PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ken Block (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Giles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Block
vs
Giles

176 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

165 cm
20
160 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ken Block!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Giles!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Giles misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Giles throws a right and a left that both miss.
No joy there for Giles, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Block wants to clinch.
Block tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Giles swivels and escapes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Block looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
John Giles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Giles closes the distance and pushes Block back into the ropes.
Block utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Block has Giles pressed against the ropes, preventing Giles from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Block lands with a light punch inside.
Giles is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Block pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Giles's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Giles wants to break the clinch but can't.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Giles dodges an elbow strike from Block.
Giles wants a takedown.
Ken Block has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Giles.

Block successfully pulls guard.
Giles has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Block is proving hard to escape from.
Block knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Giles on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Block is looking to stand up but Giles isn't so interested in that idea.
Giles is looking to work some ground and pound but Block has wrist control.
Giles with a flurry of punches that miss.
Giles working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Block's head.
Giles working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Giles tries to free his leg and advance position but Block is retaining full guard.
Giles is looking to work some ground and pound but Block has wrist control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Block tries to clinch but Giles moves away
and Giles cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Horrible takedown by Block or perhaps it was just good defense by Giles which made him look bad.
Giles throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Block.
Giles will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giles stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Giles wants it to stay on the feet.
Giles chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Block can pounce on him.
Block wants to clinch.
Giles shoots for a takedown but Block saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Giles looks gassed!
Giles scores with a three punch combo!

Block moves into range and clinches up with Giles.
Giles wants a takedown.
Block utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Giles tries to score a body lock takedown but Block shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Block breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Block throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Giles's head.
Nice defenses there by Block.
Good leg kick by Block there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Block moves into the clinch successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Giles is fighting off a takedown attempt but Block is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Giles to the mat. Giles regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Block will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giles wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Block trying to stand up but can't free himself from Giles's guard.
Giles is trying to control the position but Block postures up.
Giles wants to stand and escape but Block is having none of it.
Giles wants to sweep but no luck.
Block throwing strikes but missing.
Giles trying to control the position.

Block got a little sloppy there for a moment and Giles has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Block has managed to get both his arms back between Giles's legs - danger averted.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Block tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Giles counters with a good, hard body kick but Block shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Block wants to clinch up but Giles keeps it at a distance.
Block fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice uppercut there from Block.
Giles looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Block ducks under a wild hook from Giles.
A left and a right from Giles both land. Nice combination.
Giles takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Giles swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Block checks the leg kick nicely there.
Block is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Block keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Block tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Giles paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Giles lands with a slapping head kick.
Giles throws a series of punches but Block avoids them all with ease.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Block fails with an attempt to clinch.

Block closes the distance and clinches.

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

Block pushes Giles up against the ropes in a clinch.
Block prevents a takedown attempt there.
Block crunches a lovely knee into Giles's ribcage.
Giles is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

Giles pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Block scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Block moves into range and clinches up with Giles.
Knees to the body from Block.
Block tries to pull guard but Giles holds him up against the ropes and eventually Block drops back down to his feet.
Block lands a good knee to the midsection. Giles won't want to take too many of those.

Block manages to break the clinch.
Block tries to close the distance and clinch but Giles swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Giles avoids the head kick by Block.
Block explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Block is looking to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Giles.

Block clinches with his opponent.
Giles tries to break free but Block pushes him back against the ropes.

Giles breaks the clinch.

Block has taken the fight to the clinch.
Block creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Block looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Block unloads a knee to the mid-section. Giles lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

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

Block darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Giles tries to kick Block off but Block keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Block decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Giles circles away from the clinch attempt.
Block wants to clinch up but Giles keeps it at a distance.
Block looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Giles is fending him off so far but Block persists. Nope, Giles circles away and we're back to standing.
Giles fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Giles stalks Block and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Block's face. Block staggers backwards, shaken.
Giles looks to land a combination but Block avoids it well.
Block wants to clinch up but Giles keeps it at a distance.
Giles shoots in for a double leg but Block sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Block doesn't manage to clinch there - Giles circles away.
Giles misses with a head kick.
Giles swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Block shoots in for a double leg but Giles sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Giles clinches with his opponent.
Giles wants a takedown but no success here.
Giles managing to block the knees to the body from Block.
Giles takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Giles tries for a takedown but Block manages to get underhooks.
Block tries to pull guard but Giles won't allow it.
Block misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Giles.

