PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hector Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drew Branch (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.

Gonzalez
vs
Branch

150 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
19
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hector Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Drew Branch!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Branch misses with a few strikes there.
Branch avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Branch will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Branch misses with a series of wild punches.
Gonzalez checks a leg kick.
Branch looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gonzalez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gonzalez checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branch misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A punch combination from Branch misses.
Branch keeps the fight on the outside.
Gonzalez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gonzalez moves in looking to clinch but Branch pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gonzalez moves into range and clinches up with Branch.
Branch wants to break the clinch but can't.
Branch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gonzalez trying to land knees to the body.
Branch wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gonzalez has him pressed against the cage.
Gonzalez keeps control of Branch as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Branch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Branch tries to break the clinch but Gonzalez is controlling the position.
Branch can't break the clinch.
Gonzalez trying to land knees to the body.
Gonzalez landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gonzalez crunches a lovely knee into Branch's ribcage.
Gonzalez trying to land knees to the body.
Gonzalez lands a nice knee to the body.
Gonzalez trying to land knees to the body.
Gonzalez could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gonzalez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Branch.
Branch wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Branch wants to break the clinch but can't.

Branch gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Gonzalez wants to stand up but Branch is controlling him.
Branch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gonzalez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Branch looks gassed!

Branch drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gonzalez dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gonzalez gets to his feet. Branch looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Branch misses with a wild body shot.
Gonzalez tries to clinch up.
Branch misses with a looping left.
Branch throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gonzalez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gonzalez tries to clinch but Branch is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gonzalez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gonzalez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gonzalez checks the leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Branch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gonzalez moves into the clinch successfully.
Gonzalez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Branch.
Branch is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gonzalez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Branch has had enough of the clinch but Gonzalez keeps him there for the moment.
Branch wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Branch escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good work by Gonzalez as he checks the leg kick.
Branch scores with a nice strike.

Gonzalez is rocked!
Some wild striking there from Branch.
Oh Gonzalez is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Branch lands a left and a right that sends Gonzalez crashing to the canvas! Branch dives into mount looking to finish!
Gonzalez is trying to escape the mount but Branch keeps good control and instead manages to take Gonzalez's back.
Gonzalez covering up well and avoiding damage.

Branch working for a choke but Gonzalez is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Branch working for the choke.
Gonzalez seems to have got his legs back now.
Gonzalez covering up well under a series of strikes from Branch.
Gonzalez looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Branch throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Gonzalez is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drew Branch dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Branch keeps the fight on the outside.
Gonzalez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gonzalez is looking to clinch.
Branch misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Branch misses with a few strikes there.
Gonzalez checks a low kick from Branch.

Gonzalez closes the distance and clinches.
Gonzalez crunches a lovely knee into Branch's ribcage.
Gonzalez trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzalez landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Branch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Branch avoiding damage as Gonzalez throws knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gonzalez.

Branch gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Gonzalez regains guard.
Gonzalez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Branch gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez moves in looking to clinch but Branch pushes him off.
Branch throws a series of punches but Gonzalez avoids them all with ease.
Drew Branch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Branch misses with a double jab.
Branch throws a right and a left that Gonzalez avoids nicely.
Branch throws a body kick that misses.
Branch avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gonzalez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Branch tries to bum rush Gonzalez with a series of wild strikes but Gonzalez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gonzalez is looking to clinch.
Branch throws a right hand that Gonzalez ducks under and follows up with a left that Gonzalez also avoids with ease.
Branch wants to slow Gonzalez down by chopping away at his legs.
Branch throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gonzalez avoids a punch combination nicely.

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.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gonzalez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Branch throws a right and a left that Gonzalez avoids nicely.
No joy there for Branch, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Branch misses with a jab, cross combination.
Branch avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gonzalez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Branch.
Branch throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gonzalez is looking to clinch but Branch is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gonzalez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Branch swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Branch throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gonzalez slips a jab and a cross from Branch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Branch clinches up with Gonzalez and pushes him back against the cage.

