PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fred Boyle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keast Gaard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Gaard's choice of entrance music: Otto Brandenburg - Når en Sailor Går i Land. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Boyle
vs
Gaard

179 cm
27
176 lbs
17 - 11 - 1

194 cm
26
178 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 1, fighting out of London, Fred Boyle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Keast Gaard!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gaard takes one to the chin there.
Boyle throws a series of punches but Gaard moves out of range.
Gaard connects with an inside leg kick.
Gaard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Boyle looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No joy there for Gaard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Boyle shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gaard but Gaard pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Boyle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fred Boyle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boyle avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyle fails with a takedown attempt.

Boyle gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gaard defending against the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Boyle tries for a kimura but Gaard is defending well.

Boyle thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Boyle swings around for an armbar but Gaard sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Boyle's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaard wants to stand but Boyle is controlling his posture from full guard.

Gaard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Boyle has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gaard has managed to get both his arms back between Boyle's legs - danger averted.
Gaard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gaard won't allow Boyle to sweep him here.

Gaard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Boyle might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Boyle is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Boyle is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gaard defends well.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Boyle looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Boyle working a defensive guard here.
Gaard is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Boyle looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Boyle is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Boyle is trying to control the position but Gaard postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaard wants to stand but Boyle is controlling his posture from full guard.
Boyle trying to keep a closed guard but Gaard is proving a slippery customer.

Boyle working for submissions but it's allowed Gaard to get to half guard.
Boyle slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gaard tries to stand but Boyle is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Boyle 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.

A shot to the liver by Gaard. Beautiful body shot.
Keast Gaard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gaard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Boyle.
Gaard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Boyle looks for a takedown but Gaard sprawls well.
Boyle bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Gaard's head backwards.
Gaard avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gaard connects with a body shot that sends Boyle's belly button to the back.
Gaard throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Boyle shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyle checks a low kick from Gaard.
Fred Boyle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gaard lands a really nice looking cross but Boyle seems unphased.
Keast Gaard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gaard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Boyle.
Boyle moves out of range of the strikes.
Boyle takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Boyle staying out of range there.
Gaard moves away from the strike by Boyle.
Boyle fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fred Boyle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gaard slips under a jab.
Boyle looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Good exchange - Gaard coming out on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaard tries to bum rush Boyle with a series of wild strikes but Boyle uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gaard scores with a sloppy right hand. Boyle should have avoided that one.

Boyle drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Boyle looking to sit in guard and control but Gaard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gaard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Boyle. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Boyle has his foot on Gaard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gaard works his way back into a safe position though.
Boyle trying to control the position.
Gaard wants to stand but Boyle has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Boyle is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gaard is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyle wants to control the position but Gaard says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Boyle is trying to maintain the position but Gaard is very close to passing his half guard.
Gaard is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Gaard is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Boyle is trying to get back to full guard.
Boyle wants to get back to full guard but Gaard has mounted him!
Gaard is looking to stand but Gaard has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyle keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Gaard get's back to his feet.
Nice straight punches there by Gaard. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Gaard.
Gaard throws out a leg kick but Boyle moves out of range and Gaard only half commits.
Gaard falls off balance throwing a combination

and Boyle counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gaard's guard now.
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!

Gaard uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Boyle throws a head kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Boyle misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Keast Gaard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Boyle closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gaard circles away.
Boyle misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Boyle loads up on a big right hand but Gaard slips the punch.
Gaard lands a really nice looking cross but Boyle seems unphased.
Boyle is looking to clinch but Gaard is avoiding it.
Gaard misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Boyle closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gaard to the mat! Gaard manages to get full guard.
Boyle trying to move into half guard but instead Gaard has managed to sweep!

Boyle is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gaard is aware though and is defending well.

Boyle working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Gaard has passed into half guard!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaard is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Boyle actively working from the bottom here.
Boyle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Boyle with the active half guard here but Gaard passes nicely into side control.

Gaard decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Gaard scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boyle shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gaard but Gaard pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fred Boyle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gaard misses with a wild body shot.
Gaard scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Gaard throws a one two combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gaard swinging wildly here.
Gaard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gaard has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Gaard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Boyle showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gaard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Boyle.
Gaard is not content to let Boyle control the position.

Boyle is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gaard has escaped the position, nice work there.

Boyle thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Boyle tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaard tries to escape but Boyle is in control.

Boyle goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Gaard rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Boyle's guard! Nice work there by Gaard!
Gaard wants to stand but Boyle is controlling his posture from full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Boyle wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Keast Gaard.
I think Gaard has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!