PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Gavin (ranked 288 p4p, 295 weight class) and Valen Dreth (ranked 33 p4p, 34 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gavin
vs
Dreth

168 cm
28
145
11 - 2 - 0

175 cm
26
148
11 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conviction
Voodoo Nutrition

Conviction
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Gavin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Valen Dreth!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gavin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Dreth crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Gavin - the referee stops the clock and Dreth gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Gavin. Dreth manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Gavin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Dreth. Dreth obviously looking to wear him down.
Gavin looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Gavin moves into range and clinches up with Dreth.

Dreth manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Dreth trying to control the position.
Gavin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Gavin stands and steps away. Dreth gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gavin misses with a two punch combination.

Dreth looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Dreth passes Gavin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dreth prevents Gavin from standing back up.

Dreth is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gavin defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gavin wants to get back to his feet.
Gavin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dreth trying to control from half guard but Gavin is working away.
Gavin is in trouble now - Dreth has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dreth won't let Gavin get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The referee warns Gavin that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dreth tries to control but Gavin wriggling away.
Gavin tries to buck Dreth off but he can't manage it.
Dreth lands a big shot there that rocks Gavin but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Gavin is trying to stand.
Gavin stops Dreth from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dreth won't let Gavin get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Dreth wants to control the pace but Gavin is squirming around nicely.
Gavin really wants to buck Dreth off and get back to his feet.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Dreth lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Gavin is trying to stand.
Gavin prevents Dreth from taking his back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gavin wants to get back to his feet.
Gavin 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.
Dreth has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gavin blocking the ground and pound.
Gavin is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Dreth tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Dreth there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Dreth looking to secure an arm triangle but Gavin defends it well.
Gavin is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Dreth misses with a head shot.
Gavin is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Dreth has control of Gavin's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Gavin regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Gavin is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Dreth misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gavin bucks Dreth off and manages to get back to his feet!
Gavin tries to clinch but Dreth moves out of range.
Gavin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dreth.
Gavin fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Dreth checks it well.
Gavin throws a right hand that Dreth ducks under and follows up with a left that Dreth also avoids with ease.
Dreth throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gavin misses with a straight right.
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!
Gavin fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Dreth has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gavin misses with a hook.
Gavin throws an off balance right hand

and Dreth counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dreth.

Gavin manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Dreth looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gavin is fending him off so far but Dreth persists. Nope, Gavin circles away and we're back to standing.
A bone on bone clash there as Gavin blocks the leg kick.
Gavin throws a hook but Dreth avoids it easily.
Gavin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Valen Dreth dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gavin fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Dreth has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Dreth walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Gavin throws out a loose jab but Dreth uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tommy Gavin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gavin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dreth is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Gavin with a body shot.
Dreth checks a leg kick.

Dreth gets tackled into the cage by Gavin. Gavin maintains the clinch.

Dreth breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gavin misses with a leg kick

and Dreth counters with a takedown into side control.

Gavin bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gavin throws a jab but it's blocked by Dreth.
Dreth throws out a counter right but Gavin avoids it with no problem.
Gavin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dreth moves away.
Tommy Gavin is winning the standup battle so far.
Dreth throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gavin lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Gavin thuds his right hand into Dreth's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Dreth does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Tommy Gavin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dreth avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Gavin takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gavin throws a leg kick but Dreth moved away.
Nice sprawl there from Gavin as Dreth shoots in.
Gavin half committed to a counter leg kick.
Dreth connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gavin. Gavin circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nice body punch from Gavin.
No joy there for Dreth, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gavin feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Gavin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gavin looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gavin connects with a leg kick.
Gavin misses with a hook. Dreth ducked under it nicely.
Gavin moves out of range of the leg kick from Dreth.
Gavin appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Dreth lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gavin circles away quickly and effectively.

Dreth feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gavin is looking to stand up but Dreth isn't so interested in that idea.

