PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Lesner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Gilles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lesner
vs
Gilles

194 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

193 cm
25
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Lesner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Max Gilles!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Franklyn Lucas and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gilles shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lesner manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Gilles is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lesner is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Lesner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gilles on the ground.
Gilles postures up in Lesner's guard and throws a big left but Lesner blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gilles drops back looking for a leg! Lesner is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lesner manages to kick Gilles off! Gilles jumps back into Lesner's guard.
Lesner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Gilles has gone for a leg lock! Lesner slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gilles's guard.
Lesner throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lesner wants to control from the top but Gilles keeps moving.

Gilles had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lesner defends it easily.

Lesner drops back looking for a leg! Gilles is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gilles manages to kick Lesner off! Lesner jumps back into Gilles's guard.
Lesner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Gilles escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lesner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lesner passes Gilles's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gilles moves into full guard.
Gilles looking to control.

Gilles has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lesner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gilles looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lesner would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Lesner throwing strikes but missing.
Lesner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gilles lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Lesner!
Gilles throws some wild stikes that Lesner manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lesner is desperately trying to improve his position but Gilles has a good base and remains in mount.

Gilles working for a submission but Lesner is keeping him at bay.

Gilles working for a guillotine from mount but Lesner is in no mood to give up.
You get the feeling that Lesner really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Gilles avoids the attempt from Lesner to control.

Gilles is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Lesner has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Gilles manages to capitalize on a mistake by Lesner to take his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lesner throws a series of strikes that have Gilles backpedaling.
Matt Lesner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lesner scores with a kick to the body.
Lesner pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gilles fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lesner connects with a looping right hand.

It looks like Max Gilles has been cut.

Lesner fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gilles sprawls well initially but Lesner persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Lesner sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gilles defending well though.
Lesner throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lesner throwing shots but Gilles is blocking nicely.
Lesner throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gilles is breathing heavily.
Gilles is not content to let Lesner control the position.
Gilles is looking to get back to full guard here but Lesner has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesner tries to stand but Gilles is controlling his head.
Sloppy strikes there by Lesner.
The ground and pound from Lesner seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Gilles tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lesner wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gilles is working to avoid the ground and pound but Lesner connects with a decent elbow.
Gilles parries the strikes from Lesner easily there. Lesner is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gilles to escape.
Gilles on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lesner sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gilles is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Lesner swings around for an armbar but Gilles sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Lesner's guard.
Lesner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gilles is one step ahead there.
Lesner working a defensive guard here.
Lesner wants to sweep here but Gilles controlling him for the moment.
Max Gilles has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lesner wants to stand up but Gilles is controlling him.

Gilles drops back looking for a leg! Lesner is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lesner manages to kick Gilles off! Gilles jumps back into Lesner's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesner wants to get back to his feet but Gilles is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gilles wants to control from the top but Lesner keeps moving.
Gilles stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lesner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lesner pulls Gilles in close to his closed guard and prevents Gilles from doing any damage or advancing position.
Gilles passes Lesner's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gilles is trying to control the action in half guard but Lesner is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Gilles is trying to work for a kimura but Lesner is defending well.
Lesner trying to control here.

Lesner is defending against the submission attempts here by Gilles.
Lesner looks like he's trying to stand up.
Lesner is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Lesner dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Max Gilles's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Gilles shoots in and gets a takedown into Lesner's guard.

Gilles drops back, looking for a kneebar! Lesner looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Lesner looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Lesner!
Gilles can't do much from the bottom here.
Lesner is looking to take a break and control but Gilles is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gilles is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Gilles's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilles sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Lesner lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lesner wants to stand up but Gilles is controlling the position.
Lesner is trying to control the action in half guard but Gilles is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gilles wants to improve his position but Lesner is controlling well.
Lesner wants to take a breather but Gilles is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lesner is stalling here. Gilles is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Lesner seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Gilles has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Lesner is looking to regain half guard here but Gilles keeps moving and retains side control.

Gilles looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gilles takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gilles working away.
Lesner looking for a sweep but Gilles has passed into full mount! Oh no!

Gilles 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. Lesner looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Gilles! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Max Gilles!