PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Link Gaetz (ranked 219 p4p, 26 weight class) and HL Mencken (ranked 370 p4p, 50 weight class). Link Gaetz could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to HL Mencken's chin.

Gaetz
vs
Mencken

194 cm
32
245 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

195 cm
35
261 lbs
28 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Link Gaetz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, HL Mencken!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mencken lands with an uppercut that bounces Gaetz off the cage and back into range.
Gaetz throws a leg kick but Mencken moved away.
Decent striking displayed by Mencken there.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gaetz.
Gaetz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mencken.
Mencken throws a fast counter high kick but Gaetz manages to duck under it in time.
Gaetz swings for the body but Mencken moves out of range.
Gaetz clobbers Mencken with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Gaetz attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Mencken looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gaetz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaetz looks to land a right hand but Mencken moved out of range.
We've been informed that Mencken 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.
Gaetz misses with a looping left.
Gaetz takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gaetz scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaetz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gaetz fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Mencken swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gaetz ducks under a wild hook from Mencken.
A little feinted left hand from Gaetz on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Mencken lands a nice looking body shot.
Mencken looks to land a combination but Gaetz avoids it well.
Mencken ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mencken has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mencken there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mencken misses with a straight left.
Gaetz connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
HL Mencken seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gaetz throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaetz throws a jab when Mencken was well out of range.
Mencken tries a head kick but it misses.
Gaetz throws an overhand right that lands on Mencken's shoulder, as Mencken tries to avoid the shot.
Mencken looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Mencken misses with a body shot.
Mencken checks the leg kick nicely there.
Mencken misses with a hook.
Mencken lands with a nice body punch.
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!
Gaetz throws a big shot that misses.
Both fighters circling a little - Gaetz finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A jab from Gaetz misses.
Mencken uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gaetz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mencken throws a looping overhand right but Gaetz ducks down to avoid it.
Mencken scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gaetz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mencken misses with a straight left.
Gaetz throws a jab but it's blocked by Mencken.
Gaetz jabs Mencken to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Gaetz ducks under a wild hook from Mencken.
Mencken throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gaetz looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

Gaetz lands a big head kick that sends Mencken tumbling to the mat! Gaetz takes a step backwards and waves Mencken back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like HL Mencken has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gaetz slips a jab and a cross from Mencken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mencken throws a body shot but no joy.
Gaetz thows a leg kick but Mencken checks it
enabling Mencken to counter with a crisp jab.
Gaetz uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mencken has time to react.
Mencken lands with an overhand left.
Mencken keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gaetz.
Mencken tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gaetz was well out of range. Poor timing from Mencken.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mencken. Gaetz does a little dance to reset his feet.

Gaetz cracks Mencken with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Mencken looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Gaetz finish him?

