PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Diego Gaspar (ranked 2173 p4p, 113 weight class) and Rico Dominguez (ranked 3301 p4p, 186 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Gaspar
vs
Dominguez

169 cm
24
139 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

162 cm
25
145 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Diego Gaspar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rico Dominguez!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dominguez throws a low kick but Gaspar moves out of range easily.
Dominguez lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Gaspar gets tackled into the cage by Dominguez. Dominguez maintains the clinch.
Dominguez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Still in the clinch, Dominguez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Dominguez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dominguez.
Gaspar with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dominguez tries to throw a body punch but Gaspar avoids it by throwing Dominguez back against the cage.
Dominguez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dominguez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gaspar blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Dominguez jumps into guard, dragging Gaspar to the mat.
Our spies down at at St Petersburg MMA Gym inform us that Dominguez has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Dominguez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gaspar is one step ahead there.

Gaspar has gone for a leg lock! Dominguez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gaspar's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominguez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gaspar's head.
Dominguez wants to control from the top but Gaspar keeps moving.
Dominguez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gaspar is keeping the position for now.
Dominguez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gaspar's head.

Gaspar is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dominguez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Dominguez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gaspar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dominguez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dominguez 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.
Dominguez trying to control but Gaspar is working from the bottom.
Dominguez postures up.
Gaspar is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dominguez is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Gaspar pulls Dominguez in to control the position.
Dominguez lands a couple of digs.
Dominguez throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gaspar trying to control the position.
Dominguez sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaspar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dominguez trying to control but Gaspar is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Dominguez postures up in Gaspar's guard and throws a big left but Gaspar blocks it.
Dominguez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dominguez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Dominguez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gaspar sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gaspar throws a hook but Dominguez avoids it easily.

Dominguez moves into the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Dominguez throws an elbow but misses.
Dominguez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaspar tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dominguez avoids it.
Dominguez dodges an elbow strike from Gaspar.
Still in the clinch, Dominguez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Dominguez digs a right hand into Gaspar's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gaspar's gas tank.
Dominguez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gaspar backwards.
Dominguez slows down the pace here.
Gaspar taking a breather.
Dominguez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Dominguez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A left hand lands to the body for Dominguez.
Dominguez misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Gaspar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dominguez stalks Gaspar and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gaspar's face. Gaspar staggers backwards, shaken.
Gaspar slips a jab from Dominguez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Dominguez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dominguez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gaspar.
Dominguez moves out of range of the strikes.
Gaspar throws the left hand but Dominguez avoids the punch easily.
Gaspar waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dominguez.
A jab from Dominguez misses.
Dominguez with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gaspar to score with a decent uppercut.
The fighters circling - Gaspar throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Dominguez forces Gaspar back against the cage and clinches.
Gaspar trying to stall but Dominguez improves his position.

Gaspar breaks the clinch.
Rico Dominguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gaspar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dominguez connects with a body shot that sends Gaspar's belly button to the back.
Dominguez moves out of range of the strikes.
Gaspar throws a hook to the side of Dominguez's head but Dominguez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dominguez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gaspar.

Dominguez has Gaspar up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominguez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gaspar slowing the pace effectively.
Dominguez swings wildly with an uppercut but Gaspar uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dominguez.
Dominguez avoiding damage as Gaspar throws knees to the body.
Dominguez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dominguez pressing his opponent against the cage.
Dominguez lands with a light punch inside.
Dominguez tries a body shot but Gaspar blocks it.
Gaspar taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gaspar misses with an elbow strike.
Gaspar with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gaspar displaying some good clinch control by pressing Dominguez up against the cage.
Dominguez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dominguez stalling.
Gaspar blocking some punches.
Gaspar holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Dominguez blocks an elbow strike from Gaspar.
Dominguez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gaspar's efforts to push away.
Gaspar tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dominguez avoids it.
Dominguez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dominguez scores with a shoulder strike.
Dominguez lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rico Dominguez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaspar is trying to maintain a safe position but Dominguez gets an underhook and turns Gaspar into the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gaspar takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Gaspar displaying some good clinch control by pressing Dominguez up against the cage.
Gaspar trying to stall but Dominguez improves his position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Diego Gaspar.
Gaspar takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Dominguez moves out of range as Gaspar strikes.
Dominguez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Dominguez connects with the punch.
Rico Dominguez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dominguez swinging wildly here.
Dominguez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gaspar's head.
A telegraphed right hand from Dominguez misses the target.

Dominguez gets a clinch.
Dominguez scores with a shot to the side of Gaspar's head.
Dominguez swings wildly with an uppercut but Gaspar uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dominguez tries to work over Gaspar's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dominguez has a couple of punches blocked by Gaspar.
Dominguez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gaspar misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gaspar keeps control of Dominguez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gaspar scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Dominguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Gaspar takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Dominguez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dominguez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Dominguez tries to clinch up.
Gaspar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dominguez doesn't manage to clinch there - Gaspar circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gaspar. Dominguez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gaspar loads up on a big right hand but Dominguez slips the punch.
Dominguez tries to clinch up.
It looked like Gaspar was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Dominguez.
Gaspar takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dominguez misses with a few strikes there.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gaspar blocks an elbow strike.
Gaspar blocks a body shot from Dominguez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominguez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Gaspar misses with an elbow over the top.
Dominguez is trying to pull guard but Gaspar has him pressed against the cage.
Dominguez presses Gaspar against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Gaspar letting Dominguez take a breather here.
Dominguez cracks Gaspar with a nice body shot.

Dominguez breaks the clinch.
Gaspar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dominguez manages to avoid it.
Diego Gaspar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dominguez. Gaspar does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dominguez misses with an uppercut. Gaspar saw that one coming.
Dominguez misses with a body kick.

Dominguez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dominguez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Dominguez as Gaspar tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gaspar just misses with a elbow thrown towards Dominguez's brow.

Gaspar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dominguez lands a body shot.
Gaspar throws a jab but it's blocked by Dominguez.
Dominguez comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Dominguez slips a straight right by Gaspar.
Dominguez tries to clinch there but Gaspar circles away.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dominguez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Dominguez tries to clinch but Gaspar is having none of it.
Diego Gaspar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A combination from Dominguez does no damage.
Dominguez misses with a low kick.
Dominguez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gaspar counters with a nice uppercut.
Dominguez throws a head kick that misses.
Gaspar misses with an uppercut. Dominguez saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Dominguez.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gaspar checks a leg kick.
Dominguez throws a combination that misses
and Gaspar counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A big left from Gaspar misses.
Gaspar misses with a straight left.
Dominguez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Dominguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gaspar checks a leg kick.
Gaspar is looking to counter punch.

Dominguez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gaspar manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Gaspar had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dominguez defends it easily.
Gaspar looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gaspar can't do much from the bottom here.
Dominguez trying to control the position but Gaspar is working away.
Dominguez creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Dominguez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gaspar keeps working.
Dominguez working the head with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gaspar tries to buck Dominguez off but Dominguez is having none of it.
Dominguez in side control lands a decent elbow.
Dominguez cracks Gaspar with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Dominguez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dominguez lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Gaspar down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rico Dominguez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dominguez 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Dominguez!
A victorious Rico Dominguez thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.