PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zafilu Gamusi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Poirier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gamusi
vs
Poirier

170 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zafilu Gamusi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Stephen Poirier!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Eliza Hachem and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gamusi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Poirier uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Poirier scores with a takedown into Gamusi's guard.
Gamusi controls Poirier momentarily but Poirier frees himself.
Poirier showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Poirier won't allow Gamusi to sweep him here.
Poirier wants to control from the top but Gamusi keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poirier is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stephen Poirier was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Poirier gets tackled into the cage by Gamusi. Gamusi maintains the clinch.

Gamusi pulls Poirier into guard.

Poirier drops back looking for a leg! Gamusi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gamusi manages to kick Poirier off! Poirier jumps back into Gamusi's guard.
Poirier stays in close to Gamusi's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poirier stopping the sweep attempt from Gamusi.
Poirier trying to control but Gamusi is working from the bottom.
Poirier passes into half guard.

Poirier is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Poirier uses his free foot to push down on Gamusi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gamusi.
Poirier prevents Gamusi from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poirier trying to control but Gamusi is having none of it.
Gamusi prevents Poirier from taking his back.
Gamusi is squirming around, avoiding Poirier's attempts to control the action.

Poirier wants to finish this one by submission but Gamusi is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Poirier.
Gamusi working to try and regain half guard.
Gamusi manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poirier has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Poirier takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Poirier trying to control but Gamusi is having none of it.

Poirier working for a submission but Gamusi is keeping him at bay.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Poirier is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Gamusi has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Gamusi!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Poirier dominated that round.
That's time! Gamusi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Poirier feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Gamusi is trying to control the position but Poirier postures up.

Gamusi uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Gamusi misses with a series of wild punches.
Poirier is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gamusi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Poirier misses with a takedown attempt - Gamusi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gamusi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gamusi is looking to clinch.
Gamusi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Poirier.
Zafilu Gamusi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Poirier.

Gamusi closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Poirier quickly recovers to half guard.
Poirier manages to get to full guard.
Poirier is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Gamusi throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gamusi won't allow Poirier to sweep him here.
Poirier not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Poirier looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Poirier manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gamusi manages to get himself to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Poirier stops Gamusi from standing up.
Gamusi keeping moving, preventing Poirier from controlling successfully.

Poirier drops back looking for a leg! Gamusi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gamusi manages to kick Poirier off! Poirier jumps back into Gamusi's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poirier trying to control the position from guard on top but Gamusi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gamusi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Poirier on the ground.
Poirier stays in close to Gamusi's body and controls the position.

Poirier drops back looking for a leg! Gamusi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gamusi manages to kick Poirier off! Poirier jumps back into Gamusi's guard.
Poirier is pushing down on Gamusi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gamusi is fighting to maintain full guard but Poirier has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Poirier seems to be working for a kimura but Gamusi defends the submission attempt.
Gamusi is not content to let Poirier control the position.

Poirier wants to work for an arm triangle but Gamusi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Stephen Poirier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gamusi is looking to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gamusi controlling the position for now.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Poirier in particular looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Poirier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Poirier looks for a takedown but Gamusi sprawls well.
Gamusi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Poirier manages to avoid it.
Poirier fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Poirier has a takedown stuffed.
Zafilu Gamusi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Poirier.
Gamusi stuffs the takedown attempt from Poirier. Poirier gets slowly back to his feet.
Gamusi is looking to clinch.
Poirier takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poirier fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gamusi avoids it really well and circles away.

Poirier gets tackled into the cage by Gamusi. Gamusi maintains the clinch.
Poirier takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Poirier gets control of Gamusi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Poirier will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gamusi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Poirier is on top in guard.
Gamusi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gamusi tries to get out of the position.
Gamusi can't keep his opponent in guard - Poirier advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gamusi wants to control but Poirier is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poirier is looking to advance position but Gamusi won't allow it.
Poirier moves into full mount! Gamusi won't be happy about that!
Gamusi is trying desperately to improve position.

Poirier has control of Gamusi's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Gamusi regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gamusi working to try and regain half guard.

Poirier looking to secure an arm triangle but Gamusi defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poirier is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gamusi can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Gamusi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gamusi wants to hold on but Poirier pushes him away.
Gamusi working to try and regain half guard.

Poirier working for a guillotine from mount but Gamusi is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poirier controlling the position easily from mount.

Gamusi defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Poirier.
Poirier works his way to his opponent's back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Poirier working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Gamusi is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Poirier has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Gamusi taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Stephen Poirier!