Gavin has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Dreth has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Gavin.
Gavin lands with a light punch inside.
Dreth is trying to break the clinch but Gavin is controlling him.
Dreth misses with some punches.
Gavin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gavin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dreths head.
Gavin cracks Dreth with a nice body shot.
Gavin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Dreth backwards.
Dreth prevents a body shot from Gavin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gavin throws a head punch that misses.
Gavin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gavin takes a shot to the head.
Dreth lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch on the inside from Gavin fails to land.
Dreth softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Dreth lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Dreth breaks from the clinch.
Dreth misses with an uppercut. Gavin saw that one coming.
Dreth walks into a stiff left hand from Gavin.
Gavin shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Dreth looks to land a combination. Gavin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Dreth looks to land a right hand but Gavin moved out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gavin misses with a hook. Dreth ducked under it nicely.
Gavin throws a hook but Dreth avoids it easily.
Gavin darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Gavin gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dreth lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gavin lands a body shot.
Gavin lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Gavin misses with the head strike.

Dreth pulls Gavin into guard.
Gavin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dreth is proving hard to escape from.

Dreth is looking for a triangle but Gavin pushes his legs off easily.

Gavin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Gavin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gavin connects with a crisp jab.
Gavin tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Dreth is able to avoid easily.
Dreth throws the left hand but Gavin avoids the punch easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gavin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Gavin ducks under a wild hook from Dreth.
Gavin fires out a quick counter leg kick but Dreth just manages to avoid it.
Gavin swings for the body but Dreth moves out of range.

Dreth gets tackled into the cage by Gavin. Gavin maintains the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Gavin dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A combination from Dreth does no damage.
Gavin tries to close the distance and clinch but Dreth swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gavin fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Gavin feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Dreths jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Dreth throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Gavin misses its target.
Dreth steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gavin.
Dreth darts in looking for a takedown but Gavin gets double underhooks and turns Dreth into the cage.
Nice uppercut there from Gavin.
Gavin looks to land a left hand but Dreth moved out of range nicely.
Gavin slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gavin throws a good cross that connects.
Decent striking displayed by Gavin there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gavin.
Dreth ducks right into an uppercut from Gavin.
Dreth walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Dreth does no damage.
Gavin feints and then cracks Dreth's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Dreth down.
Gavin feints and then cracks Dreth's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Dreth down.
Dreth works Gavin's body with a nice hook.
Gavin feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Dreths jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Dreth uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gavin.
Dreth with the counter takedown but Gavin avoids it easily.

Gavin moves into the clinch successfully.
Dreth blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dreth.
Gavin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dreth doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gavin lands an uppercut.
Gavin scores with a nice hook to the head.
Still in the clinch, Gavin scores with a nice short uppercut.
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!
Gavin cracks Dreth with a nice body shot.
Gavin tries a body shot but Dreth blocks it.
Gavin keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dreth's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Dreth fails to land.
Gavin misses with a body punch.
Dreth has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gavin works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Dreth is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Dreth prevents a body shot from Gavin.
Dreth jumps guard but Gavin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tommy Gavin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valen Dreth.
Dreth misses with some punches.
Gavin tries a body shot but Dreth blocks it.
Gavin swings wildly with an uppercut but Dreth uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dreth jumps guard but Gavin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Dreth's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dreth throws a lazy right hand but Gavin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Gavin takes the fight into the clinch.
Gavin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gavin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dreth fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gavin makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Dreth wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gavin has him pressed against the cage.
Gavin swings wildly with an uppercut but Dreth uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dreth blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tommy Gavin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gavin tries to work over Dreth's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gavin lands a right hand.
Gavin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dreth blocks a body shot from Gavin.
Dreth blocks a body shot from Gavin.
Gavin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gavin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gavin.
Dreth is working Gavin over against the cage.
Dreth jumps guard but Gavin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Dreth wants to get back to striking at distance but Gavin won't allow it.
Dreth working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Gavin lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Gavin fails to land.
Dreth struggles to land a body shot inside as Gavin controls his hands.
Dreth's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Gavin can't find room to land a body shot as Dreth controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gavin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dreth's elbow.
Dreth blocking some punches.
Dreth blocks a punch to the side of the head.
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!

Dreth breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch lands to the side of Gavin 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Dreth takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gavin throws a chopping leg kick but Dreth manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Dreth.
Gavin is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Dreth is controlling him well.

Dreth thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Valen Dreth has got the better of the ground game so far.

Dreth tries for a kimura but Gavin is defending well.
Dreth takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Dreth tries for a kimura but Gavin is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Gavin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gavin 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Gavin!
After winning the bout, Tommy Gavin thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.