PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mark Gambacorto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Shield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gambacorto
vs
Shield

173 cm
25
168 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

182 cm
27
165 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mark Gambacorto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sam Shield!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gambacorto just misses with a punch to the body.
Gambacorto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shield.

Gambacorto takes the fight into the clinch.
Gambacorto pressing his opponent against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Gambacorto fails to land.

Gambacorto breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Shield.
Shield throws a head kick that misses.
Shield throws a sloppy head kick and Gambacorto moves out of range easily.
Gambacorto fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Shield looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gambacorto misses with a looping left.

Shield darts in and clinches Gambacorto up against the cage.
Gambacorto dodges an elbow strike from Shield.
Gambacorto tries a body shot but Shield blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shield.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gambacorto manages to break the clinch.

Shield moves into range and clinches up with Gambacorto.
Shield manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Gambacorto gets through Shield's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Shield lands an elbow just above Gambacorto 's eye.
Shield throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Gambacorto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Gambacorto blocks the elbow strike.
Shield looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Shield looking to slow down the pace here.
The referee calls for Gambacorto to work.
Gambacorto is trying to maintain a safe position but Shield gets an underhook and turns Gambacorto into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shield throws an elbow but it misses.
Gambacorto is looking to break free of the clinch but Shield has double underhooks.
Shield missing with knees to the body.
Shield lands an elbow inside.
Gambacorto lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Shield or not.
Gambacorto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shield's elbow.
Gambacorto on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gambacorto wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gambacorto lands a nice elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gambacorto is trying to stall.
Gambacorto softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Shield dodges an elbow strike from Gambacorto.
Shield missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shield pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Gambacorto avoiding damage as Shield throws knees to the body.
Gambacorto managing to block the knees to the body from Shield.
Gambacorto taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gambacorto working aggressively here.
Gambacorto working hard to break the clinch.
Gambacorto takes an elbow to the forehead.
Shield looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Shield takes an elbow to the forehead.
Shield tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gambacorto avoids it.
Shield avoids the elbow strike from Gambacorto, against the cage.
Gambacorto blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shield creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Shield has Gambacorto pressed against the cage, preventing Gambacorto from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gambacorto misses with a punch on the inside.
Shield scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gambacorto slowing the pace effectively.
Gambacorto looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Gambacorto avoiding damage as Shield throws knees to the body.
Shield trying to land knees to the body.
Shield missing with knees to the body.
Gambacorto throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Shield throws an elbow but it misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gambacorto.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shield pushes off an throws an elbow but Gambacorto leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Gambacorto is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shield is defending well for now.
Gambacorto is looking to break free of the clinch but Shield has double underhooks.
Gambacorto blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gambacorto is trying to break the clinch but Shield has him pressed against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Shield throws an elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Gambacorto dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shield thows a body shot but no joy.

Gambacorto moves into the clinch.
Gambacorto avoids a wild elbow strike from Shield.
Gambacorto lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gambacorto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shield blocks the elbow strike.

