PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billy Pilgrim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rylan Gardner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pilgrim comes to the cage accompanied by Billy Pilgrim Has Become Unstuck in Time. Gardner has chosen Goodtimes as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pilgrim
vs
Gardner

194 cm
22
270 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

191 cm
23
265 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Billy Pilgrim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rylan Gardner!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gardner shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pilgrim defends it nicely.
Gardner fails with the takedown
and Pilgrim counters with a one-two to the body.
Pilgrim scores with a hook to the body. Gardner takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Gardner with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Gardner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice takedown defense from Pilgrim. No joy for Gardner on that attempt.
Billy Pilgrim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rylan Gardner.
Pilgrim throws a right hand that Gardner ducks under and follows up with a left that Gardner also avoids with ease.
Pilgrim keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gardner.
Gardner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pilgrim moves in looking to clinch but Gardner pushes him off.
Pilgrim gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gardner lands a nice hook to Pilgrim's body. Pilgrim takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Gardner moves out of range as Pilgrim throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fighters circling - Gardner throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Gardner clinches.
Pilgrim is pressed up against the cage. Gardner has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pilgrim down to the mat. Pilgrim avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pilgrim swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pilgrim works over Gardner's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Rylan Gardner has been cut.
Gardner lands with a cross.
Pilgrim throws a series of punches but Gardner avoids them all with ease.
Gardner thows a body shot but no joy.
Pilgrim throws a right hand that misses
and Gardner counters with a nice body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gardner thuds a left hand into Pilgrim's body.
Gardner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardner connects with a crisp jab.
Gardner slips a jab from Pilgrim.
Pilgrim walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Gardner scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Billy Pilgrim has been cut.
Pilgrim misses the jab.
Gardner thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gardner with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Pilgrim to score with a decent uppercut.
Gardner lands a body shot.
Pilgrim swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pilgrim leaves Gardner with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pilgrim throws a hook to the side of Gardner's head but Gardner sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gardner moves into the clinch.
Gardner blocks the elbow strike.
Pilgrim missing with knees to the body.
Pilgrim lands a nice shot to the body.
Pilgrim trying to land knees to the body.
Gardner working hard to break the clinch.
Pilgrim throws an elbow that misses.
Pilgrim looking to stall.
Gardner is trying to break the clinch but Pilgrim is controlling him.
Pilgrim is looking to control Gardner's arms but Gardner gets an underhook and turns him. Now Pilgrim has his back to the cage.
Pilgrim throws a head punch that misses.
Gardner blocks an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardner is trying to break the clinch but Pilgrim is controlling him.
Knees in the clinch landing for Gardner.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gardner wants to take the fight to the mat but Pilgrim manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Gardner breaks from the clinch.
Pilgrim looks to land a combination. Gardner sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Gardner rushes Pilgrim and presses him up against the cage.
Pilgrim's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Pilgrim tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gardner drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pilgrim pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gardner avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rylan Gardner will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Pilgrim's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gardner scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Pilgrim misses with a two punch combination.
Gardner misses with a takedown attempt - Pilgrim sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pilgrim thows a body shot but no joy.
Gardner throws a sloppy body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Gardner shoots for a takedown but Pilgrim saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gardner lands a nice shot to the body.
Gardner misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Pilgrim counters with a three punch combo that has Gardner backing up. Gardner nods at Pilgrim to acknowledge the strikes.

Pilgrim has managed to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gardner blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pilgrim lands an elbow inside.
A frustrated look appears on Gardner's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gardner is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Gardner gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gardner stalling.
Pilgrim is concentrating on defense, preventing Gardner from advancing position.
Gardner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pilgrim's head.
Gardner trying to pass the guard but Pilgrim defending well.
Pilgrim is pressing down on Gardner's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardner lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Pilgrim looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gardner is one step ahead there.
Gardner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gardner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gardner throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gardner stays in close to Pilgrim's body and controls the position.
Gardner trying to control but Pilgrim is working from the bottom.
Gardner with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardner trying to control the position from guard on top but Pilgrim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pilgrim trying to control the position.
Gardner is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pilgrim looking to control.
Pilgrim avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pilgrim on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Pilgrim tries to get out of the position.
Pilgrim looking to control.
Gardner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gardner postures up.
Gardner throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pilgrim keeping full guard, as Gardner tries to pass.
Pilgrim seems keen to control Gardner's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Billy Pilgrim.
Pilgrim slaps away a takedown attempt from Gardner, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Billy Pilgrim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rylan Gardner.
Gardner ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Billy Pilgrim is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pilgrim pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Pilgrim has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gardner misses with a body shot.
Gardner shoots in looking for a takedown but Pilgrim manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gardner's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rylan Gardner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gardner slips a jab from Pilgrim.
Pilgrim throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gardner on the side of the head.
Rylan Gardner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Gardner misses.
Pilgrim lands with a right hand.

That has opened up Rylan Gardner's cut even more.

Gardner clinches.
Pilgrim tries to land knees in the clinch but Gardner avoids the damage to the body.
Pilgrim pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Pilgrim is pressed up against the cage. Gardner has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pilgrim down to the mat. Pilgrim avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gardner listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Gardner fails with a takedown attempt.
Pilgrim digs a good hook to Gardner's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pilgrim swings for the body but Gardner moves out of range.
Nice cross by Pilgrim.
Pilgrim tries to clinch up but Gardner circles away and keeps his distance.
Pilgrim is looking to clinch but Gardner is avoiding it.
Pilgrim lands a right hook to the body.
Pilgrim scores with a one two! Gardner had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Gardner slips a jab from Pilgrim.
Gardner blocks a low kick nicely.
Pilgrim misses with a left hand
and Gardner counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Gardner gets a double leg takedown into Pilgrim's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pilgrim tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Billy Pilgrim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardner trying to control but Pilgrim is working from the bottom.
Pilgrim looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gardner is one step ahead there.
Gardner stays in close to Pilgrim's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gardner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gardner trying to control the position from guard on top but Pilgrim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pilgrim avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pilgrim trying to control the position.
Gardner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pilgrim keeping moving, preventing Gardner from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gardner keeps the fight on the outside.
Gardner throws out a powerful jab.
Pilgrim loads up on a big right hand but Gardner slips the punch.
Pilgrim tries to clinch up.
Gardner fails to land the takedown.
Billy Pilgrim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rylan Gardner.

Pilgrim gets caught flat footed, as Gardner shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gardner looking to pass the guard.
Gardner controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Pilgrim is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rylan Gardner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gardner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pilgrim throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gardner advances to half guard.

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 Billy Pilgrim.
I think Gardner 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rylan Gardner!
An out of breath Rylan Gardner thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.