PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Dillard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeremy Sacks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jeremy Sacks struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.8lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Dillard
vs
Sacks

170 cm
27
146 lbs
12 - 6 - 1

178 cm
25
148 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kirk Dillard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jeremy Sacks!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sacks avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dillard misses with a looping left.
A combination from Dillard does no damage.
Sacks scores with a hook.
Sacks with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Dillard scores with a nice right hand.
Sacks steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dillard.
Dillard throws a lazy uppercut
and Sacks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sacks defending well as Dillard loads up on a big left hand.

Sacks feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sacks engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sacks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dillard is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillard is looking to stand up but Sacks isn't so interested in that idea.

Dillard uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Dillard tries to sprawl but Sacks drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Sacks seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dillard pushes Sacks off and gets back to his feet.
Kirk Dillard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Sacks scores with a takedown into Dillard's guard.
Sacks looks gassed!
Sacks looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dillard keeping moving, preventing Sacks from controlling successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Dillard scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Dillard looks to land a right hand but Sacks moved out of range.
Dillard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sacks was well out of range. Poor timing from Dillard.
Dillard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A telegraphed right hand from Dillard misses the target.
Dillard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sacks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dillard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sacks tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dillard swivels and escapes.
Dillard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Sacks shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dillard napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Dillard pushes Sacks away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sacks gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Dillard trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Sacks wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Dillard, who protects the arm well.
Dillard is not content to let Sacks control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Sacks.

Sacks working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Dillard is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Sacks has just dragged him back down to the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Sacks dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dillard misses with a looping right.
Sacks lands a jab to the head.

Sacks closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Dillard to the mat! Dillard manages to get full guard.
Jeremy Sacks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dillard is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sacks is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sacks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dillard is keeping the position for now.
Sacks is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sacks stops Dillard from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sacks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sacks works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sacks wants to take a breather but Dillard is having none of it.
Sacks is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Sacks is breathing heavily.
Dillard pushes Sacks off looking to stand but Sacks dives back in and keeps control.
Sacks tries to pass the half guard into mount. Dillard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Dillard wants to get back to his feet.
Sacks takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sacks wants to control but Dillard is keeping him busy.
Sacks tries to pass the half guard into mount. Dillard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sacks in particular looking to stall.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jeremy Sacks hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Dillard throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sacks counters with a nice body shot.
Sacks smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sacks wants to land a leg kick but Dillard is out of range.
Sacks closes the distance and clinches up with Dillard, looking for a takedown. Sacks pushes Dillard against the cage but Dillard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dillard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sacks has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Dillard thows a left - swing and a miss!
A punch combination from Dillard misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sacks gets a double leg takedown into Dillard's guard.
Sacks throws and elbow that misses. Dillard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sacks's guard. Nice move by Dillard!
Sacks controls Dillard momentarily but Dillard frees himself.
Sacks is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Well, if Sacks 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.
Sacks is trying to control. Dillard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sacks is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dillard defends it well.
Dillard is looking to escape.
Sacks stalling away here and it's allowed Dillard to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Sacks looking to sit in guard and control but Dillard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sacks wants to control but Dillard passes easily into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sacks is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Sacks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Dillard loads up on a big right hand but Sacks slips the punch.

Sacks closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sacks works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Dillard wants to get back to his feet.
Dillard is not content to let Sacks control the position.
Dillard is trying to buck Sacks off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillard bucks up and tries to throw Sacks off but instead Sacks has got his back!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sacks looking for the choke but no joy.

Dillard showing good submission defense here.
Dillard staying busy and making it hard for Sacks to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sacks tightening his grip on Dillard, looking for the choke.
Sacks is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Dillard is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Sacks working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
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!
Dillard is keeping busy.
Kirk Dillard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dillard trying to get back to his feet but Sacks is in full control for now.

Sacks has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Dillard has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Sacks trying to control.
Jeremy Sacks is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sacks is trying to control but Dillard is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Sacks wants to control the pace but Dillard is squirming around nicely.
Sacks pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dillard is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Dillard flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeremy Sacks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sacks 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeremy Sacks!