PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Degen Gambler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Rodinerio Bravo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bravo has chosen Damian Marley - Confrontation as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Gambler
vs
Rodinerio Bravo

188 cm
37
220 lbs
33 - 22 - 0

189 cm
41
221 lbs
26 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Degen Gambler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Joey Rodinerio Bravo !
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Colin Fray and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bravo blocks a low kick nicely.

Bravo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gambler is looking to control Bravo 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gambler avoid being mounted?
Bravo not doing much here.
Gambler is looking to improve his position.
Gambler makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gambler.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bravo trying to control but Gambler is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bravo tries to free his leg and advance position but Gambler is retaining full guard.
Bravo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gambler's guard.
Bravo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gambler keeps working.
Bravo trying to advance position but Gambler counters by regaining guard.
Bravo pushing down on Gambler's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Bravo is trying to work for a kimura but Gambler is defending well.
Bravo is stalling here. Gambler is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Bravo seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Gambler has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bravo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bravo is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Bravo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gambler is working Bravo over with some ground and pound from side control.
Bravo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gambler landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bravo wants to get back to full guard.
Bravo gets full guard.
Gambler trying to control the position from guard on top but Bravo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gambler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gambler has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bravo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Bravo working for a triangle but Gambler defends it easily.

Bravo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Gambler is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Bravo .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bravo struggling a bit here.
Gambler wants to stand but Bravo has his arm trapped.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bravo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bravo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joey Rodinerio Bravo will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bravo 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.
Bravo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gambler is keeping the position for now.
Bravo is still trying to improve position.
Gambler is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bravo looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bravo preventing the sweep.
Gambler is pulling down on Bravo 's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gambler has his foot on Bravo 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bravo works his way back into a safe position though.
Gambler trying to keep a closed guard but Bravo is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Degen Gambler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bravo moves into the clinch successfully.
Bravo jumps guard but Gambler turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gambler misses with a knee strike.
Bravo takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Joey Rodinerio Bravo has been cut.

Bravo gets control of Gambler's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bravo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gambler accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bravo is on top in guard.

Gambler is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Joey Rodinerio Bravo has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gambler is looking for a triangle but Bravo pushes his legs off easily.

Bravo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bravo looking to pass the guard.
Gambler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bravo wants to control from the top but Gambler keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bravo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gambler manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bravo manages to get himself to full guard.

Bravo working a defensive guard here.
Bravo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gambler is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gambler passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bravo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bravo regains half guard.
Bravo is trying to get back to full guard.
Bravo trying to control but Gambler postures up.
We've been hearing good reports from Gambler'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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gambler seems to be working for a kimura but Bravo defends the submission attempt.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Rodinerio Bravo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joey Rodinerio Bravo 's cut.
That's time! Gambler's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Bravo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Bravo rushes Gambler and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gambler tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Bravo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bravo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Bravo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bravo keeping moving, preventing Gambler from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gambler slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Gambler working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bravo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Bravo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gambler doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gambler manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gambler controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bravo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bravo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Gambler gets to his feet. Bravo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Bravo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A shot in the inside from Gambler.
Bravo tries to pull guard but Gambler won't allow it.
A short right from Gambler on the inside.
Bravo jumps guard but Gambler turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bravo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Degen Gambler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Rodinerio Bravo .
Gambler with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gambler creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Bravo 's defenses.
Gambler throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gambler lands an elbow just above Bravo 's eye.

Bravo is rocked!
Gambler working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Bravo is still on wobbly legs! Can Gambler finish him?
Bravo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gambler smiles and moves away.
Bravo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gambler lands an uppercut, right on the button! Bravo tumbles backwards into the cage, staring vacantly into space! He's got no idea where he is, who he is or what day it is... Poor guy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Degen Gambler!
A relieved looking Degen Gambler thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Joey Rodinerio Bravo was interviewed post fight and said 'I'm sure he applied WD-40 to his body, so i couldn't get a hold of him!'.