PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between William Bethea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Gilmore (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.

Bethea
vs
Gilmore

184 cm
22
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, William Bethea!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Gilmore!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bethea is looking to clinch but Gilmore is avoiding it.

Gilmore moves into the clinch successfully.
Gilmore tries to break the clinch but Bethea is controlling the position.
Bethea wants to get back to striking at distance but Gilmore won't allow it.
Bethea controlling the action here for a moment.
Gilmore lands a body punch in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Gilmore.
Gilmore has Bethea pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bethea manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bethea is trying to break free.
Gilmore wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bethea stalling in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gilmore looking to stall.
Bethea is leaning against Gilmore and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Gilmore looking to stall.
Bethea is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gilmore has picked Bethea up - he's going for a ride! Gilmore dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Bethea trying to control here.
Gilmore prevents Bethea from improving his position.

Gilmore is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Bethea has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bethea tries to get to full guard but Gilmore has control of the leg.
Bethea is not content to let Gilmore control the position.

Gilmore is working for a kimura but Bethea is defending it quite comfortably.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bethea wants to clinch but Gilmore slips to the side
and Gilmore counters with a leg kick.

Bethea closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bethea trying to land knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bethea.
Bethea taking a breather.
Gilmore prevents the takedown attempt.

Gilmore breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gilmore goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gilmore wants to clinch but Bethea slips to the side

and Bethea counters by moving into the clinch.
Gilmore wants a takedown but no success here.

Bethea manages to break the clinch.
Bethea tries to clinch up but Gilmore circles away and keeps his distance.
Gilmore looks to clinch

and Bethea counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bethea drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gilmore pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bethea is breathing heavily.
Gilmore swats away the attempt to clinch by Bethea.
William Bethea seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gilmore shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bethea as he jumps to the side.
William Bethea has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Gilmore.
Bethea throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gilmore closes the distance but Bethea moves to the side

and Bethea moves into the clinch.

That's four 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.
Bethea lands a body punch in the clinch.
Bethea blocks a body shot from Gilmore.

Bethea manages to break the clinch.

Gilmore fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bethea, pushing him back against the cage.
Bethea tries a knee to the head but Gilmore blocks it.
Gilmore holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Bethea prevents a takedown attempt there.

Gilmore breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bethea fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gilmore, pushing him back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Bethea.
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 William Bethea will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gilmore throws a series of punches but Bethea moves out of range.

Gilmore has closed the distance and engaged Bethea in a clinch.
Bethea tries for a takedown. No joy.
The referee calls for Gilmore to work.
Bethea stalling the fight.
A hook to the body from Bethea.
Bethea throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gilmores head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gilmore tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bethea softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gilmore fails to pull guard.
Bethea drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gilmore gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Bethea breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilmore jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bethea shoots in and drives through. Gilmore sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Bethea. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bethea pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Gilmore has taken the fight to the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Gilmore.
Gilmore wants a takedown but no success here.
Bethea lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gilmore backwards.
Bethea trying to land knees to the body.
Bethea gets underhooks to prevent Gilmore's takedown attempt.
Bethea blocks a body shot from Gilmore.
A right hook to the body lands for Bethea.
Bethea really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bethea tries to land a knee to the head but Gilmore blocks with his arms.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gilmore.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Bethea has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Gilmore regains guard immediately.
Gilmore throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Gilmore can't keep his opponent in guard - Bethea advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bethea tries to pass to full mount but Gilmore defends it.
Bethea winds up and cracks Gilmore with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bethea has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Bethea is working for a guillotine from mount but Gilmore frees his head quite easily.
Bethea trying to control but Gilmore is having none of it.

Bethea working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Gilmore looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Bethea! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). William Bethea!