PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arturo Gatti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Birdman Lugz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Gatti
vs
Lugz

176 cm
29
170 lbs
9 - 15 - 0

181 cm
32
179 lbs
1 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

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 9 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arturo Gatti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Birdman Lugz!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lugz tries to clinch up.
Gatti throws a series of punches but Lugz avoids them all with ease.
Lugz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gatti manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lugz closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gatti counters with a one-two to the body.
Gatti will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gatti looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A combination from Gatti does no damage.
Lugz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lugz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lugz slips a jab and a cross from Gatti.
Lugz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gatti manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gatti circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gatti misses with a double jab
and Lugz counters with a stiff right hand.
Lugz throws a lazy right hand but Gatti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gatti throws a right hand that Lugz ducks under and follows up with a left that Lugz also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lugz circles away quickly and effectively.
Lugz tries to clinch but Gatti is having none of it.
Gatti will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lugz tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Gatti makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gatti keeps the fight on the outside.
Lugz tries to close the distance and clinch but Gatti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lugz connects with a jab.
Gatti swinging wildly here.
A punch lands to the side of Gatti 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Lugz tries to clinch but Gatti is having none of it.
Gatti scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head kick misses from Gatti.
Lugz wants to clinch up but Gatti keeps it at a distance.
Lugz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gatti throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gatti is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatti throws a right hand that Lugz ducks under and follows up with a left that Lugz also avoids with ease.
Lugz closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gatti counters with an outside leg kick.
Lugz wants to clinch.
Gatti throws a nice looking combination but Lugz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lugz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gatti.
Lugz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gatti sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gatti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lugz circles away quickly and effectively.
Gatti swats away the attempt to clinch by Lugz.
Gatti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lugz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatti lands with a nice combination. Lugz backs away looking to recover.
Lugz closes the distance but Gatti moves to the side
and Gatti makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lugz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gatti paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gatti fails to land with a series of punches.
Gatti misses with a series of wild punches.
Gatti swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lugz counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gatti thinking.
Lugz tries to clinch up.
Lugz lands with a straight right. Gatti didn't see that one coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lugz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gatti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lugz circles away quickly and effectively.
Some wild striking there from Gatti.
Lugz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatti circles away from the clinch attempt.

Lugz pushes Gatti up against the cage in a clinch.
Lugz can't get the takedown.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gatti is trying to break the clinch but Lugz is controlling him.
Gatti wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gatti wants to break free but Lugz has control.
Gatti tries to circle away but Lugz has him pinned against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Gatti's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lugz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gatti avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Arturo Gatti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Birdman Lugz.
Gatti tries to circle away but Lugz has him pinned against the cage.
Gatti is trying to break the clinch but Lugz is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lugz keeps control of Gatti as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gatti is trying to push Lugz away but Lugz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gatti wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lugz has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Birdman Lugz will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Arturo Gatti's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lugz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gatti swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lugz tries to clinch there but Gatti circles away.
Gatti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lugz circles away quickly and effectively.
Gatti throws a combination. Lugz tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lugz dodges the punch combination from Gatti.
Lugz is looking to clinch but Gatti is avoiding it.
Birdman Lugz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gatti swats away the attempt to clinch by Lugz.
Lugz dodges the punch combination from Gatti.
Arturo Gatti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lugz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lugz tries to clinch but Gatti is having none of it.
Gatti swinging wildly here.
Lugz wants to clinch but Gatti slips to the side
and Gatti counters with a nice leg kick.
Lugz tries to close the distance and clinch but Gatti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lugz tries to clinch but Gatti moves out of range.
Lugz scores with a jab. Gatti acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Gatti tries to score with a low kick but Lugz moves his leg out of the way.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lugz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gatti tries to bum rush Lugz with a series of wild strikes but Lugz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gatti misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lugz doesn't manage to clinch there - Gatti circles away.
Arturo Gatti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gatti falls off balance throwing a combination
and Lugz counters with a nice uppercut.

