PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Umaru Usman (ranked 25278 p4p, 25034 weight class) and Ryder Gauthier (ranked 560 p4p, 563 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Usman
vs
Gauthier

189 cm
18
190
1 - 3 - 0

192 cm
19
195
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Champion Apparel

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Umaru Usman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryder Gauthier!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Josh West and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Usman misses with a takedown attempt
and Usman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Usman shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice takedown defense from Gauthier. No joy for Usman on that attempt.
Gauthier tries to counter with a clinch but Usman shakes him off and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Umaru Usman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gauthier jabs Usman right on the nose. Usman blinks but takes it well.
Usman tries for a takedown but Gauthier circles away easily
and Gauthier counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Usman takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Usman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gauthier counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Usman looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Usman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gauthier counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gauthier lunges at Usman with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Usman's hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Usman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Usman shoots for a double leg takedown but Gauthier sprawls well. He's pushed Usman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Gauthier moves into the clinch successfully.
Usman can't get the takedown.
Gauthier just leaning against Usman, taking a breather.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Gauthier.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gauthier connects with a knee to the head.
Gauthier stalling against the cage.
Gauthier lands a shoulder strike.
A shot in the inside from Gauthier.
Gauthier lands a hook that snaps the head of Usman backwards.
Usman is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gauthier gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gauthier lands a left hand.
Gauthier comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Gauthier.
A short body shot lands from Gauthier as the two fighters clinch.
Gauthier lands with a light punch inside.
Gauthier scores with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Usman takes a shot to the head.
Gauthier displaying some good clinch control by pressing Usman up against the cage.
Usman looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Still in the clinch, Gauthier scores with a nice short uppercut.
Usman takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gauthier scores with a nice hook to the head.
Gauthier presses Usman against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gauthier takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Gauthier lands a right hand that snaps the head of Usman backwards.
Gauthier landing knees to the head.
Gauthier lands a nice knee to the body.
Gauthier has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Usman seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Gauthier can turn it around.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gauthier gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Gauthier lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Usman backwards.
Usman wants to take the fight to the mat but Gauthier manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Gauthier.
Usman is breathing heavily.
Usman's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gauthier stalling against the cage.
Usman tries for a takedown. No joy.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Gauthier.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Gauthier.
Gauthier lands a left hand.

Usman is rocked!
Gauthier lands an elbow inside that Usman shrugs off.
Oh Usman is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gauthier creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Usman's defenses.
Gauthier lands a right hand that snaps the head of Usman backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gauthier creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Usman's defenses.
Gauthier lands a knee to the body.
Usman seems to have got his legs back now.
Gauthier has Usman pushed against the cage.
Gauthier landing knees to the head.
Usman takes an elbow to the forehead.
Gauthier scores with a knee to the head.
Usman drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gauthier lands a nice elbow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryder Gauthier dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Usman shoots in looking for a takedown but Gauthier manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Usman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Usman manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gauthier on his heels. He'll look to pass Gauthier's guard now, I'm sure.
Usman won't allow Gauthier to sweep him here.

Usman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gauthier throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Usman is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Usman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Usman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gauthier wants to get back to his feet but Usman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Usman is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Usman drops back looking for a leg! Gauthier is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gauthier manages to kick Usman off! Usman jumps back into Gauthier's guard.

Usman is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Usman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Usman is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gauthier wants to sweep here but Usman controlling him for the moment.

Gauthier is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Usman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Usman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Usman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Usman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Usman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Usman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Usman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gauthier is keeping the position for now.

Usman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Usman is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Usman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Usman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gauthier trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Usman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Usman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Usman is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gauthier is keeping the position for now.

Usman drops back looking for a leg! Gauthier is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gauthier manages to kick Usman off! Usman jumps back into Gauthier's guard.

Gauthier is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Usman defends well.
Gauthier trying to control the position.

Usman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Usman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Usman drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Usman seems to have locked his on tight now - Gauthier screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Usman, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Umaru Usman!