PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Desert Storm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Gilas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Storm
vs
Gilas

183 cm
18
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
202 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Desert Storm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mark Gilas!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Storm shoots in looking for a takedown but Gilas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Storm's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gilas misses with a wild body shot.
Storm is looking to clinch but Gilas is avoiding it.
Storm throws a body kick that misses.
Gilas misses with a wild body shot.
Storm ducks under a wild hook from Gilas.
Storm shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gilas as he avoids it easily.
Storm tries to bum rush Gilas with a series of wild strikes but Gilas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Desert Storm seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gilas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Storm sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gilas misses with a looping right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gilas. Storm does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gilas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Storm.
Storm tries for a takedown but Gilas circles away easily

and Gilas counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Desert Storm. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm is positioning himself well to prevent Gilas advancing to mount.
Gilas not doing much here.
Storm taking some punishment here, with Gilas in his half guard.
Storm keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gilas seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Gilas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gilas is trying to control the action in half guard but Storm is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Storm is trying to stand.
Storm has hold of Gilas's hands but Gilas slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gilas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Storm keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilas prevents Storm from improving his position.
Storm avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gilas.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Gilas prevents Storm from improving his position.
Storm blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gilas.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gilas wants to control but Storm is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mark Gilas was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Storm throws a body punch but Gilas moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Storm.
Gilas keeps the fight on the outside.
A big left from Gilas misses.
Storm tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gilas throws a big shot that misses.

Gilas gets caught flat footed, as Storm shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gilas has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Gilas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gilas with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilas is thwarting Storm's attempts to control the position.
Storm is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Gilas winds up and cracks Storm with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Gilas is keen to just control but Storm is a slippery customer.
Storm tries to roll over but Gilas keeps him under control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Storm is working hard here to advance position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gilas controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gilas scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Gilas 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.

Gilas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gilas leaves Storm with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Storm gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gilas counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Storm's guard now.
Gilas trying to control but Storm is working from the bottom.
Gilas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Storm works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gilas distracts Storm with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gilas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gilas sitting in guard here, content to control.

Storm has his foot on Gilas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gilas works his way back into a safe position though.
Gilas postures up in Storm's guard and throws a big left but Storm blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gilas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mark Gilas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Storm looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gilas's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gilas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gilas stands and throws Storm's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gilas is looking to take a break and control but Storm is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gilas throws an elbow but Storm slips to the side and avoids it well.
Gilas grinds an elbow into Storm's temple.
Gilas has knee on belly momentarily but Storm bucks him off and regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilas throwing shots but Storm is blocking nicely.
Storm on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gilas lands with a punch from half guard.
Storm is looking for a sweep. Gilas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gilas is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Gilas looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Storm keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gilas lands with a punch from half guard.
Gilas is trying to control the action in half guard but Storm is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm tries to roll over but Gilas keeps him under control.
Storm avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gilas.
Gilas throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gilas works his foot free and advances to mount.
Gilas scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Storm?
Storm is trying desperately to improve position.
Storm throwing hammer fists to the chest of Gilas. What's that going to do exactly?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilas has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Storm's face.
Gilas unloading with bombs!
Gilas scores with a couple of good head shots there.
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!
Gilas controlling the pace for now.
Storm is in a horrible position here. Gilas smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Gilas working away from the top, dropping strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Storm is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gilas lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Gilas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Storm ducks under a wild hook from Gilas.
Storm will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Storm tries to close the distance and clinch but Gilas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Gilas drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gilas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gilas working some strikes from top position.
Storm wants to sweep here but Gilas controlling him for the moment.
Gilas content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gilas throws a big right hand that misses.
Storm utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gilas landing with the ground and pound.
Gilas postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gilas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gilas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gilas trying to control but Storm is working from the bottom.
Gilas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gilas trying to control the position from guard on top but Storm is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Storm on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Storm tries to get out of the position.
Gilas chips away with some ground and pound.
Gilas works over Storm with some ground and pound from guard.
Storm is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gilas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilas throws a big right hand that misses.
Gilas is looking to work some ground and pound but Storm has wrist control.
Storm has momentary wrist control but Gilas slips an elbow through the middle.
Gilas stopping the sweep attempt from Storm.
Gilas wants to control from the top but Storm keeps moving.
Storm knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gilas on the ground.
Gilas wants to pass the guard but Storm is keeping the position.
Gilas passes Storm's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm is not content to let Gilas control the position.
Storm on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gilas winds up and cracks Storm with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Gilas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Storm keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gilas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Storm wants to get back to full guard but Gilas has mounted him!
Gilas landing shots from mount.
Gilas with a couple of short strikes.
Gilas trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gilas dominating with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Storm is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gilas lands a big shot there that rocks Storm but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Storm tries to hold on but Gilas pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gilas cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Gilas working Storm over with strikes here.
Gilas lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Storm hang on?
Storm is trying desperately to improve position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Storm is bucking up trying to escape but Gilas cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gilas pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Desert Storm has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
BOOM! Gilas connects with a massive shot to the dome!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Gilas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gilas winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Gilas!