PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Furious George (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Gibiatti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). George comes to the cage accompanied by Lamb of God - Descending. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

George
vs
Gibiatti

177 cm
35
155 lbs
23 - 13 - 0

165 cm
28
155 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Zipp Zapp
Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 23 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Furious George!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Frank Gibiatti!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
George with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gibiatti counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps George thinking.
George works the jab nicely.
Gibiatti tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but George defends well and Gibiatti ends up having to push George into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

George has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Gibiatti is trying to keep an underhook but George manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Gibiatti tries to get to full guard but George has control of the leg.

George is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gibiatti wants to control but George is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
George controlling the action here.
George is looking to take a break and control but Gibiatti is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibiatti is looking to improve his position.
George is trying to control. Gibiatti wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
George is taking a breather. Gibiatti says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
George wants to control but Gibiatti is keeping him busy.
Gibiatti trying to hold on to George's head to control him but George postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Gibiatti has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
George is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gibiatti sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gibiatti defends well against a solid takedown attempt from George.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Furious George. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

George shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gibiatti is trying to defend but George finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've been hearing good reports from George's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
George thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gibiatti's head.
George trying to control from Gibiatti's half guard. Gibiatti has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
George trying to control but Gibiatti is working from the bottom.
George controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gibiatti seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
George postures up.
George trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gibiatti keeping moving, preventing George from controlling successfully.
Gibiatti utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gibiatti keeping moving, preventing George from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
George shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gibiatti counters with an outside leg kick.
Gibiatti slips a straight right by George.
Gibiatti fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gibiatti fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibiatti lunges at George with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by George's hand.
George fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
George tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gibiatti defends well and George ends up having to push Gibiatti into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
George wants a takedown but no success here.
George working hard to break the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Gibiatti scores with a nice short uppercut.
George's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
George tries to circle away but Gibiatti has him pinned against the cage.
Gibiatti looking to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
George has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gibiatti prevents a body shot from George.
George is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gibiatti keeps the fight in the clinch, despite George's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Furious George will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gibiatti is trying hard to land a takedown here. George sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
George fails to land the takedown.

A big head kick from Gibiatti and George is sent sprawling to the canvas!

George is rocked!
Gibiatti cracks George with a solid left hand.
Oh George is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gibiatti stopping the sweep attempt from George.
George has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Gibiatti has passed into side control.
Gibiatti trying to control the action but George is working from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
George is looking to reverse the position.
George seems to have got his legs back now.
George is working to avoid the ground and pound but Gibiatti connects with a decent elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
George tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gibiatti landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
George is trying to improve his position.
Gibiatti lands an elbow.
George is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gibiatti missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Furious George overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

George looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gibiatti lands strikes from half guard.
Gibiatti lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
George trying to hold on to Gibiatti's head to control him but Gibiatti postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
George is looking to improve his position.
George moves into full guard.

George looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

George throws his legs up looking for a submission but Gibiatti uses it to pass to side control.
Gibiatti lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear George down.
Gibiatti working the ground and pound.
Gibiatti is putting a hurting on George here, landing some big shots from side control.
George takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
George tries to improve position but can't.
George is working hard here to advance position.
George takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
George tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gibiatti wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
George avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Gibiatti.
George sneaks back into half guard.
Gibiatti trying to control the action but George is working from the bottom.
Gibiatti missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
George wants to control but Gibiatti is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gibiatti is just content to waste time from the top position. George takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

George looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
George 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.
Gibiatti landing some decent shots from guard.
George is trying to control the position from the bottom.
George keeping moving, preventing Gibiatti from controlling successfully.
Gibiatti with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gibiatti throwing strikes but missing.
Gibiatti must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gibiatti connects with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Gibiatti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gibiatti turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gibiatti slips under a jab from George.

Gibiatti shoots in and bounces George off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gibiatti has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

George throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gibiatti with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gibiatti throws a big elbow that misses.
George keeping moving, preventing Gibiatti from controlling successfully.
George bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gibiatti's guard.

George will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
George seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
George's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
George trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
George won't allow Gibiatti to sweep him here.

George has gone for a leg lock! Gibiatti slips out almost immediately though and dives into George's guard.

George looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

George has his foot on Gibiatti's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gibiatti works his way back into a safe position though.

George is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gibiatti is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gibiatti with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gibiatti distracts George with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gibiatti lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gibiatti keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of George's head.
Gibiatti advances to half guard.
Nice strikes from Gibiatti there.
Gibiatti winds up and cracks George with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
George missing with punches from the bottom.
George blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gibiatti.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibiatti is trying to control. George wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gibiatti looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gibiatti prevents George from improving his position.
Gibiatti not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
George gets back to full guard.
Gibiatti postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
George has momentary wrist control but Gibiatti slips an elbow through the middle.
Gibiatti stopping the sweep attempt from George.

Gibiatti got a little sloppy there for a moment and George has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gibiatti has managed to get both his arms back between George's legs - danger averted.
Gibiatti working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibiatti preventing the sweep.
Gibiatti passes George's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gibiatti winds up and cracks George with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Gibiatti sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. George defending well though.
Gibiatti scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gibiatti scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gibiatti seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but George does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
George tries to get to full guard but Gibiatti has control of the leg.
Gibiatti thows a huge punch but George dodges it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
George trying to control but Gibiatti postures up.
Gibiatti throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Gibiatti comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gibiatti has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Gibiatti!
Frank Gibiatti was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.