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Stepping Stone 97 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 16 wins and 8 losses; LLoyd Christmas! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Los Angeles, with a TWGC record of 18 wins and 3 losses; Gino Gambini!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, William Peck and Alec Ball.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Christmas drives through with a takedown into guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Christmas (2) vs (0) Gambini
Christmas looking to pass the guard.
Christmas wants to control from the top but Gambini keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gambini looking to hit a scissor sweep but Christmas is one step ahead there.
Gambini pulls Christmas in to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gambini wants to sweep here but Christmas controlling him for the moment.
Christmas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gambini is keeping the position for now.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gambini seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Gambini's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Christmas wants to control from the top but Gambini keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gambini looking for a sweep. Not yet Gambini, not yet.
Christmas engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gambini has Christmas pulled in close to control his posture.
Gambini looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Christmas slips nicely into half guard.
Gambini moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Christmas trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Gambini manages to land a sweep and now he's on top! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Christmas (2) vs (2) Gambini
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gambini stands and throws Christmas's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Christmas (2) vs (5) Gambini
Gambini moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Christmas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Christmas being controlled for a moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christmas is trying to control Gambini's posture but Gambini avoids it.
Christmas is trying to escape the position but Gambini is controlling the position.
Gambini is looking to take a break and control but Christmas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Christmas tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gambini wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Gambini takes a little break here. Christmas wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Let's hope that Gambini has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Christmas can't do much from the bottom here.
Christmas is trying to get back to half guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Christmas gets back to half guard.
Gambini wants to pass the guard but Christmas is defending well.
Gambini controlling the action here.
Christmas gets full guard.
Christmas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gambini manages to get himself to full guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Christmas (4) vs (5) Gambini
Gambini 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.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Christmas tries to free his leg and advance position but Gambini is retaining full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gambini holds on and takes a little breather.
Christmas content to stall in guard here.
Gambini controlling the position.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Gambini.
Christmas trying to control but Gambini is working from the bottom.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Gambini pulls Christmas in to control the position.
Christmas trying to control the position from guard on top but Gambini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gambini controlling the position.
Gambini wants to sweep but no luck.
Gambini keeping moving, preventing Christmas from controlling successfully.
Christmas being controlled here momentarily.
Christmas trying to control but Gambini is working from the bottom.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Christmas sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gambini looking to control.
Gambini manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Christmas manages to get himself to full guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Christmas (4) vs (7) Gambini
Christmas is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gambini is aware though and is defending well.
Christmas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Christmas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Christmas is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Gambini controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Christmas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Christmas being controlled here, momentarily.
Gambini is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gambini is pushing down on Christmas's leg trying to pass to half guard. Christmas is fighting to maintain full guard but Gambini has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gambini wants to take a breather but Christmas is having none of it.
Christmas tries to get to full guard but Gambini has control of the leg.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Gambini is trying to control the action in half guard but Christmas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Christmas is looking for a sweep. Gambini is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Christmas is working hard here to advance position.
Gambini perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Christmas is looking for a sweep. Gambini is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Well, if Gambini is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Christmas is controlling Gambini's trapped leg to prevent Gambini from advancing to side control.
Christmas continues to stall.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Christmas wants to get back to full guard but Gambini has mounted him! Score +3 for passing guard: Christmas (4) vs (10) Gambini
Christmas is trying desperately to improve position.
Christmas is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Advanced Fighting Systems, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Christmas bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Christmas (6) vs (10) Gambini
Christmas pushing down on Gambini's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gambini keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Gambini wants to get back to full guard.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Christmas wants to work for an arm triangle but Gambini is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Christmas wants to pass to mount but Gambini is defending the position.
Christmas is keen to just control but Gambini is a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gambini is looking to improve his position.
Gambini holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
And that's the end of the fight!
Gambini wins on points by 10 to 6.
Gino Gambini seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website. |
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