PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brycen Gionet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Sandler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gionet
vs
Sandler

180 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brycen Gionet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Erik Sandler!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gionet instigates a clinch.
Sandler stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Sandler lands a nice elbow.
Gionet has Sandler pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sandler manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Sandler pulls guard successfully.
Sandler preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gionet pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sandler is keeping the position for now.
Gionet wants to control from the top but Sandler keeps moving.
Sandler controls Gionet momentarily but Gionet frees himself.
Gionet throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Sandler is looking for a triangle but Gionet pushes his legs off easily.

Gionet decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Sandler keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Sandler shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gionet tries to roll over but Sandler keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gionet is controlling Sandler's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Gionet wants to improve his position but Sandler is controlling well.
Gionet is trying to stand back up but Sandler is controlling him
Sandler tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Gionet.
Sandler is thwarting Gionet's attempts to control the position.
Sandler tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Gionet.
Sandler works his way into full mount!

Sandler stands up from mount. Strange move.

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.

Gionet instigates a clinch.
Gionet takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sandler lands an elbow just above Gionet 's eye.
Gionet takes an elbow to the forehead.
Stalling in the clinch from Sandler.
Sandler has Gionet pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gionet manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sandler lands a nice elbow.
Sandler looks gassed!

Gionet pulls Sandler into guard.
Sandler trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gionet's guard.

Gionet is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sandler wants to stand but Gionet has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sandler stopping the sweep attempt from Gionet.
Gionet is pulling down on Sandler's head. It's preventing any offense from Sandler, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gionet controls Sandler momentarily but Sandler frees himself.

Sandler gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Sandler stuffs the takedown attempt from Gionet. Gionet gets slowly back to his feet.
Sandler with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gionet counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sandler is looking to escape.
Gionet is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gionet stops Sandler from getting back to his feet.
Sandler trying to control here.
Sandler wants to get back to full guard.
Sandler is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gionet works his way into side control.
Sandler tries to buck Gionet off but Gionet is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gionet tries to advance to mount but Sandler denies him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sandler fails to land the takedown.
Brycen Gionet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erik Sandler.
Sandler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Erik Sandler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gionet fails with the takedown.

Gionet moves into the clinch.

Sandler breaks from the clinch.

Gionet scores a takedown into full mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gionet tries to control but Sandler wriggling away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gionet has hold of Sandler's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Sandler manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Gionet is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Sandler has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Sandler!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brycen Gionet dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Sandler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gionet misses with a wild combination.
Sandler misses with a takedown attempt

and Gionet counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gionet trying to control from half guard but Sandler is working away.
Sandler gets back to full guard.
Brycen Gionet overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sandler is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gionet pushes down on Sandler's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gionet is thwarting Sandler's attempts to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sandler looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gionet is trying to control the action in half guard but Sandler is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandler is controlling Gionet's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Sandler slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Sandler throws his legs up looking for a submission but Gionet uses it to pass to side control.
Sandler is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Sandler's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sandler is looking to regain half guard here but Gionet keeps moving and retains side control.
Gionet is looking to take a break and control but Sandler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Sandler throws Gionet to one side and escapes!
Gionet doesn't manage to clinch there - Sandler circles away.

Sandler moves into the clinch successfully.
Sandler has Gionet pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gionet manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gionet tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sandler lands a nice elbow.
Sandler taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sandler lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sandler lands an elbow inside.
Gionet takes an elbow to the temple.
Sandler lands an elbow just above Gionet 's eye.
Gionet is trying to break free.
Sandler lands a nice elbow.

Gionet escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Gionet darts in and clinches Sandler up against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gionet takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sandler stops a takedown attempt from Gionet.
Gionet has Sandler pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sandler manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brycen Gionet. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gionet tries to score a body lock takedown but Sandler shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandler blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sandler goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gionet prevents it.
Gionet has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sandler avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gionet stalling in the clinch but Sandler improves position.
Sandler wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gionet taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sandler trying to stall but Gionet improves his position.
Gionet can't break the clinch.

Sandler is fighting off a takedown attempt but Gionet is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Sandler to the mat. Sandler regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Sandler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Sandler looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gionet passes into half guard.
Well, if Gionet 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.
Sandler has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gionet is working away from the top position though.
Gionet wants to control but Sandler is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandler trying to hold on to Gionet's head to control him but Gionet postures up.

Sandler is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Gionet pulls his head out easily.
Gionet seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Sandler looking for submissions off his back.
Gionet is tying to control. Sandler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sandler.

Gionet gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sandler tries to pull guard but Gionet holds him up against the cage and eventually Sandler drops back down to his feet.
Sandler is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Sandler tries to pull guard but Gionet won't allow it.
Gionet tries to land a knee to the head but Sandler blocks with his arms.
Gionet jumps guard but Sandler stands there with Gionet around his waist. Gionet gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gionet tries for a takedown but Sandler manages to get underhooks.
Gionet takes an elbow to the temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brycen Gionet dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sandler keeps the fight on the outside.

Gionet darts in and clinches Sandler up against the cage.
Gionet wants to stall.
Gionet wants to break free but Sandler has control.

Gionet gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Sandler regains guard.
Sandler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gionet not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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

Sandler throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sandler wants to stand but Gionet is controlling the position.

Sandler has an active guard here but Gionet has managed to pass into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gionet is tying to control. Sandler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandler is trying to stand up here but Gionet is controlling him well.

Sandler pushes Gionet off and gets back to his feet.
Sandler with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gionet counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gionet postures up.

Gionet decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gionet.
Gionet scoring with punches from side control. Gionet looks up at the clock and then as Sandler takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Gionet smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Gionet landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Gionet connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sandler some visible discomfort.
Gionet controlling from side mount.

Gionet is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sandler is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gionet controlling the position.
Sandler is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sandler is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Gionet controlling the position.

Gionet is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sandler knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sandler manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gionet trying to control the action but Sandler is working from the bottom.

Sandler is defending against the submission attempts here by Gionet.
Gionet tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sandler knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gionet in particular looking to stall.
Sandler is trying to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gionet in particular looking to stall.
Gionet works his way into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gionet has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Gionet can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sandler is looking to escape.
Gionet prevents Sandler from getting the reversal.
Sandler gets back to half guard.

Sandler looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sandler wants to improve his position but Gionet is controlling well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sandler trying to hold on to Gionet's head to control him but Gionet postures up.
Erik Sandler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gionet wants to take a breather but Sandler is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brycen Gionet showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gionet, 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brycen Gionet!