PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kareem Aziz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Gillespie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aziz comes to the cage accompanied by Lowkey- Long Live Palestine. Gillespie has chosen Knock U Out as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Shane Gillespie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aziz
vs
Gillespie

170 cm
21
138 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

164 cm
25
133 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kareem Aziz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shane Gillespie!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Eliza Hachem and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aziz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gillespie was well out of range. Poor timing from Aziz.
Aziz takes a swing at Gillespie's ribcage but misses.
Aziz misses with a wild combination.
Gillespie misses with a hook.
Aziz misses with a body shot
and Gillespie makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gillespie ducks right into an uppercut from Aziz.
Aziz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gillespie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Aziz throws the left hand but Gillespie avoids the punch easily.

Gillespie closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Aziz quickly recovers to half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Gillespie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Aziz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gillespie prevents Aziz from improving his position.
Nice strikes from Gillespie there.
Gillespie tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Aziz.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gillespie takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gillespie really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Aziz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aziz actively working from the bottom here.
Aziz works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gillespie cracks Aziz with a solid left hand.
Aziz controls Gillespie momentarily but Gillespie frees himself.
Gillespie must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gillespie trying to control the position from guard on top but Aziz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aziz tries to strike from the bottom.
Aziz has a closed guard, preventing Gillespie from standing up.
Aziz looking to control.
Aziz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gillespie!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aziz with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie is trying to stand.

Aziz has control of Gillespie's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Gillespie regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Gillespie bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie stopping the sweep attempt from Aziz.

Aziz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gillespie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Aziz thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Aziz striking off his back but it's not causing Gillespie any problems.
Aziz trying to keep a closed guard but Gillespie is proving a slippery customer.
Gillespie trying to stand up but can't free himself from Aziz's guard.

Aziz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gillespie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gillespie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Aziz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aziz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Aziz decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gillespie takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gillespie misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Aziz lands with a shot to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gillespie has taken the fight to the clinch.
Aziz is trying to pull guard but Gillespie has him pressed against the cage.
Aziz tries to pull guard but Gillespie holds him up against the cage and eventually Aziz drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Aziz darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Aziz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Gillespie shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Aziz actively working from the bottom here.
Gillespie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gillespie is thwarting Aziz's attempts to control the position.
Gillespie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aziz wants to improve his position but Gillespie is controlling well.
Gillespie is nestled in close to Aziz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Gillespie stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Aziz throws a body punch but Gillespie moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aziz scores with a hook to the body. Gillespie takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Aziz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Aziz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gillespie moves away.

Aziz gets tackled into the cage by Gillespie. Gillespie maintains the clinch.
Aziz jumps guard but Gillespie turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Gillespie is trying to trip Aziz. He has hold of a leg but Aziz is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Gillespie persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Aziz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gillespie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Aziz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gillespie controls the pace.

Gillespie decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Aziz, up you get!
Gillespie blocks a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aziz changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Aziz misses its intended target.
A swing and a miss from Aziz.
Aziz is looking to wear down Gillespie with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
No joy there for Gillespie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gillespie throws a series of punches but Aziz moves out of range.
Aziz connects with a nice looking jab.
Good shot there by Aziz.
Aziz misses with a double jab.
Gillespie throws a series of strikes that have Aziz backpedaling.

Gillespie closes the distance and clinches.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gillespie as Aziz tries to tie him up.
Aziz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Gillespie pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gillespie throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Gillespie feints and as Aziz raises his hands in defense, Gillespie changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aziz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gillespie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gillespie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Aziz keeping moving, preventing Gillespie from controlling successfully.
Gillespie is breathing heavily.
Gillespie wanted to stand there but Aziz had control of the position.
Aziz trying to keep a closed guard but Gillespie is proving a slippery customer.

Gillespie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Aziz is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Aziz has escaped and now he's on top!
Gillespie is pulling down on Aziz's head. It's preventing any offense from Aziz, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aziz tries to free his leg and advance position but Gillespie is retaining full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Shane Gillespie hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Gillespie misses with a double jab.
Aziz lands with a good body shot.
Aziz lands a nice shot that snaps Gillespie's head back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aziz takes a swing at Gillespie's ribcage but misses.
Aziz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Aziz throws a series of punches but Gillespie avoids them all with ease.
Aziz dodges the punch combination from Gillespie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Gillespie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Aziz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Aziz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Aziz moves out of range as Gillespie throws a body kick.

Gillespie is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Aziz's half guard.
Aziz trying to control here.
Gillespie looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gillespie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aziz keeps working.
Gillespie seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Aziz trying to control from the bottom.

Aziz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gillespie pulls his head out easily.

Aziz actively working from the bottom here.

Aziz looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aziz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Aziz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gillespie pulls his head out easily.
Gillespie throws a strike but Aziz avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Gillespie tries to stand but Aziz is controlling from the bottom.
Gillespie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gillespie tries to stand but Aziz is controlling from the bottom.
Gillespie preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aziz keeping moving, preventing Gillespie from controlling successfully.
Aziz controls Gillespie momentarily but Gillespie frees himself.

Gillespie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Aziz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gillespie has managed to get both his arms back between Aziz's legs - danger averted.
Gillespie chips away with some ground and pound.
Aziz looking for a sweep. Not yet Aziz, not yet.

Aziz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gillespie stands up from Aziz's guard - Gillespie perhaps looking for a knockout.
Gillespie swats away the attempt to clinch by Aziz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Aziz listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Gillespie misses with a body shot.
Gillespie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kareem Aziz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aziz looks to land a right hand but Gillespie moved out of range.
Aziz checks a leg kick.
Aziz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gillespie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Aziz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gillespie throws a series of punches but Aziz moves out of range.
Gillespie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aziz.
Aziz looks to land a combination but Gillespie avoids it well.
Gillespie misses with a wild combination.
Aziz swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Gillespie counters with a one-two to the body.
Aziz swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gillespie gets a takedown into half guard.

Aziz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gillespie pulls his head out easily.
Kareem Aziz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Aziz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gillespie tries to stand and escape but Aziz actually recovers to full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gillespie is looking to stand up but Aziz won't let him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aziz keeping moving, preventing Gillespie from controlling successfully.
Aziz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gillespie's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shane Gillespie.
I think Gillespie 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Shane Gillespie!
Shane Gillespie thanked the fans post fight for their support.