PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gamzat Gamzatov (ranked 1643 p4p, 1286 weight class) and Roc Le Phat (ranked 212 p4p, 163 weight class). Gamzatov comes to the cage accompanied by Entrance Song. Le Phat is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bonita Applebum. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Gamzatov
vs
Le Phat

188 cm
31
203
17 - 14 - 0

189 cm
27
192
13 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gamzat Gamzatov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roc Le Phat!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gamzatov blocks a jab.

Gamzatov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Gamzatov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Le Phat knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gamzatov is looking to take a break and control but Le Phat is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Le Phat tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gamzatov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gamzatov working away.
The ground and pound from Gamzatov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gamzatov trying to control the action but Le Phat is working from the bottom.
Gamzatov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Le Phat manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Le Phat is pressing down on Gamzatov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gamzatov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gamzatov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Le Phat controls Gamzatov momentarily but Gamzatov frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gamzatov trying to control but Le Phat is working from the bottom.
Le Phat is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Le Phat keeping moving, preventing Gamzatov from controlling successfully.

Le Phat is looking for a triangle but Gamzatov pushes his legs off easily.
Le Phat keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Gamzatov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Le Phat seems keen to control Gamzatov's posture.
Le Phat trying to keep a closed guard but Gamzatov is proving a slippery customer.
Gamzatov wants to control from the top but Le Phat keeps moving.
Gamzatov landing some decent shots from guard.

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.
Gamzatov wants to control from the top but Le Phat keeps moving.

Gamzatov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gamzatov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Le Phat's guard.
Le Phat tries to get to full guard but Gamzatov has control of the leg.

Gamzatov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gamzatov trying to control from half guard but Le Phat is working away.
Le Phat is trying to get back to full guard.
Gamzatov lands strikes from half guard.
Le Phat is pressing down on Gamzatov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gamzatov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Le Phat has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gamzatov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Le Phat tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Le Phat manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gamzatov manages to get himself to full guard.

Le Phat pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gamzatov is keeping the position for now.
Le Phat throws a big elbow that misses.
Le Phat throws a big right hand that misses.
Le Phat is working Gamzatov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gamzatov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Le Phat is one step ahead there.
My spies in Kung Pao inform me that Le Phat has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Le Phat looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Le Phat wants to stand but Gamzatov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Le Phat preventing the sweep.
Gamzatov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gamzatov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Le Phat trying to control the position from guard on top but Gamzatov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Le Phat with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Le Phat looking to pass the guard.
Le Phat wants to control from the top but Gamzatov keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roc Le Phat will probably get the nod.
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.

Le Phat throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gamzatov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Le Phat scores with a nice right hand.

Le Phat closes the distance and clinches.
Le Phat tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gamzatov's elbow.
Le Phat creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Gamzatov's defenses.

It looks like Gamzat Gamzatov has been cut.
Le Phat lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Le Phat.

Le Phat escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Le Phat throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gamzatov attempts a counter takedown but Le Phat avoids it well and moves away.
Le Phat pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gamzatov feinted with a counter takedown.
Le Phat misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Le Phat connects with a solid leg kick.
Good exchange - Le Phat coming out on top.
Le Phat takes a swing at Gamzatov's ribcage but misses.
Le Phat lands with a hook. Gamzatov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gamzat Gamzatov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Le Phat closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Le Phat goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gamzatov is looking to take this one to the mat.
Le Phat lands with a light punch inside.
Le Phat lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Le Phat lands a body punch in the clinch.
Le Phat looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Le Phat has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Le Phat throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Le Phat can't find room to land a body shot as Gamzatov controls the action.
Le Phat struggles to land a body shot inside as Gamzatov controls his hands.
Le Phat prevents a takedown attempt there.
Le Phat lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gamzatov backwards.
Le Phat lands a body punch.
Gamzatov tries for a takedown but Le Phat manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gamzat Gamzatov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gamzatov is working for takedown but Le Phat is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gamzatov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Le Phat pulls his leg out and moves away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Le Phat throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nice combo by Le Phat! Oh, that's hurt him - Gamzatov falls to the canvas and Le Phat follows him into side control.

Gamzatov is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
The strikes coming from Le Phat are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Oh Gamzatov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Le Phat tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Le Phat has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Le Phat lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Le Phat in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Gamzatov looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Le Phat turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Roc Le Phat!
Roc Le Phat decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.