control of Gardner as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gardner wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rios has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Gardner dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gardner works Rios's body with a nice hook.
Gardner bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rios's head backwards.
Gardner tries to clinch there but Rios circles away.
Gardner lands a really nice looking cross but Rios seems unphased.
Rios shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stephen Gardner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gardner tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rios manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rios fails with the takedown.
Gardner tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Rios manages to circle out of the way.
Rios throws a body kick that misses
and Gardner counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rios shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stephen Gardner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelo Rios.
Gardner swats away the attempt to clinch by Rios.

Rios shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Gardner has one foot on Rios's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Rios is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rios tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gardner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gardner.
Gardner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gardner is looking for a counter combo.
A head kick misses from Gardner.

Gardner closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rios to the mat! Rios manages to get full guard.

Rios has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Gardner is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rios.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gardner controlling from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rios tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gardner wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gardner cracks Rios with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Gardner controls the position.
Rios tries to buck Gardner off but Gardner is having none of it.
Rios trying to control but Gardner flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rios tries to roll but Gardner sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardner really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Rios.
Gardner has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rios avoids the strikes from Gardner.

Rios defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Gardner's arms.

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.
Good control from Gardner.
Stephen Gardner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rios trying to control the hands but Gardner won't let him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gardner is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Rios trying to control but not successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rios avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Rios closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gardner did well to prevent Rios getting side control.
Gardner regains full guard. Nicely done.

Gardner is looking for a triangle but Rios pushes his legs off easily.

Rios avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gardner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rios can do to turn this around?

Rios drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gardner dives on top into guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rios trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rios wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gardner seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rios wants to improve his position but instead Gardner has moved into half guard.
Rios tries to get to full guard but Gardner has control of the leg.
Gardner performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rios wants to improve his position but Gardner is controlling well.
Rios trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Gardner controlling from the full mount.
Rios tries to hold on but Gardner pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardner throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Gardner throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Rios throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Gardner throws some wild stikes that Rios manages to avoid easily.
Rios is trying to reverse the position but instead Gardner has taken his back - oops!
Gardner just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Gardner misses with punches from the back.
Rios covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardner controls the position.
Gardner throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Rios really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gardner. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Gardner looking to break Rios's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Rios remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gardner will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gardner working for the choke.
Rios looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Gardner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gardner 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

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