PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gary Stilies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iron Mike (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Stilies
vs
Mike

200 cm
23
255 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

191 cm
25
280 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gary Stilies!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iron Mike!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mike throws a body kick that misses.
Stilies lands with a straight right. Mike didn't see that one coming.
A head kick misses from Mike.
Mike tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stilies paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Stilies gets tackled into the cage by Mike. Mike maintains the clinch.
Stilies working hard to break the clinch.
Mike keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stilies's efforts to push away.

Mike's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mike takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Stilies takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Stilies throws a series of punches but Mike avoids them all with ease.
Mike leaves Stilies with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stilies misses with a double jab.
Mike misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mike wants to clinch up but Stilies keeps it at a distance.
Iron Mike seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stilies feints a jab promting Mike to slip. Stilies then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Mike slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Mike throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Stilies counters with a series of strikes. Mike will be more careful next time no doubt.
Stilies displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mike throws out the jab.
Mike throws a push kick but Stilies slaps the foot to one side.
Stilies goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Stilies circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mike explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mike checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Stilies blocks a head kick by Mike.
Stilies shoots in for a takedown but Mike shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stilies lands with a right hand.
Stilies scores with a shot to the body.
Stilies is looking to score with low kicks.
Mike dodges the punch combination from Stilies.
Mike throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mike throws a series of punches but Stilies avoids them all with ease.
Stilies lands a two punch combo.

Stilies tries to keep at a distance but Mike has taken the fight into the clinch.
Stilies is trying to force a seperation but Mike has the dominant position.
Stilies tries to circle away but Mike has him pinned against the cage.
Mike landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Mike pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Mike misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mike doesn't manage to clinch there - Stilies circles away.
Stilies closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mike circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary Stilies. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stilies scores with a one two! Mike had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Stilies connects with a body shot that sends Mike's belly button to the back.
Mike looks winded!
Mike wants to clinch up but Stilies keeps it at a distance.
No joy there for Stilies, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mike tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mike throws a series of punches but Stilies moves out of range.
Stilies fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stilies fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mike loads up on a big right hand but Stilies slips the punch.
Stilies tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mike swivels and escapes.
A nice inside leg kick there by Stilies. That's going to slow Mike down.
Mike stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Stilies.
Mike looks to score with a jab to the body but Stilies is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mike pushes Stilies up against the cage in a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Stilies escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stilies's jab looks to have found its range, popping Mike under the eye.
Stilies scores with a three punch combo!
Mike takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mike looks to land a right hand but Stilies moved out of range.
Stilies scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Stilies fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Crunch! Stilies slams his shin into Mike's torso.
Stilies scores with a hook to the body. Mike takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stilies throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stilies misses with the combination.
Stilies throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Stilies dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mike takes one on the button.
Mike throws a sloppy head kick and Stilies moves out of range easily.

Mike has managed to clinch.
Stilies is trying to break the clinch but Mike is controlling him.
Stilies can't break the clinch.

Stilies manages to break the clinch.
Stilies shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Mike eats them both and turns towards Stilies to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Stilies chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gary Stilies is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Mike darts in and clinches Stilies up against the cage.
Stilies wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mike has him pressed against the cage.

Mike escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stilies throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mike fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mike is breathing heavily.
Mike is looking to clinch but Stilies is avoiding it.
Mike tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stilies swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stilies tests Mike's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mike walks into a straight right hand from Stilies.
Mike looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gary Stilies is winning the standup battle so far.
Stilies cracks Mike with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mike throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Stilies to counter with a crisp jab.
A shot to the liver by Stilies. Beautiful body shot.
Stilies displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Iron Mike has been cut.
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!
An inside leg kick lands from Stilies.
Stilies smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Stilies scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Stilies throws a combination. Mike tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Stilies here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stilies throws a one two combo.
Stilies is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mike can do to turn this around?
Stilies shoots in but Mike avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mike dodges the punch combination from Stilies.

Stilies shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mike is trying to defend but Stilies finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Stilies uses his free foot to push down on Mike's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Mike.

Stilies get's back to his feet.
It looks like Stilies has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stilies looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mike has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Mike goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mike wants to clinch but Stilies slips to the side
and Stilies counters with a low kick, right behind Mike 's knee.
Stilies goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Stilies cracks Mike with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Stilies lands a glancing blow to the side of Mike's head.
Mike tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stilies connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Stilies tries to bum rush Mike with a series of wild strikes but Mike uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stilies comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Stilies misses with a double jab.
Stilies is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Stilies digs a good hook to Mike's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stilies fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mike.
A right-left combo lands from Stilies.

Stilies looking to score a takedown here. Mike is defending well but Stilies drives through and ends up in Mike's guard.
Stilies wants to pass the guard but Mike is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stilies is standing up over Mike. Mike looks to escape but Stilies dives into side control.
Stilies wants to control but Mike is keeping him busy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Stilies thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Stilies dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Iron Mike's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mike slips a jab and a cross from Stilies.
Mike tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stilies paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mike fails to land with a series of punches.
Stilies avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stilies slips under a jab from Mike.
Sloppy strikes from Stilies. Those never looked like landing.
Mike lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mike.
Stilies lands a slapping body shot.
Stilies slaps away a takedown attempt from Mike, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A punch combination from Stilies misses.
Stilies looks to land a combination but Mike avoids it well.
Mike tries to clinch up but Stilies circles away and keeps his distance.
Mike takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
An inside leg kick lands from Stilies.
Stilies is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mike throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stilies.
Stilies cracks the inside of Mike's front leg.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Stilies!
Stilies tries to bum rush Mike with a series of wild strikes but Mike uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mike tries to clinch but Stilies is having none of it.
Stilies wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stilies lands with a thumping leg kick.
Stilies comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Mike takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Stilies keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
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!
Stilies lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Stilies closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Stilies throws a combination. Mike tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Mike stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mike throws a front kick aimed at Stilies's knee but Stilies avoids it well.
Mike shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Mike throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mike stuffs the takedown.
Mike throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stilies connects with an inside leg kick.
Stilies's corner calls for a 1-2. Stilies obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Mike tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stilies manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stilies throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stilies pivots, looking for a leg kick but Mike is out of range and Stilies settles back down.
Mike throws a sloppy head kick and Stilies moves out of range easily.
Donk. Stilies catches Mike right on the button with a cross.
Stilies lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Mike fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stilies jabs Mike to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Stilies tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stilies lands a slapping body shot.
Stilies with a hook.
Stilies dips to his left and cracks Mike with an uppercut!
Mike throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stilies shoots in looking for a takedown. Mike tries to sprawl out of it but Stilies keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mike manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary Stilies. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mike forces Stilies back against the cage and clinches.
Stilies is trying to break free.

Mike breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mike moves forwards but Stilies connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Stilies lands a nice looking body shot.
Stilies lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stilies.

Stilies tries to sprawl but Mike drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stilies is trying to get back to full guard.

Mike stands up and beckons Stilies to join him on the feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stilies cracks Mike with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Iron Mike has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gary Stilies is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mike showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stilies.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gary Stilies showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stilies, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gary Stilies!
Post fight, Gary Stilies took to the microphone: 'Je suis heureux pour la victoire. Je m'entraîne dur toute l'heure veux être champion un jour. Merci à tous les fans et mon équipe. Nous reviendrons.(I am happy for the win. I train hard all the time.I want to be the champion one day. Thanks to all the fans & my team. We will be back again.)'.