PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Helios Garcius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Garcius
vs
Knight

183 cm
31
190 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

185 cm
28
195 lbs
7 - 3 - 1

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Helios Garcius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Aaron Knight!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knight throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Garcius.
Garcius throws a right and a left that both miss.
Garcius tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Knight manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Garcius doesn't manage to clinch there - Knight circles away.
Garcius shoots in for a double leg but Knight sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Garcius moves in looking to clinch but Knight pushes him off.
No joy there for Knight, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Garcius throws a head kick that misses.
A left and a right from Knight both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Helios Garcius has been cut.
Garcius tries for a takedown but Knight sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Garcius doesn't manage to clinch there - Knight circles away.
Nice defenses there by Garcius.
Knight throws a leg kick but Garcius sees it coming and checks it nicely.
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!
Knight misses with a jab, cross combination.
Knight misses with a wild combination.
Knight misses the jab.
Knight swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Knight keeps the fight on the outside.

Garcius instigates a clinch.

Knight breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcius fails in his attempt to clinch.
Garcius seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Knight tries to bum rush Garcius with a series of wild strikes but Garcius uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Some wild striking there from Garcius.

Garcius drives through and clinches with Knight against the cage.
Knight tries to break the clinch but Garcius is controlling the position.

Garcius breaks from the clinch.
Garcius lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Knight circles away quickly and effectively.
Helios Garcius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Garcius looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Garcius closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Knight quickly recovers to half guard.
Knight told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Garcius missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Garcius wants to stand up but Knight has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Garcius not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Garcius stops Knight from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcius thows a huge punch but Knight dodges it nicely.
Knight tries to kick Garcius off but Garcius keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Garcius is trying to control. Knight wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Garcius prevents Knight from standing back up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knight is refusing to be controlled, as Garcius sits in half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Knight can do anything to dispel that myth.

Garcius decides to stand up.
Garcius wants to clinch up but Knight keeps it at a distance.
Sloppy strikes from Knight. Those never looked like landing.

Garcius closes the distance and clinches.

Garcius escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Garcius throws a nice looking combination but Knight bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcius is looking to clinch but Knight is avoiding it.
Garcius tries to clinch up but Knight circles away and keeps his distance.
Garcius tries to clinch but Knight moves out of range.
Knight throws a series of punches but Garcius avoids them all with ease.
Knight on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Garcius lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Garcius.
Garcius tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knight paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Garcius shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Knight pinned against the cage. Knight gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Helios Garcius. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garcius fails to land with a series of punches.
Garcius is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Garcius 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.
Knight wants to stand and escape but Garcius is having none of it.
Knight wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Garcius manages to pass to side control.
Knight is not content to let Garcius control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Garcius is trying to work for a kimura but Knight is defending well.
Ground and pound from Garcius.
Garcius thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Knight's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Garcius stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Garcius is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Knight throws a leg kick but Garcius sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Garcius tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Knight manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Knight avoids a punch combination nicely.
Garcius blocks a head kick by Knight.
Knight throws a series of punches but Garcius avoids them all with ease.
Aaron Knight is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Garcius misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helios Garcius dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Helios Garcius's cut.
That's time! Garcius's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Knight connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Garcius looks to land a combination. Knight sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Helios Garcius is winning the standup battle so far.
Knight just misses with a punch to the body.
Knight stalks Garcius and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Garcius's face. Garcius staggers backwards, shaken.
Sloppy strikes from Knight. Those never looked like landing.
Knight misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Garcius lands with a slapping head kick.
Garcius is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Garcius throws a series of punches but Knight moves out of range.
Garcius tries to clinch there but Knight circles away.
Helios Garcius is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Garcius fails with an attempt to clinch.
Garcius throws a low kick but Knight avoids it.
A punch combination from Knight misses.
Garcius checks a leg kick.
Garcius tries to clinch but Knight moves away
and Knight counters with a left to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Garcius looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Garcius closes the distance and clinches.
Garcius jumps guard but Knight stands there with Garcius around his waist. Garcius gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcius drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knight stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A body shot lands from Knight.
Garcius is looking to control Knight's arms but Knight gets an underhook and turns him. Now Garcius has his back to the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight scores with a nice hook to the head.
Garcius jumps guard but Knight stands there with Garcius around his waist. Garcius gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Helios Garcius. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garcius is trying to force a seperation but Knight has the dominant position.

Knight pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Garcius darts in looking for a takedown but Knight gets double underhooks and turns Garcius into the cage.
Garcius is looking to break free of the clinch but Knight has double underhooks.

Knight escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Garcius looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Knight rushes Garcius and presses him up against the cage.
Garcius tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Knight just stands there and leans against the cage.
Garcius fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Garcius taking a breather.

Knight pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Knight swats away the attempt to clinch by Garcius.
Garcius misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Knight misses with a few strikes there.
Garcius tries to bum rush Knight with a series of wild strikes but Knight uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Garcius tries to score a power double leg takedown but Knight sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Garcius somewhat.
Garcius falls off balance throwing a combination
and Knight counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
No joy there for Knight, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
An inside leg kick from Garcius misses.
Knight misses with a double jab.
Some wild striking there from Garcius.
Knight stalks Garcius and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Garcius's face. Garcius staggers backwards, shaken.
Knight will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Garcius will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knight throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Garcius throws a right hand that Knight ducks under and follows up with a left that Knight also avoids with ease.
Knight works Garcius's body with a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Knight showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Helios Garcius's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Knight fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Garcius throws a combination. Knight tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Garcius moves out of range of the strikes.
Garcius scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Knight ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Garcius throws a right and a left that Knight avoids nicely.
Garcius tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Knight manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Garcius tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Knight counters with a left and a right that stings Garcius.
Knight avoids the head kick by Garcius.
Garcius slips a jab and a cross from Knight.
Garcius fails in his attempt to clinch.

Knight drives through and clinches with Garcius against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garcius has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Knight avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Knight escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight misses with the combination.
Garcius swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Garcius wants to clinch but Knight slips to the side

and Knight holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Knight stalling the fight.
Garcius tries to break the clinch but Knight is controlling the position.
Garcius wants to break free but Knight has control.

Knight escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Knight works Garcius's body with a nice hook.
Garcius motions for Knight to come forward. Garcius throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Knight misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Garcius.
Knight digs a good body shot into Garcius's ribs.
A combination from Garcius does no damage.
Garcius has a takedown stuffed.
Garcius moves to clinch but Knight breaks away
and Knight counters with a two punch combo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Garcius has closed the distance and engaged Knight in a clinch.

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

Knight takes the fight into the clinch.
Garcius wants to break free but Knight has control.
Knight has Garcius pressed against the cage, preventing Garcius from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knight breaks from the clinch.

Knight gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nice body punch from Garcius - that landed with a thud.

Garcius jumps into guard, dragging Knight to the mat.
Garcius can't keep his opponent in guard - Knight advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Garcius pushes Knight off looking to stand but Knight dives back in and keeps control.
Garcius is not content to let Knight control the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Knight in particular looking to stall.
Knight wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcius trying to control from the bottom.
Knight is just content to waste time from the top position. Garcius takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Knight controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Aaron Knight wasn't active enough on the ground.
Knight scores with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Garcius moves into the clinch.
Knight working hard to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Garcius is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Knight can't fight it off and eventually Garcius manages to take the fight to the floor. Knight looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Helios Garcius overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Garcius wants to control from the top but Knight keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Knight comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Knight 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Knight!