PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erich Gabriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sharki Ro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Erich Gabriel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gabriel
vs
Ro

167 cm
20
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
23
208 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Pro-Valiance Nutrition **SALE**
Pro-Valiance Nutrition **SALE**

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Erich Gabriel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sharki Ro!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ro.

Ro gets the takedown into side control.
Gabriel defending against the ground and pound.
Gabriel tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Ro presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Gabriel is trying desperately to improve position.
Gabriel tries to hold on but Ro pushes him away.
Gabriel tries to reverse the position but Ro maintains control.
Ro looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ro tries to control but Gabriel wriggling away.
Gabriel is desperately trying to improve his position but Ro has a good base and remains in mount.
Gabriel is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Ro avoids the attempt from Gabriel to control.

Ro has control of Gabriel's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Gabriel regains control of the situation pretty easily.

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.

Ro is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Gabriel has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Gabriel!
Ro wants to get back to his feet but Gabriel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gabriel trying to control the position from guard on top but Ro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ro working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel wants to pass the guard but Ro is keeping the position.
Gabriel has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ro is proving hard to escape from.
Ro manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gabriel stands up.
Gabriel tries for a takedown but Ro sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gabriel with a poor takedown

so Ro counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gabriel holds on and takes a little breather.
Ro trying to control the position from guard on top but Gabriel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ro wants to stand but Gabriel is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sharki Ro dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ro closes the distance and clinches up with Gabriel, looking for a takedown. Ro pushes Gabriel against the cage but Gabriel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gabriel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ro tries for a takedown but Gabriel circles away easily

and Gabriel counters by moving into the clinch.
Ro gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gabriel.
Gabriel wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gabriel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ro can't get the takedown.
Erich Gabriel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sharki Ro.
Gabriel is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ro pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ro is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gabriel is defending well for now.
Ro fails to pull guard.
Gabriel tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ro drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gabriel gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ro fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gabriel is looking to break free of the clinch but Ro has double underhooks.
Ro working aggressively here.
Gabriel lands a shoulder strike.
Ro jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gabriel walks away with a smile on his face. Ro gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ro with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gabriel counters by clinching up.

Gabriel pulls guard successfully.
Gabriel can't keep his opponent in guard - Ro advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gabriel trying to hold on to Ro's head to control him but Ro postures up.
Gabriel tries to get to full guard but Ro has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ro trying to control from Gabriel's half guard. Gabriel has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Gabriel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ro defends well.
Gabriel working a defensive guard here.
Ro wants to control from the top but Gabriel keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel looking for a sweep. Not yet Gabriel, not yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ro tries to clinch but Gabriel moves away

and Gabriel moves into the clinch.
Ro is trying to maintain a safe position but Gabriel gets an underhook and turns Ro into the cage.
Gabriel managing to block the knees to the body from Ro.
Gabriel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ro backwards.
Gabriel tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ro has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gabriel is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gabriel tries to land knees in the clinch but Ro avoids the damage to the body.
Ro is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gabriel is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ro gets underhooks to prevent Gabriel's takedown attempt.
Ro prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ro prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ro drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gabriel pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ro gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gabriel holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Gabriel pulls Ro into guard.
Gabriel keeping moving, preventing Ro from controlling successfully.
Gabriel is trying to keep Ro in close.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gabriel keeping moving, preventing Ro from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erich Gabriel dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ro doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Gabriel counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gabriel.
Gabriel changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ro fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ro fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ro fails with the takedown

and Gabriel counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Erich Gabriel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sharki Ro.

Gabriel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ro is just riding it out for now. Gabriel eventually gives up the hold.

Gabriel stands up from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ro slaps away a takedown attempt from Gabriel, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ro throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gabriel has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gabriel has closed the distance and engaged Ro in a clinch.
Gabriel wants a takedown.
Ro tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ro tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Ro decides to pull guard.
Ro controlling Gabriel's posture.
Ro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ro is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ro sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gabriel defending well though.

Gabriel looking for submissions off his back.

Ro is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gabriel doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ro.
Sharki Ro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gabriel is looking for a sweep. Ro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ro controlling the pace.
Ro wants to stand up but Gabriel has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Ro throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gabriel flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ro shoots in for a double leg but Gabriel sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ro lands a high kick!
Ro looks to clinch

and Gabriel holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Gabriel pulls guard successfully.
Gabriel is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gabriel is on top in guard.
Ro controls Gabriel momentarily but Gabriel frees himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erich Gabriel showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gabriel has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erich Gabriel!