PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel De Angelico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

De Angelico
vs
Gray

179 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

King of Fists

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 Montreal, Gabriel De Angelico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Gray!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Angelico uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gray.
As Gray looks to move away, De Angelico throws a big counter combo but Gray just gets out of the way.
A nice inside leg kick there by De Angelico. That's going to slow Gray down.
De Angelico misses with a series of wild punches.
Gray avoids a punch combination nicely.
De Angelico misses with a few strikes there.
Gray throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
De Angelico will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A punch combination from De Angelico misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Angelico misses with a jab, cross combination.

Gray feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

De Angelico wriggles free and stands up.
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!
Gray swats away the attempt to clinch by De Angelico.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Angelico goes for a double leg but Gray avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gray continues to drive forward.
De Angelico looks to clinch
and Gray counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gray tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but De Angelico defends well and Gray ends up having to push De Angelico into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
De Angelico appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
De Angelico tries to bum rush Gray with a series of wild strikes but Gray uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
De Angelico fails to land with a series of punches.
Gray unleashes a big counter combination but De Angelico bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Gray will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gray's coach down at Island Impact was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Gray's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
De Angelico shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gray but Gray pushes him off and we're back to square one.
De Angelico is breathing heavily.
Gray dives in for a single leg takedown but De Angelico sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Gabriel De Angelico has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Gray.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gray is defended easily by De Angelico.
Gray avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gray decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
De Angelico wants to control but Gray is keeping busy.
Gray seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
De Angelico wants to get back to his feet.
Gray content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
De Angelico is trying to stand back up but Gray is controlling him

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
De Angelico rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gray moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
De Angelico lands a jab-cross combination.
De Angelico tries to bum rush Gray with a series of wild strikes but Gray uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And Gray responds with a good body kick, but De Angelico manages to step out the way in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gray defending well as De Angelico loads up on a big left hand.
Gray shoots in but no luck this time.
De Angelico swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
De Angelico misses with a double jab.
Gray looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? De Angelico is fending him off so far but Gray persists. Nope, De Angelico circles away and we're back to standing.
Gray shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. De Angelico defends it nicely.
De Angelico is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gabriel De Angelico seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Angelico lands a glancing blow to the side of Gray's head.
Gray throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around De Angelico's waist but De Angelico gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gray off to one side.

Gray tries to sprawl but De Angelico drives through with a takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel De Angelico dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A combination from De Angelico does no damage.

Gray has De Angelico up against the cage in a clinch.
Gray keeps the fight in the clinch, despite De Angelico's efforts to push away.
Gray tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and De Angelico avoids it.
De Angelico wants to break the clinch but can't.

Gray breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gray doesn't manage to clinch there - De Angelico circles away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gray fails to land the takedown.
De Angelico lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Angelico falls off balance throwing a combination

and Gray decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in De Angelico's guard.
De Angelico is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gray stays in close to De Angelico's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gray looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gray tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. De Angelico manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
De Angelico will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Angelico tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Gray counters with a nice double leg into guard.
De Angelico is looking to stand back up but Gray counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by De Angelico.

De Angelico is looking to escape.
Gray not doing much here.
Gray moves nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Angelico takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Gray is staying tight to De Angelico's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Let's hope that Gray has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
De Angelico is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gray asserts his dominance and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Gray showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! De Angelico's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

De Angelico looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gray throws a head kick that misses.
De Angelico throws a right and a left that Gray avoids nicely.
De Angelico misses with a hook.
Gray uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by De Angelico.

Gray moves into the clinch.
Gray tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gray jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as De Angelico walks away with a smile on his face. Gray gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Angelico lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
De Angelico throws a right and a left that Gray avoids nicely.
De Angelico lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gray dives in for a single leg takedown but De Angelico sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Gabriel De Angelico has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Gray.
Nice sprawl there from De Angelico as Gray shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Gray has closed the distance and engaged De Angelico in a clinch.

De Angelico breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gray avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gray is clearly trying to counter these attacks from De Angelico with a body shot.
De Angelico misses with a takedown
and Gray counters with a one-two to the body.
Gray throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around De Angelico's waist but De Angelico gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gray off to one side.
Gray dodges the punch combination from De Angelico.
Gray has a takedown stuffed.
De Angelico looks to land a combination. Gray sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Angelico rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gray moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A nice side step and Gray releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Gray walks into a left hand.
Gabriel De Angelico is winning the standup battle so far.
De Angelico misses with a combination

and Gray counters with a takedown into side control.
De Angelico is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gray can do to turn this around?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gray advances to mount.
Gray lands with some strikes.

Gray is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but De Angelico is surviving well by controlling Gray's body position as best he can.
De Angelico tries to lock up and control but Gray gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray controlling the position easily from mount.
Gray lands a nice shot to the head.
Gray working the ground and pound effectively.
De Angelico wants to hold on but Gray pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gray is trying to take his opponent's back.
Gray raining down hammerfists from mount.
Gray controlling from mount.
Gray is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. De Angelico can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
De Angelico wants to try and get back to his feet.
Gray looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gray lands a big elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Gray.
I think Gray has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Gray!