PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rusty Gaines (ranked 25102 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Ali (ranked 3131 p4p, 344 weight class). Rusty Gaines has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Gaines
vs
Ali

225 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rusty Gaines!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Ali!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Joseph Jones and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ali is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gaines's half guard.
Gaines tries to get to full guard but Ali has control of the leg.
Ali thows a huge punch but Gaines dodges it nicely.
Ali missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gaines regains full guard. Nicely done.

Ali stands up from Gaines's guard - Ali perhaps looking for a knockout.
Gaines shoots in looking for a takedown but Ali manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gaines's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ali unleashes a big counter combination but Gaines bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Gaines misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ali gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gaines has Ali pushed against the cage.

Ali gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Gaines regains guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gaines is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali working a defensive guard here.
Ali working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gaines.
Ali trying to keep a closed guard but Gaines is proving a slippery customer.

Ali escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gaines gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gaines really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ali has a closed guard, preventing Gaines from standing up.

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.
Gaines trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Ali preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ali wants to stand but Gaines is controlling the position.
Ali wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Gaines manages to pass to side control.
Ali is looking to control Gaines's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ali avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Ali trying to hold on to Gaines's head to control him but Gaines postures up.

Gaines is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ali defends it well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Ali closes the distance and clinches.

Ali's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ali looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ali is keen to just control but Gaines is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Gaines slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ali won't allow Gaines to sweep him here.
Ali passes Gaines's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gaines has hold of Ali's hands but Ali slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ali wants to work for an arm triangle but Gaines is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Gaines looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Ali dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gaines moves in looking to clinch but Ali pushes him off.

Ali shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ali showed some decent athleticism there.
Gaines wants to get back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Gaines tries to roll over but Ali keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali is pressing down on Gaines's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gaines is holding on for now.
Still in half guard, Ali seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gaines actively working from the bottom here.
Ali seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gaines does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gaines is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Ali decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Ali rushes Gaines and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Ali has clasped his hands together around Gaines's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Gaines tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaines bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Ali is looking for a triangle here but Gaines uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee asks Gaines politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Gaines prefers to stall for the moment though.

Gaines is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ali knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ali tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaines wants to stand but Ali has his arm trapped.
Gaines working away.

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.
Ali manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ali tries to pass to full mount but Gaines defends it.
Gaines gets back to full guard.
Ali must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gaines is looking to sweep but instead, Ali has passed into half guard.
Gaines is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ali wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gaines keeps working.
Gaines tries to get to full guard but Ali has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chris Ali will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ali darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ali in particular looking to stall.

Gaines is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ali pulls his head out easily.
Ali is looking to take a break and control but Gaines is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali controlling the pace.
Ali tries to pass to full mount but Gaines defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali is just content to waste time from the top position. Gaines takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Gaines wants to stand up but Ali is controlling him.
Ali throws a big right hand that misses.
Gaines wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Ali manages to pass to side control.
Ali is looking to take a break and control but Gaines is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Gaines is trying to get back to full guard.
Ali wants to control but Gaines is keeping him busy.
Ali looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gaines with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ali wants to control but Gaines is keeping him busy.
Ali has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gaines is trying to stand back up but Ali is controlling him
Ali prevents Gaines from improving his position.

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

Ali looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gaines!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali avoids the strikes from the bottom by Gaines.
Gaines is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Ali wants to control but Gaines is keeping him busy.
Ali is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Gaines will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Gaines gets back to half guard.
Ali takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gaines tries to roll over but Ali keeps him under control.
Ali looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four 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.
Ali prevents Gaines from improving his position.
Gaines is staying active underneath Ali, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ali blocks the strikes from Gaines.
Ali with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ali working over Gaines with some ground and pound. Gaines looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ali seems to be looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Ali comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ali 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Ali!