PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zeke Titus (ranked 309 p4p, 551 weight class) and Gunnar Gunnarsson (ranked 50 p4p, 28 weight class). Gunnarsson has chosen Björk - Army Of Me as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Titus
vs
Gunnarsson

190 cm
29
210
16 - 8 - 1

193 cm
29
205
15 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conviction
© Trap House

NARCOS
Conviction

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 16 - 8 - 1, fighting out of London, Zeke Titus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gunnar Gunnarsson!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gunnarsson gets caught napping as Titus dives in and scores a takedown. Gunnarsson manages to retain guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Gunnarsson is looking for a triangle but Titus pushes his legs off easily.

Gunnarsson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Titus has passed into half guard!

Gunnarsson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gunnarsson wants to control but Titus is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've been hearing that Titus has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Gunnarsson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Titus pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gunnarsson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gunnarsson is holding on to half guard well.
Gunnarsson is looking to improve his position.
Gunnarsson trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Titus manages to pass to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gunnarsson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gunnarsson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Titus prevents Gunnarsson from getting the reversal.
Gunnarsson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gunnarsson tries to hold on but Titus pushes him away.
Gunnarsson is desperately trying to improve his position but Titus has a good base and remains in mount.
Gunnarsson is still trying to improve position.

That's four 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.
Gunnarsson tries to lock up and control but Titus gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gunnarsson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gunnarsson wants to hold on but Titus pushes him away.
Gunnarsson regains half guard.

Gunnarsson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gunnarsson wants to control but Titus passes into side.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Titus dominated that round.
That's time! Titus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Titus has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gunnarsson.

Titus looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Gunnarsson has an active guard here but Titus has managed to pass into half guard.

Gunnarsson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gunnarsson looking for a kimura from the bottom but Titus passes into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunnarsson trying his best to control but Titus has mounted him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gunnarsson can't escape the position.
Gunnarsson tries to hold on but Titus postures up.
Gunnarsson working to try and regain half guard.

That's two 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.
Gunnarsson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Gunnarsson wants to get back to full guard.

Gunnarsson actively working from the bottom here.
Gunnarsson has a hand on Titus's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Titus takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gunnarsson is looking to improve his position but Titus isn't that keen on the idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gunnarsson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Gunnarsson is looking to get to half guard.
Titus avoids the attempt from Gunnarsson to control.
Titus is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gunnarsson can do to turn this around?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gunnarsson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Titus dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Titus throws a looping overhand right but Gunnarsson ducks down to avoid it.
Gunnarsson throws a low kick but Titus avoids it.
Titus works the jab nicely.
Gunnarsson jabs Titus right on the nose. Titus blinks but takes it well.
Gunnarsson misses with a wild body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Gunnarsson as Titus shoots in.
Good leg kick by Gunnarsson.
Gunnarsson throws a lazy right hand but Titus sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Titus scores with a jab to the body.
Titus ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Titus misses with a left hand
and Gunnarsson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gunnarsson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Titus throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gunnarsson throws an overhand right that lands on Titus's shoulder, as Titus tries to avoid the shot.
Titus blocks a jab.
Titus swings for the body but Gunnarsson moves out of range.
Gunnar Gunnarsson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Titus closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Titus gets to mount! Gunnarsson was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Gunnarsson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gunnarsson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gunnarsson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gunnarsson tries to lock up and control but Titus gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gunnarsson is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gunnarsson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Gunnarsson is looking to improve his position.
Titus is thwarting Gunnarsson's attempts to control the position.
Gunnar Gunnarsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gunnarsson tries to get to full guard but Titus has control of the leg.
Gunnarsson trying to control from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gunnarsson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Titus throws a hook but Gunnarsson avoids it easily.
Gunnarsson throws a leg kick but Titus sees it coming and moves out of range.
Titus takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gunnarsson tries a low kick but Titus avoids it.
Titus changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gunnar Gunnarsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Gunnarsson misses.
Titus attempts a counter takedown but Gunnarsson avoids it well and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunnarsson throws a hook but Titus avoids it easily.
Gunnar Gunnarsson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice defenses there by Gunnarsson.
No joy there for Titus, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Titus throws an off balance right hand
letting Gunnarsson counter with a right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Gunnarsson misses the target.
Titus attempts a counter takedown but Gunnarsson avoids it well and moves away.

Titus shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gunnarsson's guard.
Gunnarsson is striking but Titus is not phased and passes to half guard.

Gunnarsson actively working from the bottom here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gunnarsson actively working from the bottom here.

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 Zeke Titus.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Titus, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zeke Titus!
During a confident post fight interview, Zeke Titus thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.