PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yago Gutierrez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Klaatu Nicto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gutierrez comes to the cage accompanied by Justified by AMEN. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gutierrez
vs
Nicto

187 cm
28
190 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

185 cm
24
200 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yago Gutierrez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Klaatu Nicto!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicto doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gutierrez counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gutierrez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nicto.
Nicto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gutierrez is looking to clinch.
Gutierrez throws a body punch but Nicto moves out of range.
Nicto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gutierrez.
Nicto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gutierrez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gutierrez thows a huge punch but Nicto dodges it nicely.
Gutierrez trying to pass the guard but Nicto defending well.
Gutierrez is taking a breather. Nicto says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutierrez wants to pass to mount but Nicto is defending the position.

Gutierrez is looking for a kimura but Nicto is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gutierrez to get the leverage.
Gutierrez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gutierrez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nicto keeps working.
Gutierrez prevents Nicto from improving his position.
Nicto is trying to maintain the position but Gutierrez is very close to passing his half guard.
Nicto is refusing to be controlled, as Gutierrez sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gutierrez slips a nice elbow through Nicto's hands, connecting with Nicto's forehead.
Nicto tries to get to full guard but Gutierrez has control of the leg.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nicto is looking to improve his position.
Gutierrez thows a huge punch but Nicto dodges it nicely.
Gutierrez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gutierrez content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicto is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gutierrez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gutierrez's back!
Nicto gets his hands free as Gutierrez looks to control.

Nicto has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Gutierrez has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Nicto is hanging on to Gutierrez's back as he tries to escape.
Nicto thows a strike but Gutierrez uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Gutierrez as he ends up in Nicto 's guard!
Gutierrez trying to control the position from guard on top but Nicto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gutierrez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four 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.
Gutierrez trying to control but Nicto is working from the bottom.
Gutierrez is looking to work some ground and pound but Nicto has wrist control.
Nicto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gutierrez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Gutierrez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gutierrez looking to sit in guard and control but Nicto gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gutierrez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nicto manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yago Gutierrez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nicto shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gutierrez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gutierrez tries to close the distance and clinch but Nicto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Gutierrez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gutierrez lands a body shot.
Nicto goes for a takedown attempt but Gutierrez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nicto looks to land a right hand but Gutierrez moved out of range.
Gutierrez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gutierrez moves to clinch but Nicto breaks away

and Nicto counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutierrez trying to control from the bottom.
Nicto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gutierrez is looking for a sweep. Nicto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gutierrez is pressing down on Nicto's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gutierrez is trying to keep Nicto in close.
Gutierrez keeping moving, preventing Nicto from controlling successfully.
Gutierrez is adopting a defensive guard.
Gutierrez's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice shot by Gutierrez.
Nicto fails with the takedown
and Nicto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yago Gutierrez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Klaatu Nicto.
Gutierrez misses with a hook
and Nicto counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Gutierrez scores with a jab.
Nicto throws a combination that misses
and Gutierrez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gutierrez tries to clinch but Nicto moves out of range.
Nicto misses with a takedown
and Gutierrez counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nicto tries for a takedown but Gutierrez circles away easily
and Gutierrez counters with a nice body shot.
Nicto is breathing heavily.
Nicto lands a two punch combo.
Gutierrez misses the shot to the body.
Nicto has his takedown stuffed
and Gutierrez counters with a nice body shot.
Gutierrez is looking to clinch.

Gutierrez shoots in and bounces Nicto off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicto keeping moving, preventing Gutierrez from controlling successfully.
Gutierrez content to stall in guard here.
Gutierrez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nicto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nicto controls Gutierrez momentarily but Gutierrez frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yago Gutierrez dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! 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.

Gutierrez jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Gutierrez uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Gutierrez darts in and clinches Nicto up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Gutierrez.
Gutierrez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gutierrez lands a right hand.
Gutierrez works on Nicto's body with a couple of short punches.
Gutierrez lands a body punch.
Gutierrez pushes Nicto back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nicto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nicto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutierrez makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Gutierrez lands a left hand.
Gutierrez swings wildly with an uppercut but Nicto uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right from Gutierrez.
Nicto prevents a body shot from Gutierrez.
Gutierrez struggles to land a body shot inside as Nicto controls his hands.
Gutierrez misses with a body punch.

Nicto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nicto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gutierrez.
Gutierrez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gutierrez misses with a body shot.

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.

Nicto shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gutierrez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nicto trying to control but Gutierrez is working from the bottom.
Gutierrez pulls Nicto in close to his closed guard and prevents Nicto from doing any damage or advancing position.
Gutierrez looking for a sweep. Not yet Gutierrez, not yet.

Gutierrez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nicto postures up.
Klaatu Nicto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yago Gutierrez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicto seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Nicto is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gutierrez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gutierrez has escaped and now he's on top!
Nicto controlling Gutierrez's posture.
Gutierrez wants to control from the top but Nicto keeps moving.

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.
Gutierrez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nicto looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nicto with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gutierrez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gutierrez works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Nicto is working for takedown but Gutierrez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Yago Gutierrez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Klaatu Nicto.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nicto wants a takedown.
Gutierrez misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yago Gutierrez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gutierrez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yago Gutierrez!