PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Garcia (ranked 2511 p4p, 306 weight class) and Takanori Gomi (ranked 2524 p4p, 308 weight class). Takanori Gomi is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Garcia
vs
Gomi

170 cm
26
192 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

173 cm
26
191 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rafael Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Takanori Gomi!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Bart Greer and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gomi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've been informed that Gomi has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Gomi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Garcia closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gomi is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Garcia's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gomi won't allow Garcia to pass to mount.

Gomi looking for submissions off his back.

Garcia seems to be working for a kimura but Gomi defends the submission attempt.

Gomi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia is keen to just control but Gomi is a slippery customer.

Garcia is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Garcia is looking to take a break and control but Gomi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi tries to get to full guard but Garcia has control of the leg.
Garcia trying to mount his opponent but Gomi defends it.

Gomi is defending against the submission attempts here by Garcia.
Garcia controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gomi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Garcia is looking for a kimura but Gomi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Garcia to get the leverage.

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.
Gomi is looking to improve his position.

Garcia is trying to work for a kimura but Gomi is defending well.
We've been hearing good reports from Garcia's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Garcia is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gomi is staying active underneath Garcia, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Gomi actively working from the bottom here.

Garcia is working for a kimura but Gomi is defending it quite comfortably.
Well, if Garcia 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garcia is trying for a kimura here. Gomi looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Garcia wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rafael Garcia!
Rafael Garcia seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.