PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Gilbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pieter Aart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aart has chosen Eye of the Tiger as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gilbert
vs
Aart

187 cm
22
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

203 cm
25
217 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Juggernaut Fuel

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ethan Gilbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pieter Aart!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gilbert shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Aart sprawls well. Aart wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gilbert gets slowly back to his feet.

Aart shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Aart controlling from mount.
The referee warns Gilbert that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Aart content just to control the position here.
Gilbert knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Aart on the ground.
Gilbert in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Gilbert on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gilbert tries to get out of the position.
Aart controlling from mount.
Aart cracks Gilbert with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aart landing shots from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aart tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gilbert is trying to escape the mount.
Gilbert wants to get back to his feet.
Aart tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gilbert is in a horrible position here. Aart smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Aart content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aart working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Aart controlling from the full mount.
Aart lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Aart goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Gilbert is on top in guard.
Gilbert missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aart has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Aart has Gilbert pulled in close to control his posture.
Aart not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Pieter Aart just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gilbert is looking to clinch but Aart is avoiding it.
Aart swats away the attempt to clinch by Gilbert.

Aart has managed to clinch.

Aart manages to break the clinch.

Aart shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Gilbert wants to get back to full guard.
Gilbert is looking to escape.
Aart sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gilbert defending well though.
Gilbert is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aart is keen to just control but Gilbert is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aart is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Aart trying to control the pace.
Aart wants to free his trapped foot but Gilbert is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Aart stalling.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gilbert punching from the bottom.
Aart scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gilbert closes the distance but Aart moves to the side

and Aart counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Aart passes Gilbert's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Aart is keen to just control but Gilbert is a slippery customer.
Well, if Aart 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.
Gilbert might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Aart slips a nice elbow through Gilbert's hands, connecting with Gilbert's forehead.
Gilbert is staying active underneath Aart, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gilbert is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Still in half guard, Aart seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aart throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aart perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Despite being in the dominant position, Pieter Aart just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gilbert falls off balance throwing a combination

and Aart counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gilbert!
Aart lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gilbert is in all sorts of trouble here.

Aart stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Gilbert scores with a takedown into Aart's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gilbert throws and elbow that misses. Aart uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gilbert's guard. Nice move by Aart!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aart controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Aart throws a strike but Gilbert rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gilbert is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gilbert throws a big right hand that misses.
Pieter Aart has got the better of the ground game so far.
Aart controlling Gilbert's posture.
Gilbert throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aart works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gilbert throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Aart working for a triangle but Gilbert defends it easily.
Gilbert with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gilbert lands a couple of digs.
Aart trying to keep a closed guard but Gilbert is proving a slippery customer.
Gilbert distracts Aart with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Aart preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gilbert throws and elbow that misses. Aart uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gilbert's guard. Nice move by Aart!
Aart trying to control but Gilbert is working from the bottom.

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.
Gilbert being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aart works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pieter Aart showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gilbert closes the distance looking to clinch

and Aart decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gilbert's guard.
Aart wants to control from the top but Gilbert keeps moving.
Aart not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Gilbert is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Aart defends well.
Aart is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Pieter Aart just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gilbert tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Aart counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Aart.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aart won't allow Gilbert to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aart pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gilbert is keeping the position for now.
Aart lands a couple of elbows.
Aart stays in close to Gilbert's body and controls the position.
Aart lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Aart controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gilbert looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aart accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aart trying to control but Gilbert is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Aart sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Aart stands and throws Gilbert's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gilbert seems a little lost for a moment, as Aart dominates the positioning.
Aart working the body and head with strikes.
Aart is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Aart's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aart scoring with punches from side control.
Aart is staying tight to Gilbert's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Gilbert tries to improve position but can't.
Gilbert is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Aart off and has taken his back!
Aart turns into Gilbert and is now in his guard.
Aart wants to control from the top but Gilbert keeps moving.
Aart has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aart takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Aart stays in close to Gilbert's body and controls the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Pieter Aart just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gilbert doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Aart counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aart wants to control from the top but Gilbert keeps moving.
Aart is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Aart scoring with some ground and pound.
Gilbert throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Aart stops Gilbert from standing up.
Aart is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gilbert wants to hit a switch here but Aart passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Gilbert there!
Ethan Gilbert has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pieter Aart is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Aart lands a heavy elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pieter Aart comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Aart 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pieter Aart!