Arturo Gatti's cut is getting worse.
Lugz wants to clinch up but Gatti keeps it at a distance.
Lugz lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Gatti looks to land a combination but Lugz avoids it well.
Gatti misses with a wild combination.
Lugz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatti swats away the attempt to clinch by Lugz.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gatti takes one to the chin there.

Gatti is rocked!
Gatti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lugz circles away quickly and effectively.
Gatti moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Lugz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gatti manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lugz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gatti swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gatti swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lugz doesn't manage to clinch there - Gatti circles away.
Lugz tries to clinch but Gatti is having none of it.
Lugz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Gatti.
Lugz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gatti manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lugz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gatti blocks a head kick by Lugz.
Gatti throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lugz doesn't manage to clinch there - Gatti circles away.
Lugz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gatti paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lugz darts in trying to clinch
and Gatti counters with a series of strikes. Lugz will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gatti circles away from the clinch attempt.

Lugz moves into the clinch.
Lugz prevents Gatti from breaking the clinch.
Gatti tries to break free but Lugz pushes him back against the cage.
Lugz looking for a takedown.
Gatti wants to get back to striking at distance but Lugz won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatti wants to break free but Lugz has control.
Gatti tries to break free but Lugz pushes him back against the cage.
Gatti wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lugz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gatti wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gatti stops a takedown attempt from Lugz.
Arturo Gatti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Birdman Lugz.
Gatti is looking to break free of the clinch but Lugz has double underhooks.
Lugz wants a takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gatti goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gatti is trying to push Lugz away but Lugz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gatti is looking to break free of the clinch but Lugz has double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Birdman Lugz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Arturo Gatti's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lugz rushes Gatti and presses him up against the cage.
Gatti wants to get back to striking at distance but Lugz won't allow it.
Gatti tries to break free but Lugz pushes him back against the cage.
Lugz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gatti gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lugz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gatti avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gatti on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gatti tries to throw a body punch but Lugz avoids it by throwing Gatti back against the cage.
Gatti is trying to break the clinch but Lugz is controlling him.
Gatti looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gatti is trying to force a seperation but Lugz has the dominant position.
Lugz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Arturo Gatti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Birdman Lugz.
Lugz tries to score a body lock takedown but Gatti shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatti is trying to break the clinch but Lugz is controlling him.
Lugz looking for a takedown.
Lugz has Gatti pressed against the cage, preventing Gatti from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gatti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Gatti breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gatti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lugz.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lugz tries to clinch there but Gatti circles away.
Gatti fails to land with a series of punches.
Lugz slips a jab and a cross from Gatti.
Gatti throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Birdman Lugz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gatti will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gatti throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lugz is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lugz tries to clinch but Gatti is having none of it.
Lugz is looking to clinch.

Lugz moves into the clinch successfully.
Lugz wants a takedown but no success here.
Gatti working hard to break the clinch.
Lugz is looking for a takedown.
Gatti working hard to break the clinch.
Lugz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gatti walks away with a smile on his face. Lugz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gatti lands a jab-cross combination.
Lugz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lugz tries to clinch up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gatti throws a jab but it's blocked by Lugz.
Gatti keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gatti looks to land a combination but Lugz avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatti will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gatti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lugz.
Lugz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lugz shoots in for a takedown but Gatti shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gatti fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lugz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lugz tries to clinch but Gatti moves out of range.
Lugz tries to close the distance and clinch but Gatti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lugz tries to clinch up
and Gatti counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gatti rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lugz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatti misses with a few strikes there.
Lugz tries to close the distance and clinch but Gatti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gatti throws a right and a left that Lugz avoids nicely.
Lugz wants to clinch
and Gatti counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lugz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lugz moves out of range of the leg kick from Gatti.
Gatti misses with a kick to the body.
Gatti throws a series of punches but Lugz moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lugz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gatti misses with a two punch combination.
Arturo Gatti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Birdman Lugz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Lugz forces Gatti back against the cage and clinches.

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 Arturo Gatti.
I think Lugz 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Birdman Lugz!