PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Savinay Pillavino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baki Grappler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pillavino comes to the cage accompanied by Tere Bina. The crowd seem to be enjoying Grappler's choice of entrance music: Let the bodies hit the floor. Savinay Pillavino has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Pillavino
vs
Grappler

184 cm
22
175 lbs
8 - 7 - 1

170 cm
26
170 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Savinay Pillavino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Baki Grappler!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Gwen Towbar and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pillavino throws a right hand that Grappler ducks under and follows up with a left that Grappler also avoids with ease.
Grappler takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Pillavino throws a right and a left that both miss.

Grappler shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pillavino's guard.
Pillavino utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Grappler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Grappler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pillavino is keeping the position for now.
Pillavino trying to control the position here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Grappler accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Grappler slips nicely into half guard.
Grappler not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grappler passes the guard and advances to mount!
Grappler throws a sloppy strike and Pillavino uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Pillavino has ended up in Grappler's guard.
Pillavino thows a big elbow that misses.
Grappler is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Pillavino drops back, looking for a kneebar! Grappler looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Grappler looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Grappler!
Grappler scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pillavino tries to bench press Grappler off him but Grappler keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on Pillavino's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pillavino is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Grappler is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Pillavino prevents Grappler from improving position.
Grappler lands some shots froms side control.
Grappler throws an elbow but Pillavino slips to the side and avoids it well.
Pillavino prevents Grappler from improving position.
Grappler landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Pillavino's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Grappler cracks Pillavino with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Grappler is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Pillavino will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Pillavino dodges the ground and pound from Grappler.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grappler in side control, throwing shots but Pillavino defends.
Pillavino is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Grappler working the strikes but Pillavino uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

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.
Grappler is looking to stall here but Pillavino recovers full guard.
Pillavino is trying to control the position but Grappler postures up.
Grappler throws and elbow that misses. Pillavino uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Grappler's guard. Nice move by Pillavino!
Grappler is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Pillavino thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Grappler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Grappler is trying to keep Pillavino in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baki Grappler dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pillavino tries to clinch there but Grappler circles away.
Savinay Pillavino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Pillavino, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Grappler shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Pillavino is trying to defend but Grappler finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Pillavino wants to improve his position but Grappler is controlling well.
Pillavino is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pillavino moves into full guard.
Grappler postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pillavino looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pillavino tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pillavino is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grappler landing with the ground and pound.
Grappler trying to control but Pillavino is working from the bottom.
Grappler postures up in Pillavino's guard and throws a big left but Pillavino blocks it.
Pillavino keeping full guard, as Grappler tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horrible takedown by Grappler or perhaps it was just good defense by Pillavino which made him look bad.

That's two 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.
Grappler fails to land the takedown.
Grappler is breathing heavily.

Pillavino gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Grappler to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Pillavino is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grappler in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pillavino trying to keep a closed guard but Grappler is proving a slippery customer.
Pillavino preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pillavino has Grappler pulled in close to control his posture.
Pillavino manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Grappler manages to get himself to full guard.
Grappler looking for a sweep. Not yet Grappler, not yet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Pillavino thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Grappler lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Pillavino!
Pillavino is wriggling around trying to escape.
Grappler throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Grappler throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pillavino gets back to half guard.
Pillavino trying to hold on to Grappler's head to control him but Grappler postures up.
Grappler thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pillavino's head.
Pillavino gets back to full guard.
Grappler trying to control the position from guard on top but Pillavino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grappler throwing strikes but missing.
Grappler stopping the sweep attempt from Pillavino.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Baki Grappler will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Grappler closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pillavino did well to prevent Grappler getting side control.
Pillavino controlling the position for now.
Pillavino has hold of Grappler's hands but Grappler slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Pillavino wants to get back to full guard.
Grappler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pillavino wants to improve his position but Grappler is controlling well.
Pillavino gets full guard.
Grappler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pillavino working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Grappler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grappler with a flurry of punches that miss.
Grappler throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pillavino works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pillavino will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Grappler trying to control the position from guard on top but Pillavino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pillavino misses with a looping left.

Grappler closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pillavino did well to prevent Grappler getting side control.
Pillavino is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Grappler's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Grappler's back!

Pillavino looking for the RNC.
Grappler breaks Pillavino's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Grappler looking to sit in guard and control but Pillavino gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Pillavino is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pillavino with a nice head shot there.
Grappler striking off his back but it's not causing Pillavino any problems.
Pillavino throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pillavino trying to control the position from guard on top but Grappler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pillavino postures up in Grappler's guard and throws a big left but Grappler blocks it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pillavino fails with an attempt to clinch.
Grappler gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Pillavino misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Grappler dodges the punch combination from Pillavino.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pillavino misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grappler.
Pillavino lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Grappler circles away quickly and effectively.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Grappler shoots in looking for a takedown. Pillavino tries to sprawl out of it but Grappler keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pillavino manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pillavino closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Pillavino throws a looping overhand right but Grappler ducks down to avoid it.
Pillavino lands a nice shot that snaps Grappler's head back.
Grappler wants to clinch up but Pillavino keeps it at a distance.
Grappler takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Savinay Pillavino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Grappler is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Pillavino's half guard.
Grappler is looking to take a break and control but Pillavino is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Grappler is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pillavino is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Grappler pulls his head out easily.
Pillavino is refusing to be controlled, as Grappler sits in half guard.
Baki Grappler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pillavino misses with some strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Savinay Pillavino.
I think Grappler 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Baki Grappler!