PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zackary Gilbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Knk Lnl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Knk Lnl told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Gilbert
vs
Lnl

212 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

225 cm
21
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zackary Gilbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Knk Lnl!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lnl looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gilbert is fending him off so far but Lnl persists. Nope, Gilbert circles away and we're back to standing.
Gilbert stuffs the takedown.

Lnl closes the distance and pushes Gilbert back into the cage.

Gilbert has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lnl uses from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Gilbert keeping moving, preventing Lnl from controlling successfully.
Lnl trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Knk Lnl hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Lnl misses with a series of wild punches.
Gilbert throws a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lnl misses with a leg kick
and Gilbert counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Lnl is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Gilbert tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lnl sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gilbert somewhat.
Gilbert will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gilbert shoots in but Lnl avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zackary Gilbert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lnl circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lnl looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lnl avoids the head kick by Gilbert.

Lnl closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Lnl takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Lnl wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gilbert is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lnl is keeping busy.

Lnl lands a takedown into guard.
Lnl loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lnl sitting in guard here, content to control.

Gilbert scrambles and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lnl closes the distance and clinches up with Gilbert, looking for a takedown. Lnl pushes Gilbert against the cage but Gilbert circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lnl shoots in for a takedown but Gilbert shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert shoots in for a takedown but Lnl shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gilbert stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gilbert wants it to stay on the feet.
Lnl looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gilbert is fending him off so far but Lnl persists. Nope, Gilbert circles away and we're back to standing.
Lnl looks winded!
Gilbert throws a head kick that half lands.
A good leg kick by Lnl.
Gilbert tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Lnl closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lnl changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gilbert fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gilbert lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gilbert shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lnl napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Lnl tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gilbert wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Lnl dodges the ground and pound from Gilbert.
Sloppy strikes there by Gilbert.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lnl gets back to half guard.

Lnl looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lnl keeps control of the position for the meantime.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lnl trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lnl shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gilbert as he jumps to the side.
Lnl leaves Gilbert with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lnl throws a sloppy head kick and Gilbert moves out of range easily.
Gilbert stuffs the takedown attempt from Lnl. Lnl gets slowly back to his feet.
Gilbert throws a nice looking combination but Lnl bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lnl tries to land a body kick
and Gilbert counters with a one-two to the body.
Zackary Gilbert is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lnl will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lnl shoots in looking for a takedown. Gilbert tries to sprawl out of it but Lnl keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gilbert manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zackary Gilbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Knk Lnl.
Lnl is breathing heavily.
Lnl throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A head kick misses from Gilbert.
Lnl moves in looking to clinch but Gilbert pushes him off.
Gilbert fails with a takedown attempt.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lnl forces Gilbert back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lnl to keep the fight standing.
Gilbert tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lnl just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lnl working Gilbert over with knees to the body.
Gilbert is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lnl to keep the fight standing.
Gilbert prevents Lnl from breaking the clinch.
Gilbert fails to pull guard.
Gilbert tries to pull guard but Lnl holds him up against the cage and eventually Gilbert drops back down to his feet.
Lnl misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gilbert.

Lnl turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Lnl manages to end up in side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lnl decides to stand up, so the ref orders Gilbert to his feet.
Lnl throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gilbert's waist but Gilbert gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lnl off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lnl looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gilbert is fending him off so far but Lnl persists. Nope, Gilbert circles away and we're back to standing.
Lnl moves in looking to clinch but Gilbert pushes him off.
Gilbert shoots in and drives through. Lnl sprawls well.
Lnl shoots in for a takedown but Gilbert shows good takedown defense.
Gilbert tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lnl manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gilbert lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Lnl shoots in looking for a takedown but Gilbert manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lnl's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gilbert scores with a punch to the head.
Gilbert digs a good body shot into Lnl's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lnl throws a low kick but Gilbert moves out of range easily.
Lnl tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gilbert manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gilbert throws a one two combo.
Gilbert misses with the combination.
Lnl will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Gilbert dives in and scores a takedown into Lnl's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gilbert throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lnl works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gilbert is working Lnl over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lnl is controlling Gilbert's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Knk Lnl will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Gilbert's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Lnl fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lnl throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gilbert.
Lnl fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gilbert throws a sloppy head kick and Lnl moves out of range easily.
Lnl shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gilbert sprawls well. Gilbert wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lnl gets slowly back to his feet.
Gilbert slaps away a takedown attempt from Lnl, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Zackary Gilbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Knk Lnl.
Lnl takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gilbert gets a double leg takedown into Lnl's guard.
Lnl has Gilbert pulled in close to control his posture.
Lnl avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gilbert might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gilbert postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gilbert throwing strikes but missing.
Gilbert postures up.
Gilbert makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gilbert missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lnl working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gilbert.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gilbert throws a big right hand that misses.
Lnl wants to stand and escape but Gilbert is having none of it.
Gilbert content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gilbert cracks Lnl with a solid left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gilbert in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lnl looking to control.
Gilbert is looking to stand up but Lnl won't let him.
Gilbert with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gilbert working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lnl's head.
Gilbert working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gilbert postures up and lands a big shot to Lnl's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gilbert working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gilbert loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lnl is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Lnl seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gilbert does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nice strikes from Lnl there.
Gilbert slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gilbert is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lnl throwing strikes from guard but Gilbert blocks nicely.
Lnl lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lnl landing some decent shots from guard.
Lnl won't allow Gilbert to sweep him here.

Lnl gets to his feet. Gilbert looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lnl fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zackary Gilbert has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Knk Lnl is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zackary Gilbert is winning the standup battle so far.
Lnl throws a push kick but Gilbert slaps the foot to one side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zackary Gilbert showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lnl 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Knk Lnl!