PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kelly Gilliam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thames Brennick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gilliam
vs
Brennick

212 cm
20
346 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
21
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kelly Gilliam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thames Brennick!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Brennick rushes Gilliam and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Brennick being controlled against the cage.

Brennick jumps into guard, dragging Gilliam to the mat.
Brennick wants to stand up but Gilliam is controlling him.
Gilliam throws a big elbow that misses.
Brennick utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Brennick working for a triangle but Gilliam defends it easily.
Gilliam has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gilliam tries to stand but Brennick is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilliam wants to stand and escape but instead Brennick has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Gilliam will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Brennick got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gilliam has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Brennick has managed to get both his arms back between Gilliam's legs - danger averted.

Gilliam looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gilliam looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Brennick looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brennick with a flurry of punches that miss.

Gilliam throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Brennick escapes and throws Gilliam's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Gilliam is trying to get back to half guard.
Gilliam tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Brennick presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Brennick is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Brennick pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gilliam tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Brennick paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thames Brennick seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Brennick instigates a clinch.
Gilliam is trying to pull guard but Brennick turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gilliam is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Gilliam is breathing heavily.
Brennick content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Brennick tries to land knees in the clinch but Gilliam avoids the damage to the body.

Brennick has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Gilliam is trying to keep an underhook but Brennick manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brennick wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gilliam keeps working.
Brennick stalling.
Brennick has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brennick controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thames Brennick dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Brennick gets tackled into the cage by Gilliam. Gilliam maintains the clinch.
Gilliam is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Brennick is defending well for now.
Brennick wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gilliam misses with a punch to the body.

Brennick has Gilliam pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Brennick pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Gilliam tumbling to the mat - Brennick dives into Gilliam's guard.
Brennick postures up in Gilliam's guard and throws a big left but Gilliam blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gilliam throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Brennick postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Brennick has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilliam avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Gilliam is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Brennick defends well.

Gilliam has an active guard here but Brennick has managed to pass into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Brennick trying to control from half guard but Gilliam is working away.

Gilliam looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gilliam knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Brennick on the ground.

That's two 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.
Brennick wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gilliam keeps working.
Gilliam wants to improve his position but Brennick is controlling well.

Gilliam looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thames Brennick has got the better of the ground game so far.
Brennick takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Gilliam tries to roll over but Brennick keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brennick working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Brennick sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Brennick prevents Gilliam from improving his position.
Brennick takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Brennick will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gilliam is looking for a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Brennick shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gilliam manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Brennick trying to control the position from guard on top but Gilliam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Brennick is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Brennick is looking to work some ground and pound but Gilliam has wrist control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brennick seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thames Brennick showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gilliam misses with a takedown attempt - Brennick sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gilliam enables Brennick to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gilliam manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Brennick wants to pass the guard but Gilliam is keeping the position.
Brennick trying to control but Gilliam is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brennick controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brennick stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Brennick throws a push kick but Gilliam slaps the foot to one side.
Gilliam went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Brennick darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Brennick performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brennick prevents Gilliam from improving his position.

Brennick is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Brennick wants to take a breather but Gilliam is having none of it.
Brennick sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gilliam defending well though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Brennick in particular looking to stall.
Brennick's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brennick working the head and body with strikes.
Gilliam is in trouble now - Brennick has advanced to mount!
Brennick breaks from Gilliam's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Gilliam is trying desperately to improve position.
Brennick controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilliam is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gilliam looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
What can Gilliam do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
More stalling from Brennick.
Brennick somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Kelly Gilliam has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thames Brennick is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brennick has good solid back control here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thames Brennick comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Brennick has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thames Brennick!