PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Geraint Butler (ranked 4815 p4p, 2311 weight class) and Leonard Billard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Leonard Billard was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Butler
vs
Billard

185 cm
20
205
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
205
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Geraint Butler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Leonard Billard!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Daniel Franklin and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Billard closes the distance and clinches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Billard takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Billard is trying to force a seperation but Butler has the dominant position.
Billard should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Billard tries to pull guard but Butler won't allow it.
Billard is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Butler gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Billard looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Butler wants to stall.

Butler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Billard throws a right and a left that Butler avoids nicely.
Butler throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Billard keeps the fight on the outside.
Billard scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Billard moves into range and clinches up with Butler.
Billard wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Butler has him pressed against the cage.

Butler's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Butler tries to clinch up
enabling Billard to counter with a crisp jab.
Butler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Leonard Billard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Billard scores with a jab.

Billard closes the distance and clinches.

Butler jumps guard.
Billard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Butler has his foot on Billard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Billard works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billard tries to stand but Butler is controlling from the bottom.

Billard stands up and waves to Butler to follow him.
A head kick misses from Billard.
Butler moves to clinch but Billard breaks away
and Billard counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Geraint Butler has been cut.

Billard moves into the clinch.
Billard tries to circle away but Butler has him pinned against the cage.
Billard is struggling to control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Billard is trying to break the clinch but Butler is controlling him.
Butler tries to throw a body punch but Billard avoids it by throwing Butler back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Come on Billard - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Butler wants to take the fight to the mat but Billard manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Butler lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Well, if Butler is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Butler thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Billard's head.
Billard looks like he's trying to stand up.

Butler postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Billard to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Billard lands with an uppercut that bounces Butler off the cage and back into range.

Billard has taken the fight to the clinch.
Billard throws an elbow but it misses.
Billard will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Butler up against the cage.
Billard can't break the clinch.
Billard looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Billard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Butler pulls guard successfully.
Butler being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Billard stands and steps away. Butler gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonard Billard dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Geraint Butler's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Billard lands a lovely overhand right.
Billard tries a head kick but it misses.
Butler throws a sloppy head kick
and Billard counters with a two punch combo.

Billard instigates a clinch.
Butler tries to pull guard but Billard forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Butler tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Billard smiles and moves away.
Butler has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Butler there as he acknowledges the shot.

Billard clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Billard blocking some punches.
Billard jumps guard but Butler stands there with Billard around his waist. Billard gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Butler tries to score a body lock takedown but Billard shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Geraint Butler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billard wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Butler has him pressed against the cage.
Billard blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Billard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Butler.
Butler is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Billard to keep the fight standing.
Billard tries to break the clinch but Butler is controlling the position.
Billard cracks Butler with a nice body shot.

Butler's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Butler has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Billard finds it's way round the side to connect with Butler's head.
Billard wants to slow Butler down by chopping away at his legs.
Billard lands with an uppercut that bounces Butler off the cage and back into range.
A head kick misses from Billard.
Butler gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Billard jabs Butler to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Leonard Billard seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Billard drives through and clinches with Butler against the cage.
Leonard Billard seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Butler keeps control of Billard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Butler is trying to pull guard but Billard has him pressed against the cage.
Billard tries to break free but Butler pushes him back against the cage.
Billard tries to circle away but Butler has him pinned against the cage.
Billard tries to circle away but Butler has him pinned against the cage.
Butler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Billard's efforts to push away.
Butler drops down looking for an ankle pick but Billard pulls his leg out and moves away.
Billard throws a right and a left that Butler avoids nicely.
Butler shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Billard defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Billard clinches up against the cage.
Butler drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Billard tries to break free but Butler pushes him back against the cage.
Butler fails to pull guard.
Butler is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Billard is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Billard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Billard pushes Butler up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butler tries for a takedown but Billard manages to get underhooks.
Butler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Billard's efforts to push away.
Butler has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Billard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Butler is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Billard to keep the fight standing.
Billard avoiding damage.
Billard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Billard tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Billard fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Butler manages to break the clinch.
Butler tries for a takedown but Billard circles away easily
and Billard counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonard Billard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Geraint Butler's cut.
That's time! Butler's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Billard forces Butler back against the cage and clinches.
Butler's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Butler jumps guard but Billard stands there with Butler around his waist. Butler gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Butler fails to pull guard.
Butler is working for takedown but Billard is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Geraint Butler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Butler has Billard pressed against the cage, preventing Billard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Butler has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Billard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Butler tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butler tries to land a knee to the head but Billard blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Billard manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Billard. No joy for Butler on that attempt.

Billard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler fails to pull guard.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Billard.
Butler on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Billard successfully pulls guard.
Billard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Butler is one step ahead there.
Billard trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billard lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Billard stands and steps away. Butler gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Butler moves into the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Billard tries to break the clinch but Butler is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Butler breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Billard connects with the punch.
Leonard Billard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Butler throws a head kick but Billard moves out of range.
Butler takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Butler avoids a kick to the body.
Billard's corner calls for a 1-2. Billard obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Billard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Butler, pushing him back against the cage.

Butler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leonard Billard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Billard has taken the fight to the clinch.
Billard prevents the takedown attempt.
A frustrated look appears on Billard's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butler avoiding damage as Billard throws knees to the body.
Butler drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Butler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Butler walks into a straight right hand from Billard.

Billard forces Butler back against the cage and clinches.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Billard is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Butler fails to pull guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonard Billard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Billard 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonard Billard!