PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zackary Gilbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). King has chosen Saliva-Badass as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Zackary Gilbert has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Gilbert
vs
King

212 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

189 cm
25
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zackary Gilbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony King!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King has his takedown stuffed
and Gilbert counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
King takes a kick to the side of the head.

King drives through and clinches with Gilbert against the cage.
King pressing his opponent against the cage.
King tries to pull guard but Gilbert holds him up against the cage and eventually King drops back down to his feet.
King drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zackary Gilbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony King.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
King wants to clinch.
King shoots and misses
and Gilbert counters with a lovely straight right hand!

King closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gilbert to the mat! Gilbert manages to get full guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
King prevents Gilbert from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King connects with a couple of short punches.
Gilbert trying to keep a closed guard but King is proving a slippery customer.
Gilbert wants to stand but King is controlling the position.
King is looking to work some ground and pound but Gilbert has wrist control.
King trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gilbert controls King momentarily but King frees himself.
King is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Gilbert throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
King postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert wants to stand up but King is controlling him.
King throwing strikes but missing.
Gilbert trying to control the position.
King loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
King trying to control but Gilbert is working from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gilbert tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gilbert trying to keep a closed guard but King is proving a slippery customer.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Gilbert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
King looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gilbert defends well and King ends up having to push Gilbert into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A short right from King.

King jumps into guard, dragging Gilbert to the mat.
Gilbert throws a big right hand that misses.
King throwing short punches from the bottom.
Gilbert missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gilbert won't allow King to sweep him here.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
King has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gilbert can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gilbert will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

King is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gilbert is aware though and is defending well.
Gilbert postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King is looking to sweep but instead, Gilbert has passed into half guard.
Gilbert thows a huge punch but King dodges it nicely.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if King can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gilbert prevents King from standing back up.
Gilbert with the ground and pound but King uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Gilbert throwing strikes from guard but King blocks nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
King working a defensive guard here.
King looks winded!
King preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gilbert distracts King with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
King is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

King shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gilbert defends it nicely.
King swats away the attempt to clinch by Gilbert.
King shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gilbert pinned against the cage. Gilbert gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

King gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gilbert jumps guard but King stands there with Gilbert around his waist. Gilbert gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for King. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

King gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Gilbert regains guard.
King stops Gilbert from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
King works over Gilbert with some ground and pound from guard.
Gilbert wants to sweep but no luck.
Gilbert keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.
Gilbert is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
King chips away with some ground and pound.
Gilbert manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gilbert with the ground and pound from mount.
King is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gilbert landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
King can't escape the position.
Gilbert throwing strikes here but King is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
King tries to lock up and control but Gilbert gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
King is trying to escape the mount.
King is trying to stand.
King is breathing heavily.
King avoids a series of strikes thrown by Gilbert.
Gilbert throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Gilbert scores with a couple of good head shots there.
King is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert cracks King with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Gilbert raining down hammerfists from mount.
Gilbert misses with a head shot.
King is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gilbert putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
King taking shots to the head.
Gilbert cracks King with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
King wants to control but Gilbert is having none of it.
King is desperately trying to improve his position but Gilbert has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
King has given up his back here. Will Gilbert look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Gilbert misses with an elbow to the head.
King tries to roll but Gilbert sticks to his back.
Gilbert scores with punches to the body.
Gilbert missing with strikes from the back.
King has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Gilbert 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.
Gilbert is landing with strikes from the back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
King can't escape the position.
Gilbert missing with punches from the back.
Gilbert misses with punches from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zackary Gilbert dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gilbert shoots in but King avoids the takedown attempt easily.

King closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gilbert to the mat! Gilbert manages to get full guard.
King stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gilbert swivels though and keeps the full guard.
King connects with a couple of short punches.
Gilbert lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Gilbert throwing strikes from guard but King blocks nicely.
Gilbert trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
King is trying to control the position from the bottom.

King is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilbert jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as King walks away with a smile on his face. Gilbert gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
King shoots in but Gilbert avoids the takedown attempt easily.
King takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
King dives in and grabs Gilbert's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gilbert pushes down on King's head and hops out.
King tries to clinch but Gilbert is having none of it.
King shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gilbert as he jumps to the side.
Zackary Gilbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony King.
Gilbert tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. King manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gilbert lands a head kick. King smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Gilbert throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around King's waist but King gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gilbert off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert defends well against a solid takedown attempt from King.

King fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gilbert, pushing him back against the cage.
Gilbert tries to pull guard but King forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Gilbert tries to pull guard but King won't allow it.
Gilbert prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gilbert jumps guard but King turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gilbert jumps guard but King stands there with Gilbert around his waist. Gilbert gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
King is looking to take this one to the mat.
Gilbert tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. King just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gilbert is trying to pull guard but King turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
King tries for a takedown. No joy.

Gilbert gets control of King's arms and successfully pulls guard. Gilbert will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King postures up in Gilbert's guard and throws a big left but Gilbert blocks it.

King drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gilbert dives on top into guard.
Gilbert keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of King's head.
Gilbert stops King from standing up.
King utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gilbert makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gilbert accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
King utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

King has his foot on Gilbert's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gilbert works his way back into a safe position though.
Gilbert scoring with some ground and pound.
Zackary Gilbert overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

King has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gilbert can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert postures up in King's guard and throws a big left but King blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gilbert preventing the sweep.
Gilbert lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gilbert lands a couple of elbows.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gilbert is looking to work some ground and pound but King has wrist control.
Gilbert in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gilbert working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gilbert is in close to King's body, working some short punches and elbows.
King looking to control.

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 Zackary Gilbert.
I think Gilbert 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zackary Gilbert!