Gambacorto breaks the clinch.
Shield throws a sloppy head kick and Gambacorto moves out of range easily.
Gambacorto takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Shield tries a head kick but it misses.
Shield looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gambacorto cracks Shield with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Shield missing with a left hand there. Gambacorto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shield throws out a powerful jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gambacorto lands with a good body shot.
Gambacorto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shield walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shield closes the distance and clinches.
Shield struggles to land a body shot inside as Gambacorto controls his hands.
Gambacorto pressing his opponent against the cage.
Shield tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gambacorto avoids it.
Shield prevents Gambacorto from breaking the clinch.
Shield throws an elbow but it misses.
Shield tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gambacorto avoids it.
Gambacorto misses with a body punch.
Shield avoiding damage as Gambacorto throws knees to the body.
Shield blocks the elbow strike.
Gambacorto throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Shield tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gambacorto avoids it.
Shield lands a nice elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gambacorto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shield pushes off an throws an elbow but Gambacorto leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Gambacorto pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Shield misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gambacorto.
A short right from Shield.
Gambacorto avoids a wild elbow strike from Shield.
Shield avoiding damage as Gambacorto throws knees to the body.
Shield stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gambacorto blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gambacorto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Shield prevents a body shot from Gambacorto.
Shield throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Shield trying to land knees to the body.
Gambacorto trying to land knees to the body.
Gambacorto blocks an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Gambacorto.
Gambacorto throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Gambacorto lands an elbow inside.
Shield missing with knees to the body.
Mark Gambacorto has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gambacorto looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Shield pushes off an throws an elbow but Gambacorto leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Gambacorto throws an elbow that misses.
Shield throws an elbow that misses.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gambacorto takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Gambacorto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gambacorto pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Shield takes an elbow to the temple.
Shield blocking some punches.
Gambacorto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Shield just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gambacorto's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shield misses with a body punch.
Shield tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gambacorto avoids it.
Gambacorto tries to break the clinch but Shield is controlling the position.
A bit of stalling here from Shield.
Shield throws an elbow but it misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shield is trying to maintain a safe position but Gambacorto gets an underhook and turns Shield into the cage.
Shield blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gambacorto misses with an elbow over the top.
Shield keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gambacorto's efforts to push away.
Gambacorto tries to land knees in the clinch but Shield avoids the damage to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shield throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Gambacorto misses with a body punch.
Gambacorto trying to land knees to the body.
Gambacorto tries to work over Shield's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mark Gambacorto will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gambacorto avoids a kick to the body.

Gambacorto has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gambacorto blocks an elbow strike from Shield.
Gambacorto is looking to break free of the clinch but Shield has double underhooks.

Gambacorto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shield dips to his left and cracks Gambacorto with an uppercut!
Gambacorto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shield tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shield lunges at Gambacorto with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gambacorto's hand.
Shield tries a head kick but it misses.
Gambacorto swats away the attempt to clinch by Shield.
Gambacorto blocks a head kick by Shield.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Shield checks a leg kick.
Shield moves forwards but Gambacorto connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A combination from Shield does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gambacorto lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Shield plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Gambacorto blocks a head kick by Shield.
Gambacorto thumps Shield with a low kick.
Gambacorto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shield just misses with a punch to the body.
Gambacorto chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gambacorto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shield is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gambacorto.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shield tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shield lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Gambacorto lands a leg kick that knocks Shield off balance momentarily.
Gambacorto swats away the attempt to clinch by Shield.
Gambacorto lands a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gambacorto scores with a jab. Shield acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Shield getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Shield slips a jab from Gambacorto.
Nice defenses there by Shield.
Shield swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gambacorto lands a head shot.
Gambacorto defending well as Shield loads up on a big left hand.
Gambacorto tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Shield lands a nice hook to Gambacorto's body. Gambacorto takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Shield gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gambacorto throws a leg kick but Shield sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Shield pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gambacorto misses with the combination.
Shield misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shield rushes Gambacorto and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gambacorto throws an elbow that misses.
Shield swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shield blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gambacorto avoids the elbow strike from Shield, against the cage.
Good body shot from Gambacorto.
Gambacorto throws a punch but it's blocked by Shield.
Gambacorto dodges an elbow strike from Shield.
Shield missing with knees to the body.
Gambacorto avoiding damage as Shield throws knees to the body.
Shield throws an elbow that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Shield just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gambacorto's brow.
Shield misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gambacorto.
Gambacorto misses with an elbow over the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gambacorto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shield is looking to clinch but Gambacorto is avoiding it.
Shield throws a head kick that misses.
Gambacorto throws a head kick but Shield moves out of range.
Mark Gambacorto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shield throws a head kick that misses
enabling Gambacorto to counter with a crisp jab.
Shield tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shield misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shield misses with a body kick.
Shield scores with a leg kick.
Sam Shield has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shield is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shield misses with a kick to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shield lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Gambacorto scores with a jab.
Shield misses with a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sam Shield.
Well Gambacorto 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Gambacorto!
Mark Gambacorto made sure to mention his sponsor, 1337 ANZAC in his post fight interview.