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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Drew Branch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Ghirardi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ghirardi has chosen go to sleep as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Nick Ghirardi was going to win. Let's see if he was right.
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| 173 cm
20
144 lbs
5 - 4 - 0 |
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225 cm
19
130 lbs
4 - 6 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined |
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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
5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Drew Branch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nick Ghirardi!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ghirardi tries to clinch but Branch is having none of it.
Branch stuffs the takedown attempt from Ghirardi. Ghirardi gets slowly back to his feet.
Branch misses with a double jab.
Ghirardi tries to clinch up but Branch circles away and keeps his distance.
Ghirardi throws a right and a left that Branch avoids nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ghirardi.
Nice sprawl there from Branch as Ghirardi shoots in.
Drew Branch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Ghirardi.
Branch falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ghirardi counters with a shoot takedown. Branch fights it but they end up in guard.
Branch is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Branch working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ghirardi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ghirardi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Branch lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ghirardi!
Ghirardi tries to hold on but Branch postures up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Branch throwing strikes here but Ghirardi is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Branch landing punches.
Branch connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Branch cracks Ghirardi with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ghirardi is rocked!
Ghirardi is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Branch swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Ghirardi is now in Branch's guard. A big mistake from Branch there, giving up the dominant position!
Ghirardi stopping the sweep attempt from Branch.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ghirardi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ghirardi tries to free his leg and advance position but Branch is retaining full guard.
Ghirardi decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Branch, up you get!
Drew Branch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Branch will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Branch throws a hook to the side of Ghirardi's head but Ghirardi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ghirardi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Branch is breathing heavily.
Ghirardi closes the distance and clinches.
Branch tries to break the clinch but Ghirardi is controlling the position.
Branch tries to score a body lock takedown but Ghirardi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Branch gets underhooks to prevent Ghirardi's takedown attempt.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghirardi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Branch avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Branch misses with a double jab
and Ghirardi moves into the clinch.
Branch breaks the clinch.
Ghirardi avoids a punch combination nicely.
No joy there for Branch, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ghirardi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Branch misses with a double jab
and Ghirardi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ghirardi is working for a submission of some sort.
Ghirardi is controlling the pace.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branch is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ghirardi slows the pace down in half guard.
Ghirardi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ground and pound from Ghirardi.
Branch makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Branch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Nick Ghirardi dominated that round.
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.
Ghirardi staying out of range there.
Branch throws a combination that misses
and Ghirardi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Branch falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ghirardi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ghirardi.
Ghirardi decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Branch, up you get!
Ghirardi throws a head kick but Branch moves out of range.
Branch misses with a double jab
so Ghirardi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
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!
Ghirardi tries to free his leg and advance position but Branch is retaining full guard.
Ghirardi trying to control but Branch is working from the bottom.
Ghirardi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Branch working a defensive guard here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghirardi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Branch working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ghirardi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ghirardi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ghirardi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Branch throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ghirardi uses it to pass to side control.
Ghirardi wants to control but Branch is keeping him busy.
Ghirardi decides to stand back up.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ghirardi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Branch moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Branch throws a hook but Ghirardi blocks it.
Branch throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ghirardi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Branch's guard.
Branch throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ghirardi uses it to pass to side control.
Branch takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Branch trying to control but Ghirardi flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Ghirardi trying to control momentarily.
Branch defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Ghirardi's arms.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branch covering up well under a series of strikes from Ghirardi.
Branch tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Branch sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Branch wants to improve his position but Ghirardi is controlling well.
Branch is working hard here to advance position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ghirardi is looking to take a break and control but Branch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ghirardi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ghirardi is thwarting Branch's attempts to control the position.
Branch looking for submissions off his back.
Ghirardi prevents Branch from improving his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ghirardi trying to control the action but Branch is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Nick Ghirardi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
Branch takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Branch throws a combination that misses
and Ghirardi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Branch might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Branch is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ghirardi decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Ghirardi moves into range and clinches up with Branch.
Ghirardi manages to pull guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Branch accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Branch wants to control from the top but Ghirardi keeps moving.
Branch sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ghirardi's guard.
Branch is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ghirardi defends it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Branch tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ghirardi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nick Ghirardi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Branch is working for a kimura here but Ghirardi manages to reverse the position and he's now in Branch's guard.
Branch wants to sweep here but Ghirardi controlling him for the moment.
Ghirardi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Branch wants to stand and escape but Ghirardi is having none of it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ghirardi lands the left hand.
Ghirardi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Branch!
Branch rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ghirardi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Branch stuffs the takedown attempt from Ghirardi. Ghirardi gets slowly back to his feet.
Branch swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ghirardi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Branch throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ghirardi uses it to pass to side control.
Branch is looking to regain half guard here but Ghirardi keeps moving and retains side control.
Branch is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ghirardi off and has taken his back!
Ghirardi covering up well under a barage of strikes.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghirardi rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Branch decides to stand up.
Drew Branch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Branch throws a series of punches but Ghirardi moves out of range.
Branch throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ghirardi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Branch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ghirardi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ghirardi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ghirardi won't allow Branch to sweep him here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghirardi won't allow Branch to get back to his feet.
Ghirardi has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Branch is proving hard to escape from.
Branch working a defensive guard here.
Branch keeping full guard, as Ghirardi tries to pass.
Branch working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ghirardi has passed into half guard!
Drew Branch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ghirardi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Ghirardi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ghirardi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Ghirardi!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
84% |
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