PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Gilbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus De Paula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcus De Paula will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gilbert
vs
De Paula

187 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

183 cm
19
204 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ethan Gilbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcus De Paula!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Paula tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gilbert swats him away and circles back towards the center.
De Paula moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Gilbert dives in and grabs De Paula's left leg, looking for a takedown. De Paula pushes down on Gilbert's head and hops out.
Gilbert fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gilbert changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. De Paula tries to avoid it but Gilbert manages to keep hold of a leg and drag De Paula to the ground. De Paula escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Gilbert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
De Paula shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gilbert but Gilbert pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Gilbert gets a clinch.
Gilbert wants a takedown but no success here.
Gilbert tries a knee to the head but De Paula blocks it.
Gilbert tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. De Paula just stands there and leans against the cage.

Gilbert is trying to trip De Paula. He has hold of a leg but De Paula is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Gilbert persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gilbert in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gilbert throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gilbert throwing strikes but missing.
Gilbert postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gilbert with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilbert pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. De Paula is keeping the position for now.
Gilbert has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
De Paula working a defensive guard here.
De Paula avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gilbert will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
De Paula will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
De Paula fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gilbert throws a series of punches but De Paula avoids them all with ease.
De Paula wants to clinch.
Gilbert ducks right into an uppercut from De Paula.
De Paula looks to clinch

and Gilbert decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in De Paula's guard.
Gilbert postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Paula avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
De Paula avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gilbert throws a big right hand that misses.
De Paula is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
De Paula keeping moving, preventing Gilbert from controlling successfully.
De Paula avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gilbert with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
De Paula utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
De Paula keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert fails with the takedown.
De Paula scores with a three punch combo!

Gilbert rushes De Paula and presses him up against the cage.
Gilbert tries for a takedown. No joy.

Gilbert has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but De Paula regains guard immediately.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gilbert is breathing heavily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gilbert trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Gilbert drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gilbert jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gilbert is looking to work some ground and pound but De Paula has wrist control.
Gilbert throwing strikes but missing.

Gilbert stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Paula lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gilbert circles away quickly and effectively.
De Paula looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gilbert shoots for a double leg takedown but De Paula sprawls well. He's pushed Gilbert's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gilbert tries to score a power double leg takedown but De Paula sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gilbert somewhat.

Gilbert looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for De Paula!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice elbow there by Gilbert.
Gilbert pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gilbert scoring with strikes but De Paula is staying in there.
Gilbert pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Gilbert scoring with strikes but De Paula is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

De Paula stuffs the takedown.
A combination from De Paula does no damage.
Gilbert tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but De Paula swivels and escapes.

Gilbert decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gilbert working De Paula over with strikes.
De Paula is looking to improve his position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gilbert connects with a nice short shot to De Paula's temple.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gilbert lands a nice short elbow.
Gilbert drops an elbow to the side of De Paula's head.
De Paula on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Gilbert there.
De Paula is breathing heavily.
Gilbert thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed De Paula's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilbert landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Gilbert lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
De Paula is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gilbert scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gilbert is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
De Paula keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gilbert seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Gilbert looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks De Paula with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gilbert not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gilbert seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Gilbert is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
De Paula blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gilbert.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gilbert missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gilbert slips a nice elbow through De Paula's hands, connecting with De Paula's forehead.

Gilbert is working for a submission of some sort.
Gilbert thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed De Paula's head.

Gilbert stands up from half guard.

Gilbert closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming De Paula to the mat! De Paula manages to get full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Paula not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gilbert trying to control the position from guard on top but De Paula is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gilbert throwing strikes but missing.
Gilbert in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Gilbert decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Gilbert fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ethan Gilbert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gilbert looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? De Paula is fending him off so far but Gilbert persists. Nope, De Paula circles away and we're back to standing.
De Paula looks to land a right hand but Gilbert moved out of range.

Gilbert forces De Paula back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert misses with a knee to the head.
Gilbert tries for a takedown but De Paula manages to get underhooks.

Gilbert escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
De Paula tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gilbert tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but De Paula swivels and escapes.
Gilbert shoots and misses
and De Paula counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gilbert takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Gilbert scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are battling for position here. De Paula manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gilbert passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gilbert working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De Paula takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
De Paula taking punishment in the form of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Gilbert dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gilbert drives through with a takedown into guard.
De Paula has momentary wrist control but Gilbert slips an elbow through the middle.
Gilbert thows a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gilbert throws a big right hand that misses.
Gilbert stops De Paula from standing up.
Gilbert passes De Paula's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gilbert looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks De Paula with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gilbert throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gilbert missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gilbert frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gilbert working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Gilbert lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilbert landing punches.
Gilbert with the ground and pound from mount.
De Paula is bucking up trying to escape but Gilbert cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
A nice elbow there by Gilbert.
Gilbert breaks from De Paula's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Gilbert pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Gilbert lands a heavy elbow.
Gilbert putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gilbert working the ground and pound effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert with the ground and pound from mount.

Gilbert jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but De Paula manages to avoid the submission attempt.
De Paula on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
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!
Gilbert scoring with punches and elbows.
De Paula takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Gilbert lands a few punches from side control.
Gilbert connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused De Paula some visible discomfort.
De Paula is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Gilbert is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that De Paula can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Paula takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Gilbert working the head with strikes.
Gilbert connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused De Paula some visible discomfort.
De Paula takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Gilbert is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, De Paula has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gilbert working the head and body with strikes.

Gilbert tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gilbert has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
De Paula on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gilbert thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gilbert working the body and head with strikes.
Gilbert works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
De Paula regains half guard, as Gilbert was trying to land strikes.
Gilbert slips a nice elbow through De Paula's hands, connecting with De Paula's forehead.
Marcus De Paula has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ethan Gilbert is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
De Paula on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ethan Gilbert showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gilbert, 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:26
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ethan Gilbert!