Giles breaks from the clinch.
Block darts in trying to clinch
and Giles counters with a three punch combo that has Block backing up. Block nods at Giles to acknowledge the strikes.
Giles shoots in for a takedown but Block shows good takedown defense.
Nice cross by Block.

Block has managed to clinch.
Giles wants to break free but Block has control.
Giles is looking to break free of the clinch but Block has double underhooks.
Block tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Giles just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Block is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Giles is defending well for now.

Giles manages to break the clinch.
Giles lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Giles.
Block tries to clinch but Giles moves away
and Giles counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Block tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Giles decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Block's guard.
Block preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Giles trying to control the position from guard on top but Block is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Giles looking to sit in guard and control but Block gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Giles is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Giles looking for a sweep. Not yet Giles, not yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Block drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Block jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Block stops Giles from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Block dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Giles misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Giles falls off balance throwing a combination
and Block counters with a nice leg kick.
Ken Block is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Block avoids a punch combination nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Block looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Block pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Giles misses with a low kick.
Block closes the distance looking to clinch

and Giles counters with a single leg into guard. Block didn't expect that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Giles stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Block swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Giles looking to sit in guard and control but Block gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giles wants to get back to his feet but Block is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Block thows a big elbow that misses.
Giles has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Block trying to control the position from guard on top but Giles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Block wants to stand but Giles is controlling his posture from full guard.

Giles working for a triangle but Block defends it easily.
Block trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Block throws a big right hand that misses.
Block throwing strikes from guard but Giles blocks nicely.
Block won't allow Giles to sweep him here.
Block trying to control the position from guard on top but Giles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Giles has his feet on Block's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Giles lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ken Block is winning the standup battle so far.
Giles misses with a series of wild punches.

Block moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giles wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Giles can't get the takedown.

Block escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Block is looking to clinch.
Giles swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Block holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Giles on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Block ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Block no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Giles is in close to Block's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Giles trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Block wants to stand and escape but Giles is having none of it.
Block avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Giles chips away with some ground and pound.
Block on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Block tries to get out of the position.
Giles stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Block swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Block utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Giles misses with a head kick.

Block moves into the clinch.
Giles tries to break free but Block pushes him back against the ropes.
Block stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Block stops a takedown attempt from Giles.
Ken Block has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Giles.
Block lands a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Block obliges.
Block tries for a takedown but Giles manages to get underhooks.
Giles is trying to break free.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Giles escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Giles scores with a body shot.
Giles works over Block's head and body with a nice combination.
Giles tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Giles misses with a straight left.
Block misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Block takes a kick to the side of the head.

Block gets a clinch.
Giles is working for takedown but Block is calmly controlling the position for now.

Block manages to break the clinch.
Block misses with a few strikes there.
Giles dips to his left and cracks Block with an uppercut!
Giles falls off balance throwing a combination
and Block makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Giles as Block shoots in.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Giles lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Giles fails to land with a series of punches.
Giles pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Block moves in looking to clinch but Giles pushes him off.
Block tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Giles paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Block tries to clinch up.

Giles shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Giles was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Giles throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Block is in all sorts of trouble here.
Giles working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Giles landing punches.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Giles working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Giles in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Giles can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Block is looking to escape.
John Giles has got the better of the ground game so far.
Block taking shots to the head.
Giles throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Giles looking to finish Block with some ground and pound. This is bad for Block!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Giles cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Block is squirming around, avoiding Giles's attempts to control the action.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Giles avoids the attempt from Block to control.
Giles controlling his opponent.
Giles scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Giles trying to control but Block is having none of it.

Giles working for a submission but Block is keeping him at bay.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Block wants to try and get back to his feet.
Block is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Giles wants to control the pace but Block is squirming around nicely.
Block wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Giles.
Giles misses with some ground and pound and Block recovers position to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Giles comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Ken Block!

The fight ends as a draw!