PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Danny Festa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Gauthier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Danny Festa has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Festa
vs
Gauthier

185 cm
23
140 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Danny Festa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nick Gauthier!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Festa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gauthier won't allow Festa to pass to mount.
Festa trying to control the action but Gauthier is working from the bottom.

Festa stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Gauthier to get to his feet.
Gauthier throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Festa.
Gauthier rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Festa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Festa scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gauthier looks gassed!

Festa decides to stand back up.
Gauthier throws a looping overhand right but Festa ducks down to avoid it.
Festa moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Gauthier tries for a takedown but Festa circles away easily
and Festa counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Gauthier misses with a combination

and Festa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Festa is looking to take a break and control but Gauthier is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gauthier throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Festa seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Gauthier is staying active underneath Festa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Festa blocks the strikes from Gauthier.
Gauthier tries to kick Festa off but Festa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gauthier misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Festa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gauthier sprawls well. Gauthier wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Festa gets slowly back to his feet.

Festa moves into the clinch.

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.

Festa pulls guard successfully.
Festa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gauthier's guard.
Gauthier keeping moving, preventing Festa from controlling successfully.
Festa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Festa passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Gauthier strikes from the bottom but Festa uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Festa wants to control but Gauthier is keeping him busy.
Gauthier wants to get back to his feet but Festa is dominant here and he's now got Gauthier's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Festa lands shots from the back.
Gauthier is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Festa has got one arm under Gauthier's chin. This could be trouble... Gauthier trying to control the other hand but Festa gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Gauthier has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Danny Festa!