PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juji Gatame (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Devil Jho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gatame might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Storm. Devil Jho has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gatame
vs
Jho

186 cm
39
174 lbs
33 - 18 - 1

180 cm
40
175 lbs
30 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Hellbent

Voodoo Nutrition

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 33 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Juji Gatame!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 11 - 1, fighting out of New York, Devil Jho!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gatame fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jho, pushing him back against the cage.

Gatame drags the fight down to the ground.
Jho won't allow Gatame to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jho trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gatame wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gatame is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jho trying to control but Gatame is working from the bottom.
Gatame is pulling down on Jho's head. It's preventing any offense from Jho, at least for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gatame closes the distance and pushes Jho back into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Gatame fails to land.

Jho manages to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gatame showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gatame passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gatame creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Jho struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jho is not content to let Gatame control the position.
Jho is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Jho is trying to escape the position but Gatame is controlling the position.
Gatame cracks Jho with a big right hand but Jho just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Jho is looking for a sweep.
Jho being controlled for a moment.
Gatame gets to mount! Jho was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jho tries to reverse the position but Gatame maintains control.
Gatame has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Jho's face.
Gatame putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Jho is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gatame pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Jho is desperately trying to improve his position but Gatame has a good base and remains in mount.
Gatame is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Gatame looking to control and managing it successfully.
Jho is desperately trying to improve his position but Gatame has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatame raining down shots from the mount!
Gatame content just to control the position here.
Jho is bucking up trying to escape but Gatame cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jho is trying to escape the mount.
Gatame trying to control but Jho is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jho waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gatame.
Gatame was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Jho looks to land a right hand but Gatame moved out of range.
A slow jab from Jho misses its intended target.
Jho throws a hook but Gatame blocks it.
A quick step to the side and Gatame tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jho throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gatame stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gatame shoots in looking for a takedown but Jho manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gatame's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Jho walks into a stiff left hand from Gatame.
Gatame lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Jho thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jho bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Gatame looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Jho controlling the position for now.
Jho slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Juji Gatame overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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!
Gatame trying to control the position from guard on top but Jho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jho preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jho wants to sweep but no luck.
Gatame not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Jho looking to control.
Jho being controlled here, momentarily.

Jho is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Jho has an active guard here but Gatame has managed to pass into half guard.
Jho wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gatame sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Jho regains full guard. Nicely done.
Jho looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gatame is one step ahead there.
Jho keeps trying to improve his position.
Gatame's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gatame landing some decent shots from guard.
Jho is looking to sweep but instead, Gatame has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jho is pressing down on Gatame's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Jho is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gatame forces his way into half guard.
Gatame looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jho with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ground and pound from Gatame.
Gatame looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jho with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Jho trying to control but Gatame postures up.
Jho works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gatame sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Jho's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jho is looking to improve his position.
Jho has hold of Gatame's hands but Gatame slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Jho is trying to maintain the position but Gatame is very close to passing his half guard.
Well, if Gatame is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Gatame seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Jho for as long as he can get away with.
Gatame is nestled in close to Jho, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gatame controlling the action here.
Jho is refusing to be controlled, as Gatame sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juji Gatame dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jho cracks Gatame with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Gatame keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gatame throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And Jho tries to counter it with a takedown but Gatame pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Gatame misses with a body shot.
Gatame misses with a body shot.
Jho lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Jho throws a hook to the side of Gatame's head but Gatame sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jho avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gatame looks to score with a jab to the body but Jho is just out of range.
Gatame has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gatame there as he acknowledges the shot.
Jho is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gatame.
A swing and a miss from Gatame.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gatame fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Gatame avoids the body shot from Jho.
Gatame is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jho can do to turn this around?
Gatame ducks under a wild hook from Jho.
Gatame misses with a straight right.
Jho fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gatame manages to avoid it.
Gatame is looking for a counter combo.
Gatame throws a shot from downtown. Jho moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Jho, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gatame looks for a takedown but Jho sprawls well.
Jho is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Gatame works over Jho's head and body with a nice combination.
Gatame throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gatame scores with a jab to the head.
Gatame on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Jho scores with the left hand. Gatame knows he should have avoided that one.
Jho is looking to score with low kicks.
Gatame feinted with a counter takedown.
Jho throws a leg kick that misses.
Gatame thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gatame misses with a looping right.
Gatame looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gatame misses the shot to the body.
Jho scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Jho uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gatame.
Jho swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Gatame counters with a nice body shot.
Jho throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gatame shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Jho pinned against the cage. Jho gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And Jho tries to counter it with a takedown but Gatame pushes his down on his head and steps out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juji Gatame. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gatame takes a jab right on the kisser.
Jho ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gatame moves away.
Devil Jho seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A jab lands there for Gatame.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gatame.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Gatame.
Jho lands with an uppercut that bounces Gatame off the cage and back into range.
Gatame cracks Jho with an open hand slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jho throws a good cross that connects.
Jho throws a shot to the body.
Gatame fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jho manages to avoid it.
Gatame misses with an uppercut. Jho saw that one coming.
Jho slips under a jab.
Gatame scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Gatame shoots in and bounces Jho off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Jho looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gatame is one step ahead there.
Juji Gatame is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Jho is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gatame defends well.
Gatame controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatame has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Gatame.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Juji Gatame.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gatame, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juji Gatame!
Juji Gatame decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.