PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Javier Tascon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Gattis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Gattis will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Tascon
vs
Gattis

181 cm
18
163 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Javier Tascon!
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 Gattis!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tascon pushes Gattis up against the ropes in a clinch.

Gattis pulls guard effortlessly.
Tascon with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gattis throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Gattis lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

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.
Tascon keeping full guard, as Gattis tries to pass.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Tascon is working an open guard so Gattis takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gattis throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Tascon lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gattis circles away quickly and effectively.
Tascon takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tascon swats away the attempt to clinch by Gattis.
Tascon half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Tascon clinches up with Gattis and pushes him back against the ropes.

Gattis breaks the clinch.
Gattis is looking to clinch but Tascon is avoiding it.
Tascon attempts a counter takedown but Gattis avoids it well and moves away.
Tascon takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
James Gattis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gattis lands a jab-cross combination.

Tascon gets a clinch.
Gattis wants to get back to striking at distance but Tascon won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gattis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Gattis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gattis digs a good hook to Tascon's body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Gattis. That's going to slow Tascon down.
Gattis moves out of range of the strikes.
Gattis throws a counter combo.
Tascon looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Gattis with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gattis shoots in for a takedown but Tascon shows good takedown defense.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gattis. Tascon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gattis scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Gattis fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Tascon has closed the distance and engaged Gattis in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gattis taking a breather.
Gattis has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tascon after a bit of a struggle.
Javier Tascon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Gattis.
Gattis wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Tascon misses with an elbow strike.
Tascon throws a head punch that misses.
Gattis is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tascon is defending well for now.
Tascon can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gattis just leaning against Tascon, taking a breather.
Gattis is looking to break free of the clinch but Tascon has double underhooks.
Gattis wants to stall.

Gattis breaks the clinch.

Tascon has closed the distance and engaged Gattis in a clinch.
Gattis prevents Tascon from breaking the clinch.
Tascon softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Tascon prevents Gattis from breaking the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Gattis dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gattis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gattis now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Gattis fails with the takedown

and Tascon counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Gattis has one foot on Tascon's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Gattis closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gattis is trying to control the action in half guard but Tascon is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gattis controlling the action here.
Tascon won't allow Gattis to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tascon is staying active underneath Gattis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gattis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gattis takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Gattis is thwarting Tascon's attempts to control the position.
Gattis tries to stand but can't do so whilst Tascon controls his leg.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tascon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gattis tries to clinch

and Tascon counters with a shoot takedown. Gattis fights it but they end up in guard.
Gattis looking to control.

Gattis has his feet on Tascon's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gattis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tascon instigates a clinch.
Gattis is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tascon pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Tascon breaks the clinch.
Javier Tascon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gattis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tascon blocks a head kick by Gattis.
Tascon waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gattis.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gattis moves into range and connects with a jab.
Tascon swats away the attempt to clinch by Gattis.
Tascon appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gattis is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tascon sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Javier Tascon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Gattis.
Gattis throws a right hand that Tascon ducks under and follows up with a left that Tascon also avoids with ease.
Tascon keeps the fight on the outside.
Tascon keeps the fight on the outside.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gattis. Tascon does a little dance to reset his feet.

Tascon drives through and clinches with Gattis against the ropes.
Gattis can't break the clinch.
Gattis takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gattis trying to land knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Tascon.
Gattis tries to pull guard but Tascon forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.

Gattis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tascon has managed to clinch.
Gattis tries to break the clinch but Tascon is controlling the position.
Gattis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gattis throws an elbow but it misses.

Gattis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Gattis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Tascon closes the distance and clinches.
Gattis tries to break the clinch but Tascon is controlling the position.
Gattis tries to stall but Tascon uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Tascon breaks the clinch.
Tascon tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Gattis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Tascon decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gattis is positioning himself well to prevent Tascon advancing to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tascon is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gattis is just riding it out for now. Tascon eventually gives up the hold.
Gattis moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gattis has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Tascon is pushing him up against the ropes, looking to control the position.
Gattis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tascon has him pressed against the ropes.
Gattis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tascon is pressed up against the ropes. Gattis has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tascon down to the mat. Tascon avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Good standup being displayed there by Gattis as he connects with a hook.
Gattis throws a series of strikes that have Tascon backpedaling.
Tascon lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Tascon is looking to clinch but Gattis is avoiding it.
Gattis drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Tascon defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tascon leaves Gattis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Tascon drives through and clinches with Gattis against the ropes.

Gattis successfully pulls guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gattis controlling the position.
Gattis wants to stand up but Tascon is controlling him.
Tascon throws a big right hand that misses.
Tascon makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tascon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tascon connects with a couple of short punches.
Tascon throws a strike but Gattis rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

My spies in Gracie Barra Hilo inform me that Gattis has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Gattis trying to control the position from guard on top but Tascon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tascon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gattis on the ground.
Gattis is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Tascon controls Gattis momentarily but Gattis frees himself.
Tascon keeping moving, preventing Gattis from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tascon is working an open guard so Gattis takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Gattis tries to clinch up.
Tascon is looking to counter punch.
Gattis looks to land a body kick but Tascon moved away.
Tascon lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Gattis dodges the punch combination from Tascon.
Javier Tascon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Gattis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice takedown defense from Tascon. No joy for Gattis on that attempt.
Tascon looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James Gattis.
I've got Gattis winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... James Gattis!