PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Martins Verdins (ranked 23401 p4p, 5833 weight class) and Davis Gill (ranked 251 p4p, 238 weight class). Gill has chosen White Room as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Verdins
vs
Gill

200 cm
33
295
7 - 16 - 0

208 cm
27
290
2 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 7 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Martins Verdins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Davis Gill!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Gill or perhaps it was just good defense by Verdins, which made it look bad.
Gill bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Verdins's head.
Gill misses with a jab, cross combination.

Gill drives through and clinches with Verdins against the cage.

Gill escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gill shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Verdins but Verdins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Verdins blocks a head kick by Gill.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Verdins closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gill is trying to stand back up but Verdins is controlling him
Verdins trying to control the pace.

Verdins is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gill doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Verdins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gill trying to hold on to Verdins's head to control him but Verdins postures up.
Gill is doing well to control the position and prevent Verdins from advancing to side control.
Gill pushes Verdins off looking to stand but Verdins dives back in and keeps control.

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.
Verdins thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Verdins could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Verdins seems to be working for a kimura but Gill defends the submission attempt.
Gill is looking to improve his position.
Verdins is thwarting Gill's attempts to control the position.
Gill really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Verdins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Verdins moves nicely into side control.
A control attempt from Gill but he's now mounted!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verdins sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gill trying desperately to get to his feet.
Verdins trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gill is looking to improve his position but Verdins isn't that keen on the idea.
Verdins scoring with strikes but Gill is staying in there.
Gill tries to reverse the position but Verdins maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gill is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gill can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gill keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Verdins tries to control but Gill wriggling away.

Verdins get's back to his feet.
Gill tries a head kick but it misses.
Verdins looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Gill tries to clinch up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Verdins keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Martins Verdins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Davis Gill.
Gill tries to clinch but Verdins is having none of it.
Gill is trying hard to land a takedown here. Verdins sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Martins Verdins dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Verdins tries for a takedown but Gill sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Verdins takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Verdins tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gill counters with a one-two to the body.

Gill rushes Verdins and presses him up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Verdins gets underhooks to prevent Gill's takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verdins stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Gill taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gill slowing the pace effectively.
Gill is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Verdins gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Verdins tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gill smiles and moves away.
Verdins darts in trying to clinch
and Gill counters with a left to the body.
Gill looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Gill has closed the distance and engaged Verdins in a clinch.
Gill jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Verdins walks away with a smile on his face. Gill gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Martins Verdins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Davis Gill.

Gill clinches.

Gill breaks from the clinch.
Gill throws a sloppy head kick and Verdins moves out of range easily.
Nice takedown defense from Verdins. No joy for Gill on that attempt.

Verdins shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Verdins showed some decent athleticism there.
Gill is looking to get back to is feet but Verdins passes into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Gill is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Verdins decides to stand back up.
Davis Gill seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gill tries to score a power double leg takedown but Verdins sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gill somewhat.
Verdins jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Gill shoots in for a double leg but Verdins sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verdins looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gill is fending him off so far but Verdins persists. Nope, Gill circles away and we're back to standing.
Verdins moves to clinch but Gill breaks away

and Gill counters with a nice double leg into side control. Verdins won't be happy with that.

Verdins explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Gill tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Verdins swivels and escapes.
Verdins tries to bum rush Gill with a series of wild strikes but Gill uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Gill moves into the clinch successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gill breaks from the clinch.
Verdins stuns Gill with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Verdins looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gill steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Verdins.
Gill takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Gill is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gill tries to score a power double leg takedown but Verdins sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gill somewhat.

Gill bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Verdins is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gill off and has taken his back!
Verdins lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gill can't escape the position.
Verdins slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Martins Verdins will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gill tries to clinch up.
Gill smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Verdins gets tackled into the cage by Gill. Gill maintains the clinch.
Verdins drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Gill's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Verdins defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gill.
Gill fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verdins fails with a takedown attempt.

Verdins scores with a takedown into Gill's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verdins showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Gill is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gill tries to strike from the bottom.

Verdins gets to his feet - Gill follows without any prompting.
Verdins shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gill as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martins Verdins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nice takedown defense from Gill. No joy for Verdins on that attempt.
Verdins tries to clinch but Gill is having none of it.
Gill throws a counter combo.
Gill dives in and grabs Verdins's left leg, looking for a takedown. Verdins pushes down on Gill's head and hops out.
Verdins shoots in for a takedown but Gill shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Gill closes the distance and clinches.

Gill's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A combination from Verdins does no damage.

Gill gets a takedown into half guard.

Verdins kicks Gill off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gill rushes Verdins and presses him up against the cage.

Gill breaks the clinch.
Gill cracks Verdins with a right hand to the side of the head.
Gill on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Verdins tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gill manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gill throws a body punch but Verdins moves out of range.

Verdins shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gill is trying to defend but Verdins finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Gill tries to get to full guard but Verdins has control of the leg.
Gill trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gill manages to escape and get back to his feet!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gill shoots in and drives through. Verdins sprawls well.

Gill gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Verdins to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Verdins thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Verdins stays in close to Gill's body and controls the position.
Davis Gill has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Martins Verdins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Davis Gill.
I think Verdins has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!