Branch breaks from the clinch.
Branch tries a low kick but Gonzalez avoids it.
Branch misses with a double jab.
Gonzalez checks the leg kick.
Gonzalez takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A lazy left from Branch finds it's target.
Branch looks to score with a jab to the body but Gonzalez is just out of range.
Branch misses with a low kick.
Gonzalez tries to clinch but Branch moves out of range.
Gonzalez dodges the punch combination from Branch.
Branch just misses with a punch to the body.
Branch looks for a takedown but Gonzalez sprawls well.
Gonzalez checks the leg kick.
Hector Gonzalez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branch misses with a wild combination.
Branch throws out a loose jab but Gonzalez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Branch looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hector Gonzalez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Branch throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Branch throws a leg kick but Gonzalez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Branch fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gonzalez is out of range.
Gonzalez stuffs the takedown attempt from Branch. Branch gets slowly back to his feet.
Gonzalez slips a straight right by Branch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gonzalez slips under a jab from Branch.
Branch misses with a two punch combination.
Branch throws a series of punches but Gonzalez avoids them all with ease.
Branch tries to score with a low kick but Gonzalez moves his leg out of the way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drew Branch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! 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.

Gonzalez dodges the punch combination from Branch.
Branch will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Branch throws a right and a left that both miss.
Branch throws out a loose jab but Gonzalez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Branch has a takedown stuffed.
Gonzalez is looking to clinch but Branch is avoiding it.
Branch misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branch throws a series of punches but Gonzalez avoids them all with ease.
Branch misses with a double jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gonzalez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Branch tries to bum rush Gonzalez with a series of wild strikes but Gonzalez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Branch looks to land a combination but Gonzalez avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez is looking to clinch but Branch is avoiding it.
Branch throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Gonzalez moves into the clinch.
Gonzalez using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Branch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gonzalez landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knees to the body from Gonzalez.
Branch stalling against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gonzalez.
Knees to the body from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Branch.
Gonzalez missing with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gonzalez.
Branch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Branch wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gonzalez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Branch.
Gonzalez tries to land knees in the clinch but Branch avoids the damage to the body.
Branch managing to block the knees to the body from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Branch can't break the clinch.
Branch wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gonzalez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Branch.
Branch wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gonzalez has him pressed against the cage.

Branch breaks from the clinch.
No joy there for Branch, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Branch throws a right and a left that both miss.

Branch forces Gonzalez back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Branch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Branch wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gonzalez has him pressed against the cage.
Branch has a couple of punches blocked by Gonzalez.
Gonzalez landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gonzalez.
Gonzalez missing with knees to the body.
Gonzalez trying to land knees to the body.
Branch wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gonzalez crunches a lovely knee into Branch's ribcage.
Branch managing to block the knees to the body from Gonzalez.
Branch wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Branch has Gonzalez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gonzalez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Branch is trying to break free.

Branch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Gonzalez instigates a clinch.
Branch avoiding damage as Gonzalez throws knees to the body.
Branch wants to break the clinch but can't.
Branch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Branch wants to break free but Gonzalez has control.
Gonzalez landing knees to the body.
Branch wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gonzalez missing with knees to the body.
Branch wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Branch avoiding damage as Gonzalez throws knees to the body.
Gonzalez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Branch.
Branch wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Branch wants to get back to striking at distance but Gonzalez won't allow it.
Branch wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Branch has had enough of the clinch but Gonzalez keeps him there for the moment.

Branch jumps guard.

Branch is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez stopping the sweep attempt from Branch.
Gonzalez tries to stand but Branch is controlling from the bottom.
Gonzalez preventing the sweep.
Branch looking to control.

Branch working for a triangle but Gonzalez defends it easily.
Branch trying to keep a closed guard but Gonzalez is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Branch lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gonzalez!
Branch throws some wild stikes that Gonzalez manages to avoid easily.
Branch throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Hector Gonzalez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gonzalez is squirming around, avoiding Branch's attempts to control the action.
Gonzalez is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hector Gonzalez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Branch 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Drew Branch!