PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gerard Gilliam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Graves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gilliam
vs
Graves

165 cm
23
279 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
23
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gerard Gilliam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bryan Graves!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gilliam leaves Graves with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Graves blocks a head kick by Gilliam.

Gilliam moves into the clinch.
Graves fails to pull guard.
Graves tries for a takedown but Gilliam manages to get underhooks.
Gerard Gilliam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Graves.
Gilliam tries for a takedown. No joy.

Graves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Graves throws a right hand that Gilliam ducks under and follows up with a left that Gilliam also avoids with ease.
Graves throws a sloppy head kick and Gilliam moves out of range easily.

Graves darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gilliam moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilliam tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gilliam could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Graves postures up.
Graves looking to sit in guard and control but Gilliam gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Graves working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gilliam.
Gilliam wants to stand and escape but instead Graves has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Gilliam might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves is looking to pass into half guard but Gilliam pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Gilliam is in guard.
Gilliam throws a big right hand that misses.
Gilliam trying to stand up but can't free himself from Graves's guard.
Graves wants to get back to his feet but Gilliam is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gilliam has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Graves is proving hard to escape from.
Graves really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gilliam. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gilliam trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Graves is working an open guard so Gilliam takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilliam tries to score a power double leg takedown but Graves sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gilliam somewhat.

Graves drives through with a takedown into Gilliam's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Graves working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Graves pushing down on Gilliam's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Gilliam manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Graves instigates a clinch.
Gilliam changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Graves fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gilliam is breathing heavily.

Graves lands a big head kick that sends Gilliam tumbling to the mat! Graves takes a step backwards and waves Gilliam back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Gilliam is rocked!

It looks like Gerard Gilliam has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Graves connects with a body shot.

Graves shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gilliam's guard.
Oh Gilliam is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Graves pushes down on Gilliam's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gilliam seems to have got his legs back now.
Gilliam is refusing to be controlled, as Graves sits in half guard.
Graves wants to stand but Gilliam has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Graves dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gerard Gilliam's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Graves moves into the clinch successfully.
Gilliam jumps guard but Graves stands there with Gilliam around his waist. Gilliam gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gilliam drops down looking for an ankle pick but Graves pulls his leg out and moves away.

Graves gets a clinch.
Graves tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Graves gets underhooks to prevent Gilliam's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerard Gilliam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graves tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gilliam smiles and moves away.
Gilliam darts in looking for a takedown but Graves gets double underhooks and turns Gilliam into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves is looking for a takedown.

Graves gets control of Gilliam's arms and successfully pulls guard. Graves will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Graves looking to control.
Gilliam wants to stand but Graves is controlling his posture from full guard.
Graves trying to control the position.
Gilliam scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Graves has a closed guard, preventing Gilliam from standing up.
Gilliam throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Graves not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Gilliam decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Graves, up you get!
Gilliam moves in looking to clinch but Graves pushes him off.
Graves will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Graves closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gilliam to the mat! Gilliam manages to get full guard.
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!
Graves stopping the sweep attempt from Gilliam.
Graves must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Gilliam manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Graves is working an open guard so Gilliam takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Gilliam darts in trying to clinch

and Graves counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Graves stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Graves shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Well, if Graves is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gilliam is pressing down on Graves's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Graves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gerard Gilliam's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gilliam gets the takedown into side control.
Graves is trying to control Gilliam's posture but Gilliam avoids it.

Gilliam decides to stand up, so the ref orders Graves to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Gilliam decides to pull guard.
Graves lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Gilliam looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Graves passes into side control.
Gilliam tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Graves wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Bryan Graves has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilliam is trying to escape the position but Graves is controlling the position.
Graves working away.
Graves cracks Gilliam with a big elbow.
Graves tries to move to mount but Gilliam blocks the move with his legs.

Graves stands up and beckons Gilliam to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gilliam is defended easily by Graves.
Gilliam tries to clinch up but Graves circles away and keeps his distance.

Graves throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gilliam was covering up waiting for the punch and Graves finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Graves stands up from Gilliam's guard - Graves perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Graves throws a head kick that misses.
Graves gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gilliam counters with a nice leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Graves.
Graves darts in looking for a takedown but Gilliam gets double underhooks and turns Graves into the cage.
Gilliam is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Graves pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves tries to land knees in the clinch but Gilliam avoids the damage to the body.
Gilliam is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Gerard Gilliam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bryan Graves.
Graves is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gilliam is looking to take this one to the mat.
Gilliam can't find room to land a body shot as Graves controls the action.

Graves manages to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Graves looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gilliam wants to control but Graves is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Graves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Graves has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Graves!