PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dick Stern (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cael Gable (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cael Gable has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Stern
vs
Gable

180 cm
22
196 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

182 cm
22
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dick Stern!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cael Gable!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gable shoots for a double leg takedown but Stern sprawls well. He's pushed Gable's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gable shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stern defends it nicely.
Stern misses with an uppercut. Gable saw that one coming.
Gable closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stern circles away.
Dick Stern has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cael Gable.
Stern throws a solid leg kick but Gable takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Stern.

Gable bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Stern is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The ground and pound from Gable seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An elbow from Gable crashes against the mat.
Stern tries to buck Gable off but Gable is having none of it.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Stern struggling a bit here.
Stern avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Gable.
Stern has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stern takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Gable is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Stern will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Gable working the strikes but Stern uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Gable not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stern manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gable postures up.
Stern pulls Gable in close to prevent any damage.
Stern avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stern avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gable connects with a couple of short punches.
Stern avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stern seems keen to control Gable's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gable shoots for a takedown but Stern saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Stern throws a head kick but Gable moves out of range.

Stern tries to sprawl but Gable drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Gable thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stern's head.
Stern is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gable's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gable's back!
Gable trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gable tries to roll but Stern sticks to his back.
Stern just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Gable tries to escape the position.
Gable looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Gable tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Stern tries to control but Gable wriggling away.
Gable can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stern trying to control but Gable is having none of it.
Gable bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gable throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gable looking to pass the guard.
Gable chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cael Gable dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stern jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

It looks like Cael Gable has been cut.
Gable misses with a series of wild punches.
Stern lands with a nice body kick.
Gable lands a really nice looking cross but Stern seems unphased.
Good leg kick by Stern there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Gable throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stern throws a head kick but Gable moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stern stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stern wants it to stay on the feet.
Stern scores with a leg kick.
Gable misses with a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stern cracks Gable with a right hand to the side of the head.
Stern lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Gable shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stern but Stern pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gable takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Gable decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Stern is looking to improve his position.
Stern controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Stern wants to improve his position but Gable is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stern manages to get to full guard.
Gable loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gable pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stern is keeping the position for now.
Gable loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gable stands and throws Stern's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Stern managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Gable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gable throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Gable postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Gable creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gable working the ground and pound but Stern is defending the strikes.
Gable lands a few punches from side control.
Gable lands an elbow.
Gable creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gable creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Stern sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Gable works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Gable working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Gable has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stern tries to improve position but can't.
Stern defending against the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gable working the ground and pound.
Gable laying and praying for a moment but Stern takes advantage and regains half guard.
Stern is staying active underneath Gable, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cael Gable has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stern avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gable.
Gable thows a huge punch but Stern dodges it nicely.
Stern manages to get to full guard.
Gable wants to pass the guard but Stern is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cael Gable will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Cael Gable's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Stern throws a wild body kick that Gable sees coming a mile off.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gable or perhaps it was just good defense by Stern, which made it look bad.
Gable darts in looking for a takedown but Stern gets double underhooks and turns Gable into the ropes.
Stern lands an elbow inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Stern.
Gable takes an elbow to the forehead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gable is trying to pull guard but Stern turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Dick Stern has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cael Gable.
Stern prevents the takedown attempt.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Stern.

That has opened up Cael Gable's cut even more.
Stern digs a right hand into Gable's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gable's gas tank.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Gable drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Come on Stern - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Gable tries to pull guard but Stern forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Stern lands a nice elbow.
Gable is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Stern gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gable avoids a wild elbow strike from Stern.
Stern creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Stern is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stern is pressed up against the ropes. Gable has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stern down to the mat. Stern avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Stern tries a head kick but it misses.
Gable looks to score with a jab to the body but Stern is just out of range.
Gable throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gable misses with a series of wild punches.
Gable will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dick Stern is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stern sizes up Gable with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gable misses with a takedown
and Stern makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gable is defended easily by Stern.
Gable displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stern throws out the jab.
Stern throws the left hand but Gable avoids the punch easily.
Stern throws a poor cross that misses
and Gable counters with a stiff right hand.
Gable will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A head kick misses from Stern.
Dick Stern is winning the standup battle so far.
Gable misses the jab.
Gable takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Stern fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stern lands a leg kick that knocks Gable off balance momentarily.
A leg kick checked by Gable.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gable.
Gable fails with a takedown attempt.
Gable looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stern is fending him off so far but Gable persists. Nope, Stern circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stern misses with a head kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Stern scores with a four punch combination!
Gable's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gable has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Stern clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Cael Gable's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stern lands a big head kick that sends Gable tumbling to the mat! Stern takes a step backwards and waves Gable back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Gable is rocked!
Stern blocks a jab.
Gable is still on wobbly legs! Can Stern finish him?
Stern connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

The cut above Cael Gable's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Stern cracks a nice hook into Gable's ribs.
Stern stuffs the takedown attempt from Gable. Gable gets slowly back to his feet.
Gable keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Gable has his takedown stuffed
and Stern counters with a nice body kick.
Gable seems to have recovered his senses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gable shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stern pinned against the ropes. Stern gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dick Stern has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cael Gable.
Stern jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gable takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Stern is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gable can do to turn this around?
Stern is looking to slow Gable down with leg kicks.
A punch combination from Stern misses.
Stern keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Stern keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gable throws a right and a left that both miss.
That kick from Stern tenderised Gable's leg. Gable is trying to keep his angry face on.
Stern keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gable darts in looking for a takedown but Stern gets double underhooks and turns Gable into the ropes.
Stern misses with a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Stern.
Stern prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gable drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gable is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Gable avoids a wild elbow strike from Stern.
Gable tries to pull guard but Stern holds him up against the ropes and eventually Gable drops back down to his feet.
Gable has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stern is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gable looking for a takedown.
Gable is looking for a takedown.
Stern lands a body shot.
Stern slowing the pace effectively.
Gable looking for a takedown.
Stern can't find room to land a body shot as Gable controls the action.
Dick Stern has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stern throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gables head.
Stern cracks Gable with a nice body shot.
Stern tries a body shot but Gable blocks it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Stern.

Cael Gable's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Stern creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Stern gets underhooks to prevent Gable's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Stern.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Cael Gable's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:13 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Dick Stern!
Dick Stern is the new middleweight champion!