PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Autry Gayle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ferguson
vs
Gayle

180 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Ferguson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Autry Gayle!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Roberts and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ferguson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ferguson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ferguson misses with a series of wild punches.
Ferguson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Ferguson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gayle tries to move into range but Ferguson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gayle dodges the punch combination from Ferguson.
Ferguson misses with a head kick.
No joy there for Ferguson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ferguson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ferguson.
Ferguson misses with a wild combination.
Ferguson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ferguson throws a one two combo.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ferguson.
Ferguson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gayle blocks a head kick by Ferguson.
Ferguson throws a combination. Gayle tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ferguson throws a nice head kick!
Ferguson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gayle counters with a three punch combo that has Ferguson backing up. Ferguson nods at Gayle to acknowledge the strikes.
Ferguson misses with a double jab
and Gayle counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson misses with a double jab.
Gayle throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gayle dodges the punch combination from Ferguson.
Gayle throws out a loose jab but Ferguson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ferguson is working the combinations to good effect here.

Gayle closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ferguson is trying to improve his position.
Gayle scores with a couple of short elbows.
Ferguson is trying to improve his position.
Gayle landing a few strikes.
Ferguson is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Gayle is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Gayle prevents Ferguson from getting the reversal.
Ferguson is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gayle in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Ferguson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gayle fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Gayle landing strikes from the mount.
Gayle landing strikes from the mount.
Gayle lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gayle lands a nice shot to the head.
Ferguson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ferguson is breathing heavily.
Ferguson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gayle passes to full mount!
Gayle scoring with strikes but Ferguson is staying in there.
Ferguson is looking to get to half guard.
Ferguson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Gayle is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ferguson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gayle scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ferguson?
Ferguson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gayle looking to finish Ferguson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ferguson!
Ferguson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Gayle fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Gayle looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Gayle lands a nice shot to the head.
Ferguson taking shots to the head.
Ferguson can't escape the position.
Gayle with shots to the head and body - Ferguson looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ferguson wants to improve his position but Gayle is controlling well.
Ferguson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ferguson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ferguson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ferguson working over Gayle with some ground and pound. Gayle looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ferguson winds up and cracks Gayle with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Gayle on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ferguson tries to pass to full mount but Gayle defends it.
Nice strikes from Ferguson there.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ferguson lands a nice short elbow.
Ferguson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ferguson works his foot free and advances to mount.
Gayle is looking to improve his position but Ferguson isn't that keen on the idea.
Ferguson looking to finish Gayle with some ground and pound. This is bad for Gayle!
Gayle is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Ferguson with the ground and pound from mount.
Gayle keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ferguson working Gayle over with strikes here.
Ferguson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gayle can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gayle is working to get back to half guard.
Ferguson dominating with strikes here.
Ferguson with good strikes from the mount here!
Ferguson dominating with strikes here.
Ferguson landing punches.
Gayle is desperately trying to improve his position but Ferguson has a good base and remains in mount.
Gayle punching to the body and holding on for dear life.
Gayle is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ferguson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gayle really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Ferguson looking for a guillotine from mount but Gayle is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gayle slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ferguson working Gayle over with strikes.
Gayle is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Ferguson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ferguson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gayle counters with an inside leg kick.
Ferguson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ferguson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A head kick from Ferguson lands but Gayle takes it in his stride.

Gayle scores a takedown into full mount!
Ferguson is in a horrible position here. Gayle smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Ferguson throwing hammer fists to the chest of Gayle. What's that going to do exactly?
Ferguson is looking to get to half guard.
Autry Gayle has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ferguson is bucking up trying to escape but Gayle cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Ferguson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ferguson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Gayle lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Gayle postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ferguson looks a forlorn figure.
Gayle is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ferguson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gayle with good strikes from the mount here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gayle scoring with strikes but Ferguson is staying in there.
Ferguson can't escape the position.
Ferguson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Gayle looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gayle scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gayle looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ferguson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ferguson is looking to improve his position.
Ferguson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Ferguson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Gayle there.
Ferguson pushes Gayle off looking to stand but Gayle dives back in and keeps control.
Gayle seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ferguson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ferguson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Ferguson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Ferguson lands with a nice combination. Gayle backs away looking to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson throws a one two combo.
Ferguson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gayle counters with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Ferguson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ferguson lands with a slapping head kick.

Gayle is rocked!
Ferguson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Gayle is still on wobbly legs! Can Ferguson finish him?
Ferguson throws a combination that misses

and Gayle counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ferguson's guard now.

