PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Kristofferson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Gabriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gabriel has chosen Get Out Of My Room as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kristofferson
vs
Gabriel

191 cm
24
265 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

185 cm
26
225 lbs
1 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chris Kristofferson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Justin Gabriel!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Donatello Bradman and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gabriel drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gabriel trying to control the action but Kristofferson is working from the bottom.
Gabriel tries to score with some ground and pound. Kristofferson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Gabriel is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kristofferson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gabriel wants to control but Kristofferson is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabriel takes a little break here. Kristofferson wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Kristofferson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gabriel is controlling him well.
Kristofferson gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's two 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 tries to control but Kristofferson wriggling away.

Gabriel working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Gabriel trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel scoring with strikes but Kristofferson is staying in there.
Kristofferson can't escape the position.
Gabriel wants to control the pace but Kristofferson is squirming around nicely.
Kristofferson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gabriel trying to control but Kristofferson is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Poor strikes thrown by Gabriel there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Gabriel lands a heavy elbow.
Gabriel wants to control the pace but Kristofferson is squirming around nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kristofferson is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Gabriel dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gabriel feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kristofferson keeping moving, preventing Gabriel from controlling successfully.
Gabriel engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gabriel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabriel advances to half guard.
Gabriel trying to control the pace.

Gabriel decides to return to a standing position.
Kristofferson wants to clinch up but Gabriel keeps it at a distance.

Gabriel shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kristofferson's guard.
Gabriel looking to pass the guard.
Gabriel scoring with some ground and pound.
Kristofferson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gabriel on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kristofferson is trying to control the position but Gabriel postures up.
Gabriel advances position into side control!
Gabriel in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Kristofferson taking a bit of punishment here - Gabriel scoring with strikes.

Gabriel decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kristofferson to his feet.
Chris Kristofferson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kristofferson instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel is trying to force a seperation but Kristofferson has the dominant position.
Gabriel has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kristofferson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gabriel takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Justin Gabriel has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gabriel pulls guard effortlessly.
Kristofferson wants to stand but Gabriel has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gabriel lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kristofferson!
Gabriel looking to control but Kristofferson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kristofferson taking shots to the head.
Gabriel working the ground and pound effectively.
Gabriel controlling the pace for now.
Kristofferson looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Gabriel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Justin Gabriel's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kristofferson leaves Gabriel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Kristofferson throws a left that rocks Gabriel and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Kristofferson dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Gabriel regain composure!
Gabriel gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Kristofferson is working for a submission of some sort.
Kristofferson drops an elbow to the side of Gabriel's head.
Gabriel is trying to control but can't.
Kristofferson tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gabriel regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabriel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gabriel should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Gabriel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gabriel doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kristofferson preventing the sweep.
Kristofferson is looking to advance position but Gabriel has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Kristofferson is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gabriel fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kristofferson is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Gabriel looking to control but Kristofferson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
A nice elbow there by Gabriel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kristofferson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gabriel controlling from mount.

Gabriel is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Kristofferson throws a body punch but Gabriel moves out of range.
Gabriel fails with a takedown attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kristofferson enables Gabriel to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kristofferson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gabriel postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel passes into half guard.
Gabriel looks to land a strike but Kristofferson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Chris Kristofferson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kristofferson keeping moving, preventing Gabriel from controlling successfully.

Gabriel stands up from Kristofferson's guard - Gabriel perhaps looking for a knockout.
Justin Gabriel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kristofferson tries to clinch but Gabriel is having none of it.

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 Chris Kristofferson.
I think Gabriel has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

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