PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Royce Turner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Gutrell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Gutrell has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Turner
vs
Gutrell

177 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Royce Turner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Gutrell!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Paul Gruel and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Turner shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gutrell's guard.
Gutrell looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Gutrell had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Turner defends it easily.
Turner wants to control from the top but Gutrell keeps moving.

Turner is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Turner trying to control but Gutrell is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turner pushes down on Gutrell's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Turner not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turner controlling the action here.
Turner is keen to just control but Gutrell is a slippery customer.
Gutrell tries to get to full guard but Turner has control of the leg.

Gutrell looking for submissions off his back.
Turner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gutrell on the ground.

Gutrell looking for submissions off his back.
Turner controlling the pace.
Gutrell blocking the ground and pound attempt from Turner.
Turner prevents Gutrell from improving his position.
Turner could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Turner wants to take a breather but Gutrell is having none of it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Turner is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Gutrell looking for submissions off his back.
Turner is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Turner gets the takedown into side control.
Gutrell is trying to improve his position.
Gutrell trying to remain calm as Turner controls from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turner cracks Gutrell with a big right hand but Gutrell just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
You can see the frustration on Gutrell's face as Turner controls the position.
Gutrell dodges the ground and pound from Turner.
Turner wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gutrell keeps working.
Gutrell tries to improve position but can't.
Turner wants to control but Gutrell is keeping him busy.
Turner taking a breather here.
Turner wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gutrell keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Turner tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Turner works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
We've been informed that Gutrell has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Gutrell tries to bench press Turner off him but Turner keeps the position.
Turner is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Gutrell's shoulder. That is not cool.
Turner'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.
Gutrell 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!

Gutrell is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Turner pulls his head out easily.
Turner stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Turner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Gutrell's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Turner closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Turner wants a takedown.
Turner is looking to take this one to the mat.

Turner decides to pull guard.
Turner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turner wants to get back to his feet but Gutrell is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gutrell tries to free his leg and advance position but Turner is retaining full guard.
Gutrell is breathing heavily.
Turner wants to stand but Gutrell is controlling the position.
Gutrell postures up in Turner's guard and throws a big left but Turner blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutrell stops Turner from standing up.
Gutrell won't allow Turner to sweep him here.

Gutrell thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Turner is trying to keep Gutrell in close.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Turner lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Turner has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Royce Turner. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Turner clinches.
Turner prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turner lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Turner tries to circle away but Gutrell has him pinned against the cage.
Turner is trying to drag Gutrell to the mat but Gutrell just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gutrell is pressed up against the cage. Turner has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gutrell down to the mat. Gutrell avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gutrell tries for a takedown but Turner circles away easily
enabling Turner to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gutrell misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Turner to counter with a crisp jab.
Gutrell with a lazy takedown attempt
and Turner counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
James Gutrell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gutrell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Turner.
Turner scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Gutrell looks for a takedown but Turner sprawls well.
Horrible takedown attempt by Turner or perhaps it was just good defense by Gutrell, which made it look bad.
Good standup being displayed there by Turner as he connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gutrell clinches up with Turner and pushes him back against the cage.

Turner pulls guard.
Turner looking for a sweep. Not yet Turner, not yet.
Gutrell scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Turner lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Turner won't allow Gutrell to sweep him here.
Turner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gutrell can do to turn this around?
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!

Gutrell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Turner defends well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gutrell throws his legs up looking for a submission but Turner uses it to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Turner dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Gutrell's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Turner looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gutrell is fending him off so far but Turner persists. Nope, Gutrell circles away and we're back to standing.
Gutrell with a poor takedown
and Turner counters with a one-two to the body.
Turner tries a head kick but it misses.
Turner is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gutrell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Turner closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gutrell's guard.
Turner trying to control the position from guard on top but Gutrell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gutrell looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Turner passes into half guard.

Turner seems to be looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gutrell is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Turner scores with a couple of nice shots.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gutrell looking for submissions off his back.

Gutrell looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gutrell actively working from the bottom here.

Gutrell is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Turner pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Turner takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Gutrell is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Turner pulls his head out easily.

Gutrell looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Turner slips a nice elbow through Gutrell's hands, connecting with Gutrell's forehead.
Royce Turner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two 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.

Gutrell looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gutrell looking for submissions off his back.
Turner wants to take a breather but Gutrell is having none of it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Gutrell looking for submissions off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A lazy left from Turner finds it's target.

Turner has taken the fight to the clinch.
Turner with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Turner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch combination from Turner misses.

Gutrell tries to sprawl but Turner drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Turner wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gutrell keeps working.

Gutrell is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Turner pulls his head out easily.

Gutrell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Turner is trying to control the action in half guard but Gutrell is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turner not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Gutrell is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Turner pulls his head out easily.
Turner wants to take a breather but Gutrell is having none of it.

Gutrell looking for submissions off his back.
Turner trying to control the pace.

Gutrell is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Turner pulls his head out easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gutrell looking for subs from the bottom but Turner mounts him!
James Gutrell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Royce Turner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gutrell swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Royce Turner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Turner has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Royce Turner!