PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gerard Gillard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Mabbit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gillard
vs
Mabbit

186 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
184 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gerard Gillard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Craig Mabbit !
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gillard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mabbit .
Mabbit shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gillard as he jumps to the side.
Jab by Gillard.
Mabbit moves out of range as Gillard strikes.
Gillard misses with a two punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gillard lands a nice hook to Mabbit 's body. Mabbit takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Gillard throws a shot to the body.
Gillard blocks a head kick by Mabbit .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gillard works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Mabbit shoots in for a double leg but Gillard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gerard Gillard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Mabbit .
Gillard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gillard misses with a straight left.
Nice uppercut there from Gillard.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gillard is defended easily by Mabbit .
Mabbit wants to clinch up but Gillard keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gillard wants to clinch up but Mabbit keeps it at a distance.
Gillard throws a sloppy head kick and Mabbit moves out of range easily.
Good work by Gillard as he checks the leg kick.
Mabbit shoots in for a takedown but Gillard shows good takedown defense.
Gillard throws a sloppy head kick

and Mabbit decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gillard's guard.
Mabbit looking to sit in guard and control but Gillard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mabbit utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mabbit trying to control the position.
Gillard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mabbit really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gillard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mabbit managing to control the position.
Gillard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mabbit avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mabbit manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gillard manages to get himself to full guard.
Gillard wants to stand up but Mabbit is controlling him.
Gillard has a closed guard, preventing Mabbit from standing up.
Gillard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mabbit throwing strikes but missing.
Mabbit loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gillard is looking to stand up but Mabbit isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mabbit has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gillard is proving hard to escape from.
Mabbit must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Gillard has his feet on Mabbit 's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Mabbit wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gerard Gillard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gillard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mabbit throws a lazy head kick
and Gillard counters with a two punch combo.

Mabbit closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gillard did well to prevent Mabbit getting side control.
Mabbit is trying to control. Gillard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Mabbit stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Mabbit tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gillard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mabbit somewhat.
Craig Mabbit is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gillard works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Mabbit is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gillard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mabbit .
Mabbit fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mabbit looks for a takedown but Gillard sprawls well.
Gillard wants to clinch

so Mabbit counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Gillard wriggles free and stands up.
Gillard lands a nice hook to Mabbit 's body. Mabbit takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Gillard both land. Nice combination.
Mabbit slaps away a takedown attempt from Gillard, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mabbit throws a sloppy head kick and Gillard moves out of range easily.
Mabbit throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gillard tries to close the distance and clinch but Mabbit swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gillard looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gillard throws a wild body kick that Mabbit sees coming a mile off.
Mabbit looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gerard Gillard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Mabbit .
Nice body punch from Gillard.

Gillard closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mabbit to the mat! Mabbit manages to get full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gillard is looking to work some ground and pound but Mabbit has wrist control.
Gillard has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Gillard is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mabbit is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mabbit has escaped and now he's on top!

Mabbit gets to his feet. Gillard looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Mabbit looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gillard is fending him off so far but Mabbit persists. Nope, Gillard circles away and we're back to standing.
Gillard cracks Mabbit with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gillard misses with a takedown attempt

and Mabbit counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gillard's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gillard wants to stand up but Mabbit is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Mabbit showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Gillard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gillard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mabbit swivels and escapes.
Mabbit needs to keep his hands up - Gillard had a free shot at his head there.

Mabbit closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mabbit tries a knee to the head but Gillard blocks it.

Mabbit pulls guard successfully.

Gillard decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mabbit , up you get!
Mabbit looks to clinch
and Gillard counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gillard scores with a jab. Mabbit acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Mabbit throws a head kick that misses.
Gillard stuffs the takedown attempt from Mabbit . Mabbit gets slowly back to his feet.
Mabbit takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gillard is looking to clinch.
Mabbit tries for a takedown but Gillard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gillard connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mabbit 's hands.

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.
Gillard cracks a nice hook into Mabbit 's ribs.
Gillard darts in trying to clinch
and Mabbit makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Mabbit swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gillard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice shot lands for Gillard.

Gillard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gillard thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Craig Mabbit has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gillard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gillard scoring with some ground and pound.
Gillard stopping the sweep attempt from Mabbit .

Gillard stands up and waves to Mabbit to follow him.
Mabbit shoots in for a double leg but Gillard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gerard Gillard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Mabbit .

That's four 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.
Gillard lands a body shot.
Mabbit walks into a straight right hand from Gillard.

Gillard drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Gillard thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Gillard drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mabbit dives on top into guard.

Mabbit gets to his feet - Gillard follows without any prompting.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gerard Gillard showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gillard has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Gerard Gillard!