PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ervin Gillespie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rees Dero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gillespie
vs
Dero

164 cm
23
178 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

173 cm
24
171 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ervin Gillespie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rees Dero!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gillespie takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Dero scores with a jab to the body.
Gillespie could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Dero throws the kick towards the body but Gillespie avoids it.
Gillespie tries to counter with a takedown but Dero is quick to defend against it.
Gillespie moves out of range as Dero throws a body kick.
Dero misses with a body shot.

Dero moves into the clinch.
Gillespie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dero walks away with a smile on his face. Gillespie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dero throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Dero shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Dero sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gillespie defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gillespie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Dero throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gillespie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dero stopping the sweep attempt from Gillespie.
Dero wants to get up but he can't break Gillespie's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Dero slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Dero throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gillespie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dero is looking to work some ground and pound but Gillespie has wrist control.
Dero is looking to work some ground and pound but Gillespie has wrist control.
Gillespie 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.

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.
Dero throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gillespie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dero must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dero wants to control from the top but Gillespie keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dero misses with a leg kick
and Gillespie counters with a one-two to the body.

Dero drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gillespie 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.
Gillespie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dero preventing the sweep.
Gillespie wants to control the position but Dero says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Dero thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie is trying to get back to full guard.
Gillespie blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dero.
Gillespie is not content to let Dero control the position.
Gillespie is looking to improve his position.
Dero missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dero is keen to just control but Gillespie is a slippery customer.

Dero gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Dero scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dero trying to control the action but Gillespie is working from the bottom.
Dero perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gillespie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Dero trying to control the position from guard on top but Gillespie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dero throwing strikes from guard but Gillespie blocks nicely.
Gillespie wants to sweep here but Dero controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gillespie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rees Dero dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gillespie takes one on the button.
Gillespie misses with a low kick.

Dero shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dero showed some decent athleticism there.
Dero thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gillespie's head.
Gillespie tries to get to full guard but Dero has control of the leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gillespie gets full guard.
Gillespie is trying to keep Dero in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dero stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gillespie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dero won't allow Gillespie to get back to his feet.
Gillespie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dero 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.

Dero decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gillespie, up you get!
Dero has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Dero clinches.
Gillespie tries to pull guard but Dero won't allow it.
Gillespie throws an elbow that misses.
Dero letting Gillespie take a breather here.
Dero blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dero lands a right hand.

Dero gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Gillespie wants to get back to full guard.

Dero is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gillespie tries to kick Dero off but Dero keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Dero wants to take a breather but Gillespie is having none of it.
Dero is looking to stall here but Gillespie recovers full guard.
Gillespie looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dero throwing strikes from guard but Gillespie blocks nicely.
Gillespie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gillespie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dero doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gillespie.
Rees Dero has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gillespie looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Dero wants to control but Gillespie is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dero tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Dero kicks off Gillespie and gets to his feet.

Gillespie gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

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

Gillespie is looking for a triangle but Dero pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dero gets to his feet - Gillespie follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rees Dero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dero moves into the clinch successfully.
Dero has had enough of the clinch but Gillespie keeps him there for the moment.
Gillespie stalls.
The referee is keeping an eye on Gillespie - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Gillespie trying to stall but Dero improves his position.
Gillespie is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Gillespie effectively controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ervin Gillespie.

Dero fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gillespie sprawls well initially but Dero persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gillespie gets back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dero trying to control but Gillespie is working from the bottom.
Gillespie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gillespie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dero's guard.

Gillespie wants to control from the top but Dero keeps moving.

Dero escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gillespie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gillespie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie throwing strikes from guard but Dero blocks nicely.
Gillespie would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Dero is trying to control the position but Gillespie postures up.
Gillespie engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Gillespie gets to his feet. Dero looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gillespie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dero.
Gillespie appears to be looking for a big counter.
Rees Dero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dero is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gillespie's half guard.
Gillespie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dero trying to control but Gillespie is working from the bottom.
Gillespie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dero looking to sit in guard and control but Gillespie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gillespie passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Dero is trying to maintain the position but Gillespie is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie lands strikes from half guard.
Dero wants to get back to his feet.
Dero on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Dero is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gillespie scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gillespie prevents Dero from improving his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dero wants to control but Gillespie is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ervin Gillespie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rees Dero is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dero moves into full 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 Ervin Gillespie.
Well Dero 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rees Dero!