PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gray Pleman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Speed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Speed is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Amon Tobin / El Cargo. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Pleman
vs
Speed

190 cm
24
193 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

200 cm
22
195 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Perkele!
Perkele!

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gray Pleman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniel Speed!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Speed throws a jab when Pleman was well out of range.
Speed throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Pleman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Pleman wants to control from the top but Speed keeps moving.
Pleman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Speed swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pleman slips nicely into half guard.
Speed won't allow Pleman to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Speed trying to control here.
Pleman throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pleman throwing shots but Speed is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speed tries to get to full guard but Pleman has control of the leg.

Pleman is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Speed sees it coming and defends easily.
Pleman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Speed is not content to let Pleman control the position.
Pleman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Speed is looking for a sweep. Pleman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Speed is pressing down on Pleman's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pleman wants to pass the guard but Speed is keeping the position.
Pleman trying to control the position from guard on top but Speed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Speed working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pleman.
Pleman throwing strikes but missing.
Pleman postures up and lands a big shot to Speed's brow.
Pleman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Speed works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Speed keeping moving, preventing Pleman from controlling successfully.
Pleman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Speed is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Pleman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pleman tries to free his leg and advance position but Speed is retaining full guard.
Pleman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pleman throws a big right hand that misses.
Speed avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pleman throws a big right hand that misses.

Pleman is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Speed is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Speed has escaped and now he's on top!
Speedis looking to pass into half guard but Pleman pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Pleman is in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pleman looking to pass the guard.
Speed working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pleman.
Pleman pushing down on Speed's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Pleman takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pleman wants to free his trapped foot but Speed is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Pleman has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Pleman not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gray Pleman dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pleman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Speed.
Pleman takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Speed scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Speed lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pleman circles away quickly and effectively.
Speed misses with a wild body shot.
Pleman throws an off balance right hand
and Speed counters with a left to the body.
Speed wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Pleman wants to clinch.
Speed misses with a left hand

and Pleman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pleman throws a big elbow that misses.
Pleman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pleman looking to pass the guard.
Pleman working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Pleman trying to control the position from guard on top but Speed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Speed is adopting a defensive guard.
Pleman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pleman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Speed keeping moving, preventing Pleman from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Pleman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pleman won't allow Speed to sweep him here.
Pleman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Speed is keeping the position for now.
Pleman trying to control the position from guard on top but Speed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pleman takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed scores with a jab to the jaw.
Speed misses with a wild body shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Speed.
Speed lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pleman circles away quickly and effectively.
Speed misses with an uppercut. Pleman saw that one coming.

Pleman moves into the clinch.
Pleman drops down looking for an ankle pick but Speed pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Speed throws a nice looking combination but Pleman bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Speed throws a jab when Pleman was well out of range.
Pleman avoids a punch combination nicely.
Speed connects with a looping right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Speed moves away from the strike by Pleman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Daniel Speed will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Speed misses the shot to the body.
Speed lands with a right hand.
Pleman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pleman takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Speed missing with a left hand there. Pleman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Speed works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Pleman defending well as Speed loads up on a big left hand.
Nice shot by Speed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pleman looks to land a right hand but Speed moved out of range.
Pleman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Speed avoids it really well and circles away.
Pleman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Speed sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pleman somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gray Pleman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pleman takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Speed has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pleman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Speed.
Daniel Speed seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pleman is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Speed throws a body punch but Pleman moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pleman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pleman staying out of range there.
Pleman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Speed throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pleman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pleman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Speed is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Pleman throws an off balance right hand
and Speed counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Speed avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pleman wants to clinch up but Speed keeps it at a distance.
Pleman takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Speed lands an overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Speed misses the shot to the body.
Pleman tries to clinch up.
Sloppy strikes from Speed. Those never looked like landing.
Pleman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Speed swivels and escapes.
Daniel Speed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pleman takes a swing at Speed's ribcage but misses.
Speed takes a swing at Pleman's ribcage but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pleman blocks a jab.
Pleman avoids a punch combination nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Speed comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Speed 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Speed!
Daniel Speed very nearly forgot to thank Perkele! amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.