Ferguson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gayle wants to pass the guard but Ferguson is keeping the position.
Ferguson looking for a sweep. Not yet Ferguson, not yet.
Gayle won't allow Ferguson to get back to his feet.
Gayle seems to have recovered his senses.
Ferguson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Gayle with a nice head shot there.
Gayle postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gayle wants to pass the guard but Ferguson is keeping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gayle doesn't manage to clinch there - Ferguson circles away.
Gayle slips a jab and a cross from Ferguson.
Gayle is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ferguson.
Ferguson throws a head kick that misses.
Gayle blocks a head kick by Ferguson.
Gayle throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Ferguson.
Gayle lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Gayle.
Ryan Ferguson is winning the standup battle so far.
Ferguson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ferguson throws a nice looking combination but Gayle bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gayle scores with a one two! Ferguson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Ferguson misses with a double jab
and Gayle counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gayle darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Gayle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gayle forces his way into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gayle lands a nice short elbow.
Ferguson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ferguson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gayle scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ferguson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ferguson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ferguson is on top in guard.
Ferguson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ferguson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ferguson preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson distracts Gayle with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ferguson throwing strikes from guard but Gayle blocks nicely.
Gayle is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ferguson looking to pass the guard.
Ferguson scoring with some ground and pound.
Gayle keeping full guard, as Ferguson tries to pass.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ferguson.
Ryan Ferguson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ferguson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gayle.
Gayle misses with a straight left.
Ferguson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gayle throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ferguson.
Ferguson throws a head kick that misses

and Gayle counters with a single leg into guard. Ferguson didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gayle working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ferguson's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ferguson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gayle passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ferguson is looking to reverse the position.
Ferguson wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Autry Gayle will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A punch combination from Ferguson misses.
Ferguson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ferguson throws a right and a left that Gayle avoids nicely.
Ferguson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ferguson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Gayle misses the shot to the body.
Gayle takes a swing at Ferguson's ribcage but misses.
Ferguson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ferguson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A head kick by Ferguson misses

and Gayle counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ferguson won't be happy with that.
Ferguson is trying to improve his position.
Ferguson tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Gayle creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Ferguson regains half guard.
Ferguson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gayle is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Ferguson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gayle is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Ferguson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gayle's back instead.
Ferguson connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Gayle to escape the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gayle manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ferguson's guard. Nice work there by Gayle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gayle scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ferguson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Ferguson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Ferguson working for a triangle but Gayle defends it easily.
Ferguson lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Ferguson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Ferguson looking for a sweep. Not yet Ferguson, not yet.
Ferguson punching to the body, from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Ferguson tries a head kick but it misses.
Ferguson throws a combination that misses

and Gayle counters with a takedown into side control.
Ferguson is trying to get back to half guard.
Gayle working the head and body with strikes.
Ferguson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gayle asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Ferguson is looking for a sweep.
Gayle lands a few punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gayle working the head and body with strikes.
Gayle lands a nice forearm strike.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ferguson misses with a head kick.

Gayle scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ferguson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ferguson tries to get to full guard but Gayle has control of the leg.
Gayle looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ferguson won't allow Gayle to pass to mount.

Gayle is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ferguson is looking for a sweep. Gayle is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gayle drops an elbow to the side of Ferguson's head.
Gayle working the head and body with strikes.
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. Gayle connects with a nice short shot to Ferguson's temple.
Gayle working Ferguson over with strikes.
Gayle working over Ferguson with some ground and pound. Ferguson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ferguson gets back to full guard.
Ferguson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson wants to get back to his feet but Gayle is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gayle is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gayle throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ferguson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gayle prevents Ferguson from getting back to his feet.
Gayle is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ferguson throws a series of punches but Gayle moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Gayle.

Gayle shoots in and bounces Ferguson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gayle won't allow Ferguson to get back to his feet.
Gayle lands a couple of elbows.
Ferguson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Gayle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gayle lands a couple of elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gayle's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ferguson keeping full guard, as Gayle tries to pass.

Gayle drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gayle jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ferguson.
Ryan Ferguson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ferguson looks to land a combination. Gayle sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Ferguson misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Ferguson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Horrible takedown by Gayle or perhaps it was just good defense by Ferguson which made him look bad.
Ferguson misses with a few strikes there.
Ferguson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Gayle counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gayle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Gayle postures up and lands a big shot to Ferguson's brow.
Gayle is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ferguson looking for a sweep. Not yet Ferguson, not yet.
Gayle connects with a couple of short punches.
Gayle working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ferguson's head.
Gayle advances to half guard.
Gayle looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ferguson tries to kick Gayle off but Gayle keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gayle lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gayle drops an elbow to the side of Ferguson's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ferguson is trying to get back to full guard.
Gayle has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gayle lands strikes from half guard.
Ferguson moves into full guard.
Gayle postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Autry Gayle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gayle 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Autry Gayle!