PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raul Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sid Lagove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Lagove's choice of entrance music: little less conversation -Elvis JXL. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Gonzalez
vs
Lagove

180 cm
19
217 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

193 cm
19
210 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raul Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sid Lagove!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lagove shoots for a takedown but Gonzalez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Lagove shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gonzalez's guard.
Lagove throws and elbow that misses. Gonzalez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lagove's guard. Nice move by Gonzalez!
Lagove looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gonzalez is one step ahead there.
Lagove is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gonzalez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gonzalez has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagove throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Lagove is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lagove tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gonzalez controlling from the top position.
Gonzalez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lagove is keeping the position for now.

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.
Gonzalez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Lagove controls Gonzalez momentarily but Gonzalez frees himself.
Gonzalez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lagove trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lagove fails with the takedown.

Gonzalez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Lagove flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Lagove is refusing to be controlled, as Gonzalez sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lagove has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gonzalez is working away from the top position though.
Lagove tries to get to full guard but Gonzalez has control of the leg.
Lagove punching from the bottom.
Lagove wants to improve his position but Gonzalez is controlling well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gonzalez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lagove swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lagove has his takedown stuffed

and Gonzalez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lagove won't be happy with that.
Raul Gonzalez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sid Lagove.

Gonzalez decides to stand back up.
Lagove shoots and misses

and Gonzalez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lagove's guard now.
Lagove doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Lagove looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gonzalez is one step ahead there.
Gonzalez advances position into side control!
Lagove is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Gonzalez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lagove closes the distance looking to clinch

and Gonzalez counters with a single leg into guard. Lagove didn't expect that.
Raul Gonzalez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lagove wants to sweep but no luck.
Gonzalez trying to control the position from guard on top but Lagove is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lagove throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Lagove trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Lagove throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Lagove had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gonzalez is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Lagove Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gonzalez's back instead.
Gonzalez has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Lagove.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagove lands a shot to the body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lagove is controlling the position but Gonzalez somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Lagove throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gonzalez trying to control from the bottom.
Lagove winds up and cracks Gonzalez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Lagove throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gonzalez wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gonzalez trying to control but Lagove postures up.
Lagove thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gonzalez's head.
Lagove wants to take a breather but Gonzalez is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gonzalez tries for a takedown but Lagove circles away easily

and Lagove counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lagove with the ground and pound but Gonzalez regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

Gonzalez makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Gonzalez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Lagove counters with a takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lagove scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Gonzalez to see if he's OK.
Lagove scores with punches from side control.
Lagove tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Gonzalez managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Lagove.

Lagove stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Gonzalez has his takedown stuffed

and Lagove counters with a shoot takedown. Gonzalez fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raul Gonzalez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
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!
Lagove lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lagove throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gonzalez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lagove throwing strikes from guard but Gonzalez blocks nicely.
Lagove tries to free his leg and advance position but Gonzalez is retaining full guard.
Lagove must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gonzalez keeping moving, preventing Lagove from controlling successfully.
Lagove throwing strikes but missing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lagove trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sid Lagove showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Lagove gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gonzalez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Lagove is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gonzalez controlling the pace.
Gonzalez wants to free his trapped foot but Lagove is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gonzalez controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagove wants to get back to full guard.

Lagove actively working from the bottom here.
Gonzalez blocks the strikes from Lagove.
Lagove is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gonzalez shoots and misses

and Lagove counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gonzalez's guard now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lagove trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Gonzalez manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Lagove working a defensive guard here.
Lagove might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gonzalez kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Lagove controlling Gonzalez's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lagove wants to control but Gonzalez passes easily into half guard.
Lagove tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Lagove throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Gonzalez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Lagove gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lagove throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Lagove trying to keep a closed guard but Gonzalez is proving a slippery customer.
Lagove throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Gonzalez preventing the sweep.
Lagove working a defensive guard but Gonzalez manages to pass into side control anyway.
Lagove tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Gonzalez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lagove keeps working.

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 Raul Gonzalez.
I think Gonzalez 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Raul Gonzalez!