PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Knight (ranked 1873 p4p, 1789 weight class) and Gregor Reilly (ranked 192 p4p, 183 weight class). Reilly has chosen Cannonball/ The Breeders as his entrance music. Xavier Knight had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Knight
vs
Reilly

180 cm
26
165
5 - 1 - 0

173 cm
26
164
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Xavier Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gregor Reilly!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Dirk Anderson and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knight darts in looking for a takedown but Reilly gets double underhooks and turns Knight into the cage.
Reilly can't find room to land a body shot as Knight controls the action.
Reilly lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Reilly pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Knight definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
A swing and a miss from Knight.
The fighters circle momentarily. Reilly darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Knight has his takedown stuffed
and Reilly counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Knight ducks under a wild hook from Reilly.
Knight half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Knight is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Reilly.
Knight fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reilly checks a leg kick.
Reilly has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Knight is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Knight closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Knight lands with a punch from half guard.
Reilly wants to control but Knight is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Knight throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knight wants to lay and pray for a moment but Reilly keeps working.
Knight throwing shots but Reilly is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reilly has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Knight is working away from the top position though.
Knight trying to control from half guard but Reilly is working away.
Knight thows a huge punch but Reilly dodges it nicely.
Knight seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Reilly tries to get to full guard but Knight has control of the leg.
Ground and pound from Knight.
Knight not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Knight lands with a punch from half guard.
Knight is looking to take a break and control but Reilly is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Reilly with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Knight wants to control but Reilly is keeping him busy.
Reilly slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Knight missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Reilly is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Reilly avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Knight postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Knight throwing strikes from guard but Reilly blocks nicely.
Reilly being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reilly is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Knight is aware though and is defending well.
Reilly is trying to keep Knight in close.
Knight is looking to work some ground and pound but Reilly has wrist control.
Knight trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Knight postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Knight wants to pass the guard but Reilly is keeping the position.
Knight postures up in Reilly's guard and throws a big left but Reilly blocks it.
Knight stands up over Reilly, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

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.
Reilly looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Knight throws a big elbow that misses.
Knight trying to control but Reilly is working from the bottom.
Knight throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Reilly controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Knight waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Reilly.
Knight misses with a right hand
and Reilly counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gregor Reilly is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Reilly steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Knight.
Knight throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Reilly swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Reilly catches Knight with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Knight uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Reilly.
A big right from Knight misses.
Nice uppercut lands for Reilly. That snapped Knight's head back.
Xavier Knight seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Reilly throws a hook to the side of Knight's head but Knight sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Reilly.
Knight takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Xavier Knight will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Knight takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gregor Reilly seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Reilly scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Knight misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Reilly scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Reilly with a jab.
Knight doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Reilly counters with a two punch combo.

Knight is rocked!
Both fighters circle each other, looking for something big. Reilly moves in and throws an overhand right. That hurt Knight! Reilly continues to tee off on Knight, landing with a left and a right! Reilly connects with a right hand that leaves Knight sleeping against the cage! What a finish by Reilly!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Gregor Reilly!
Gregor Reilly decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.