PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jeremiah Gilliam (ranked 6543 p4p, 0 weight class) and Spence Donte (ranked 3065 p4p, 0 weight class). Spence Donte has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gilliam
vs
Donte

191 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

199 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jeremiah Gilliam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Spence Donte!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gilliam takes a jab right on the kisser.

It looks like Jeremiah Gilliam has been cut.

Gilliam shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Donte manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Donte is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gilliam postures up and lands a big shot to Donte's brow.
Gilliam trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gilliam is fighting to break Donte's control of his arms but Donte is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gilliam accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donte is adopting a defensive guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Donte can do anything to dispel that myth.
Donte wants to stand but Gilliam is controlling the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donte striking off his back, scoring a few points.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice body kick from Gilliam.

Donte closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Donte is trying to push Gilliam away but Gilliam has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Gilliam gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Donte pushes Gilliam off but Gilliam dives into side control.
Gilliam postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Donte can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donte is trying to improve his position.
Donte keeps trying to improve his position.
Donte really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gilliam. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Donte struggling a bit here.
Donte tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gilliam wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Donte is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gilliam has control of an arm but Donte manages to advance to Gilliam's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donte is trying to stick to Gilliam's back but Gilliam is turning into Donte. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Donte's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gilliam.
Gilliam throwing strikes from guard but Donte blocks nicely.
Donte is trying to control the position but Gilliam postures up.
Donte preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gilliam is fighting to break Donte's control of his arms but Donte is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gilliam with a flurry of punches that miss.

Donte is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gilliam defends well.
Gilliam looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Donte wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gilliam stopping the sweep attempt from Donte.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Donte controls Gilliam momentarily but Gilliam frees himself.
Gilliam throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jeremiah Gilliam will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jeremiah Gilliam's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Donte is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gilliam is looking to counter the offense by Donte and move into the clinch.
Donte avoids the head kick by Gilliam.

Gilliam closes the distance and clinches.

Gilliam gets control of Donte's arms and successfully pulls guard. Gilliam will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Donte is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Donte stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gilliam swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gilliam not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Donte must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Donte landing with the ground and pound.
Donte looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilliam is trying to keep Donte in close.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Donte's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Donte trying to control the position from guard on top but Gilliam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gilliam working a defensive guard here.
Donte working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gilliam's head.

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.

Gilliam looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Donte tries to free his leg and advance position but Gilliam is retaining full guard.
Donte 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.

Gilliam is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Donte pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gilliam is keeping the position for now.
Donte wants to stand but Gilliam is controlling his posture from full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilliam leaves Donte with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gilliam keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Donte tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gilliam defends well and Donte ends up having to push Gilliam into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As Donte tries to get set, Gilliam tries to push him back and clinch up but Donte manages to avoid the attempt.
Jeremiah Gilliam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Spence Donte.
Donte connects with the punch.

Gilliam shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Donte is trying to defend but Gilliam finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Donte tries to kick Gilliam off in order to stand up. Gilliam Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donte is looking to regain half guard here but Gilliam keeps moving and retains side control.
Donte is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Gilliam is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Donte tries to reverse the position but Gilliam maintains control.
Donte tries to hold on but Gilliam pushes him away.
Donte sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Gilliam thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Donte trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jeremiah Gilliam will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jeremiah Gilliam's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Donte cracks Gilliam with a right hand to the side of the head.

Gilliam shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Donte manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donte pulls Gilliam in close to prevent any damage.
Gilliam trying to control the position from guard on top but Donte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gilliam trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilliam trying to control but Donte is working from the bottom.

Donte working for a triangle but Gilliam defends it easily.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Donte wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Gilliam lands a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donte striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Donte controlling Gilliam's posture.
Gilliam throws a big elbow that misses.
Donte managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donte avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gilliam trying to control the position from guard on top but Donte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gilliam blocks a head kick by Donte.
As Donte tries to get set, Gilliam tries to push him back and clinch up but Donte manages to avoid the attempt.

Donte closes the distance and clinches.
Donte can't break the clinch.

Gilliam gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Gilliam is standing up over Donte. Donte looks to escape but Gilliam dives into side control.

Donte trying his best to control but Gilliam has mounted him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donte holds on for dear life.
Donte wants to hold on but Gilliam pushes him away.
Donte is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Donte is trying desperately to improve position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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 Jeremiah Gilliam.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gilliam, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeremiah Gilliam!