PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rigoberto Gonzales (ranked 6622 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shahadath Karim (ranked 5450 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gonzales
vs
Karim

213 cm
24
162 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rigoberto Gonzales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Shahadath Karim!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Karim closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gonzales did well to prevent Karim getting side control.

Gonzales looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gonzales is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karim seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gonzales does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gonzales keeping hold of Karim's head, controlling as best he can.
Karim trying to pass the guard but Gonzales defending well.
Karim missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzales tries to get to full guard but Karim has control of the leg.
Gonzales pushes Karim off looking to stand but Karim dives back in and keeps control.
Gonzales trying to control but Karim postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karim prevents Gonzales from standing back up.
Gonzales has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Karim is working away from the top position though.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Karim tries to pass to full mount but Gonzales defends it.
Karim is controlling the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Karim closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzales works his way to full guard. Good work.
Karim in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gonzales seems keen to control Karim's posture.
Gonzales will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gonzales has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Karim lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gonzales has his foot on Karim's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Karim works his way back into a safe position though.
Gonzales seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Karim controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gonzales keeping moving, preventing Karim from controlling successfully.
Karim stopping the sweep attempt from Gonzales.
Karim pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gonzales is keeping the position for now.

Gonzales has his foot on Karim's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Karim works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gonzales keeping moving, preventing Karim from controlling successfully.
Gonzales is pulling down on Karim's head. It's preventing any offense from Karim, at least for the moment.
Karim trying to control but Gonzales is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Karim shoots in and bounces Gonzales off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Karim wants to control from the top but Gonzales keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gonzales is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shahadath Karim dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Karim scores with a leg kick.

Karim drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gonzales trying to control the position here.
Shahadath Karim has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gonzales utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Gonzales has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Karim can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzales has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Karim with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzales managing to control the position.
Karim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Karim prevents Gonzales from getting back to his feet.
Karim has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gonzales is proving hard to escape from.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Gonzales tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gonzales pulls Karim in to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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.
No joy there for Karim, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Karim shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gonzales napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Gonzales holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Karim tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Karim trying to control the action but Gonzales is working from the bottom.
Gonzales is trying to control Karim's posture but Karim avoids it.
Gonzales is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Karim is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Gonzales manages to work his way to half guard, despite Karim's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karim prevents Gonzales from improving his position.
Karim with the ground and pound but Gonzales uses the opportunity to regain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karim being controlled here momentarily.
Gonzales looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karim is one step ahead there.
Gonzales is pulling down on Karim's head to control his posture.
Gonzales 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 referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Karim connects with a right hand. Gonzales shakes it off.
Karim loads up on a big right hand but Gonzales slips the punch.
Gonzales was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Karim looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gonzales is controlling Karim's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gonzales is looking to control Karim's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gonzales avoid being mounted?
Gonzales gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shahadath Karim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Karim changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gonzales looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gonzales can't do much from the bottom here.
Karim gets to mount! Gonzales was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Gonzales sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Gonzales is doing well to control the position and prevent Karim from advancing to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gonzales manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Karim clinches up with Gonzales and pushes him back against the cage.

Karim has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Gonzales regains guard immediately.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzales is pulling down on Karim's head. It's preventing any offense from Karim, at least for the moment.
Karim looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Gonzales looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

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.
Karim trying to control but Gonzales is working from the bottom.
Karim passes Gonzales's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gonzales is doing well to control the position and prevent Karim from advancing to side control.
Gonzales makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gonzales.
Gonzales working a defensive guard but Karim manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karim is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gonzales has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gonzales is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Karim off and has taken his back!
Karim takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Karim defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Gonzales is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Karim has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Karim preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Gonzales.

Gonzales tightening his grip on Karim, looking for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gonzales looking for the choke from the back.
Karim is trying to stand back up.
Karim trying to control but not successfully.

Gonzales working for the choke.
Karim really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gonzales. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Karim defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rigoberto Gonzales showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Karim 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shahadath Karim!