PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Domenic Gatto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Sands (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Gatto
vs
Sands

220 cm
25
255 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

192 cm
18
265 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Domenic Gatto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Sands!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Ron Honeybunn and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gatto lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
No joy there for Sands, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gatto throws a push kick but Sands slaps the foot to one side.
Gatto scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Gatto connects with a body shot.
Gatto misses with the combination.

Sands moves into the clinch.
Sands keeps control of Gatto as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gatto wants to break free but Sands has control.
Gatto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sands scores with a shot to the side of Gatto's head.
Sands misses with a punch to the body.
Sands lands a body shot in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sands is looking to control Gatto's arms but Gatto gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sands has his back to the cage.
Gatto has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gatto wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sands.
Sands is trying to stall.
Gatto has had enough of the clinch but Sands keeps him there for the moment.
Gatto letting Sands take a breather here.
Sands leaning against his opponent.
Sands continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

Sands manages to break the clinch.
Gatto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sands tries to clinch but Gatto is having none of it.
Gatto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sands circles away quickly and effectively.
Sands is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Gatto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sands.
Gatto really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sands looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gatto lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Gatto.
Sands fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sands tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Sands clinches up with Gatto and pushes him back against the cage.
Sands prevents Gatto from breaking the clinch.

Gatto manages to break the clinch.
Sands on the wrong end of a nice hook.
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!

Sands moves into range and clinches up with Gatto.
Sands digs a right hand into Gatto's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gatto's gas tank.
Sands is pushing Gatto up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Sands escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Domenic Gatto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gatto tries a head kick but it misses.
Gatto thuds a left hand into Sands's body.
Gatto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gatto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gatto closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatto lands with a shot to the body.
Gatto staying out of range there.
Sands dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sands lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gatto backs up against the cage.
Sands looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Gatto looks for the body kick but Sands saw that one coming.
Gatto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gatto is breathing heavily.
Gatto throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sands stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sands is looking to clinch but Gatto is avoiding it.
Gatto is looking to wear down Sands with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gatto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sands.
Sloppy strikes from Gatto. Those never looked like landing.
Gatto shoots for a double leg takedown but Sands sprawls well. He's pushed Gatto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gatto misses with a jab, cross combination.

Gatto gets tackled into the cage by Sands. Sands maintains the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sands breaks the clinch.
Gatto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatto feints a jab promting Sands to slip. Gatto then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Sands slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Sands rushes Gatto and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sands prevents Gatto from breaking the clinch.
Gatto wants to break free but Sands has control.
A short body shot lands from Sands as the two fighters clinch.
Sands scores with a shot to the side of Gatto's head.
Sands trying to stall but Gatto improves his position.
Sands lands a nice shot to the body.
The referee calls for Sands to work.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sands - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sands leaning against his opponent.
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 Domenic Gatto will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sands slips under a jab.
Gatto looks to throw the jab but Sands is out of range.
Sands slips a jab and a cross from Gatto.
Gatto has his takedown stuffed

and Sands counters by moving into the clinch.
Gatto wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sands works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Sands works on Gatto's body with a couple of short punches.

Sands breaks the clinch.
Gatto throws a right and a left that Sands avoids nicely.
Sands tries to bum rush Gatto with a series of wild strikes but Gatto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sands swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sands moves out of range of the body kick.
A little jabbing left from Sands on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sands wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatto swinging wildly here.
Gatto misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Sands has Gatto up against the cage in a clinch.

Sands breaks from the clinch.
Gatto misses the jab.
Gatto throws a looping overhand right but Sands ducks down to avoid it.
Sands takes a swing at Gatto's ribcage but misses.
Sands steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gatto.
Sands looks to land a combination but Gatto avoids it well.

Sands clinches up against the cage.
Gatto wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sands has him pressed against the cage.

Gatto jumps into guard, dragging Sands to the mat.
Gatto is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sands is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sands with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sands throwing strikes but missing.
Sands wanted to stand there but Gatto had control of the position.
Sands stops Gatto from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sands wants to pass the guard but Gatto is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sands throws a series of punches but Gatto avoids them all with ease.
Gatto shoots in but Sands avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sands misses with the combination.
Gatto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gatto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sands.
A combination from Gatto does no damage.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sands! But no joy.
Domenic Gatto is winning the standup battle so far.
Sands is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gatto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sands moves forwards but Gatto connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Sands as Gatto shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Domenic Gatto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gatto throws a series of punches but Sands avoids them all with ease.
Sands on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sands looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gatto seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Sands avoids the head kick by Gatto.
Sands throws a counter combo.
Gatto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gatto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gatto was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sands avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sands tries to counter by closing the distance.
Sands displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gatto.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gatto misses with a body kick.
Sands jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gatto is looking for a counter combo.
Gatto lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Domenic Gatto will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A jab from Sands misses.
Gatto is looking to counter the offense by Sands and move into the clinch.
Gatto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sands misses with a wild combination.
Gatto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sands changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Gatto misses with a two punch combination.
Sands slips a jab and a cross from Gatto.
Sands moves in looking to clinch but Gatto pushes him off.
Gatto throws a nice looking combination but Sands bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gatto keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gatto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sands rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gatto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sands tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gatto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gatto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sands throws out a counter right but Gatto avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatto looks to land a combination but Sands avoids it well.
Michael Sands is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gatto walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Gatto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sands.
Gatto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sands.
Sands is looking to clinch but Gatto is avoiding it.
Gatto fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Gatto swinging wildly here.
Sands connects with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sands. Gatto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gatto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sands.
Michael Sands has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sands wants to clinch up but Gatto keeps it at a distance.

Sands closes the distance and clinches.
Gatto tries to break the clinch but Sands is controlling the position.
Gatto tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sands stalling.

Sands manages to break the clinch.

Sands moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sands lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Sands escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gatto takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sands tries to close the distance and clinch but Gatto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Sands closes the distance and clinches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sands is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Sands tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sands looking to slow down the pace here.
Gatto is trying to pull guard but Sands turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Domenic Gatto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sands's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gatto cracks Sands with an open hand slap.

Sands has Gatto up against the cage in a clinch.
Come on Sands - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sands stalling in the clinch but Gatto improves position.
Gatto is looking to break free of the clinch but Sands has double underhooks.
Gatto wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sands slows down the pace here.

Sands pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Domenic Gatto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sands swinging wildly here.
Nice defenses there by Gatto.
Gatto appears to be looking for a big counter.
Gatto looks for the body kick but Sands saw that one coming.
Gatto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Domenic Gatto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gatto sizes up Sands with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gatto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sands.
Gatto misses with a jab, cross combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Sands comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gatto has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 29:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Domenic Gatto!