Mencken is rocked!
Mencken throws a series of punches but Gaetz avoids them all with ease.
Mencken throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Gaetz throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Link Gaetz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on HL Mencken's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gaetz lands with a right hand.
Gaetz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mencken jabs Gaetz to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Mencken tries to land a front kick but Gaetz steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mencken tries to land a front kick but Gaetz steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gaetz throws a big counter combination but Mencken scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Mencken lands a nice hook to Gaetz's body. Gaetz takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Mencken throws a series of punches but Gaetz avoids them all with ease.
Mencken tries to land a body kick
and Gaetz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab by Gaetz.
Mencken plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Gaetz throws the kick towards the body but Mencken avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mencken swings for the body but Gaetz moves out of range.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Mencken might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Gaetz has got the better of the exchanges.
Mencken takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gaetz avoids the body shot from Mencken.
Mencken fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gaetz manages to avoid it.
Gaetz looks to land a right hand but Mencken moved out of range.
A little jabbing left from Mencken on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mencken lands a jab to the head.
Mencken lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gaetz's sensitive parts.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gaetz.
Mencken throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gaetz is looking to counter punch.
That kick from Gaetz tenderised Mencken's leg. Mencken is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaetz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mencken.
As Mencken backs away, Gaetz returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Gaetz connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Mencken drops Gaetz with a right and a left! Mencken comes rushing in but Gaetz regains his composure and manages to keep Mencken in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gaetz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mencken is controlling him.
Mencken stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gaetz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Mencken stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A left lands for Mencken.
A slow jab from Gaetz misses its intended target.
Mencken now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Gaetz looks to score with a jab to the body but Mencken is just out of range.
Mencken counters with a body kick.
Mencken throws a body punch but Gaetz moves out of range.
A quick step to the side and Gaetz tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mencken looks to land a body kick but Gaetz moved away.
Gaetz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mencken throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mencken misses with a body kick.
Mencken throws the left hand but Gaetz avoids the punch easily.
Gaetz takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mencken lands a slapping body shot.
Mencken tests Gaetz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mencken looks to score with a jab to the body but Gaetz is just out of range.
HL Mencken seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gaetz looks to throw the jab but Mencken is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mencken's corner calls for a 1-2. Mencken obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Gaetz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gaetz throws a jab when Mencken was well out of range.
Mencken throws out a loose jab but Gaetz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mencken swings for the body but Gaetz moves out of range.
Gaetz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mencken has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Mencken is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gaetz rather than just go for the knockout.
Mencken misses with a wild body shot.
Gaetz appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gaetz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Mencken is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Gaetz defending well as Mencken loads up on a big left hand.
Gaetz tried to counter with a leg kick but Mencken avoided it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

HL Mencken showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on HL Mencken's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mencken misses with a shot to the body
and Gaetz counters with a good, hard body kick but Mencken shrugs it off.
Gaetz misses with a hook
and Mencken counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mencken.
Gaetz throws a hook but Mencken avoids it easily.
Mencken throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Gaetz counter with a right hand.
Mencken slips under a jab from Gaetz.
Mencken cracks a nice hook into Gaetz's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mencken drops Gaetz with a right and a left! Mencken comes rushing in but Gaetz regains his composure and manages to keep Mencken in guard.

Gaetz is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mencken stands and steps away. Gaetz gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Mencken lands a big shot that drops Gaetz! Can he finish him?
Oh Gaetz is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gaetz wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Mencken manages to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mencken escapes and gets back to his feet.
Gaetz throws out a loose jab but Mencken uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gaetz seems to have got his legs back now.
A jab from Mencken misses.
Mencken punishes Gaetz's body with a nice straight punch.
Mencken throws a hook to the side of Gaetz's head but Gaetz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gaetz lands a leg kick that knocks Mencken off balance momentarily.
Gaetz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gaetz lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gaetz thumps Mencken with a low kick.
Gaetz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mencken cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaetz ducks under a wild hook from Mencken.
Mencken uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gaetz.
Gaetz slips a jab and a cross from Mencken.
Gaetz throws a low kick but Mencken moves out of range easily.
Mencken just misses with a punch to the body.
Mencken has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mencken looks to score with a jab to the body but Gaetz is just out of range.
Mencken lands with a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gaetz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gaetz throws the kick towards the body but Mencken avoids it.
Gaetz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mencken.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mencken throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Gaetz counters with a straight right hand.
Gaetz blocks a jab.
Gaetz lands a leg kick that knocks Mencken off balance momentarily.
Gaetz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gaetz misses the shot to the body.
Mencken throws a hook but Gaetz blocks it.
Gaetz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mencken misses the shot to the body.
A jab from Gaetz misses.
Gaetz connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Mencken momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mencken scores with a decent looking hook.
A swing and a miss from Mencken.
A quick step to the side and Gaetz tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gaetz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mencken.
Mencken throws a lazy uppercut
and Gaetz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mencken misses the body punch
and Gaetz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mencken takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Mencken tries to land a leg kick but Gaetz saw it coming and moves away.
Gaetz throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Mencken stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gaetz scores with a jab to the head.
Gaetz works Mencken's body with a nice hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
HL Mencken comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mencken has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... HL Mencken!
HL Mencken decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.