PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jussi Hempele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Gilas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gilas has chosen Remember The Name - Fort Minor as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hempele
vs
Gilas

170 cm
20
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
20
167 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Vendetta Supplements 160Q
Arcticus

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jussi Hempele!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sean Gilas!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gilas takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hempele is looking to clinch but Gilas is avoiding it.
Hempele tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gilas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hempele bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Gilas takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Sean Gilas has been cut.
Hempele wants to land a leg kick but Gilas is out of range.
Hempele lands a leg kick that knocks Gilas off balance momentarily.

Hempele moves into the clinch successfully.
Hempele gets through Gilas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hempele working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hempele blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gilas pushes off an throws an elbow but Hempele leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Hempele.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hempele blocks an uppercut.
Gilas goes for a takedown attempt but Hempele pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Hempele moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hempele swings wildly with an uppercut but Gilas uses good head movement to avoid it.

Hempele breaks from the clinch.
Gilas takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hempele swats away the attempt to clinch by Gilas.

Hempele moves into the clinch successfully.
Hempele makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hempele trying to stall but Gilas improves his position.
Gilas wants to take the fight to the mat but Hempele manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hempele makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Hempele scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hempele tries to work over Gilas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hempele managing to block the knees to the body from Gilas.
Hempele is working Gilas over against the cage.
Hempele lands a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hempele tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gilas swings wildly with an uppercut but Hempele uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gilas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hempele gets underhooks to prevent Gilas's takedown attempt.
Jussi Hempele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean Gilas.
Hempele can't find room to land a body shot as Gilas controls the action.
Gilas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hempele.
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!
Hempele blocking some punches.
Hempele lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gilas tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hempele avoids it.
Gilas throws a punch but it's blocked by Hempele.
Hempele is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hempele misses with some punches.
Gilas tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hempele avoids it.
Hempele tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gilas's elbow.
Hempele blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilas tries to land knees in the clinch but Hempele avoids the damage to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hempele.
Gilas blocking some punches.
Gilas trying to land knees to the body.
Hempele stalls.
Hempele lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gilas misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Gilas fails to land.
Hempele presses Gilas against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hempele throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gilass head.

Hempele breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hempele moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hempele wants to clinch.
Hempele keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hempele throws a sloppy head kick and Gilas moves out of range easily.
Hempele tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hempele cracks the inside of Gilas's front leg.

Gilas takes the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gilas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hempele.
Gilas tries to throw a body punch but Hempele avoids it by throwing Gilas back against the cage.
Hempele throws a head punch that misses.
Hempele scores with a hook to the body.
Gilas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hempele blocks the elbow strike.
Gilas is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hempele is defending well for now.
Gilas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hempele lands a nice shot to the body.
Hempele blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hempele tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gilas's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jussi Hempele dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sean Gilas's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gilas misses with a right hand
and Hempele counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Jussi Hempele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hempele.
Hempele is looking to clinch but Gilas is avoiding it.
Hempele throws a head kick that misses.
Gilas misses with a wild body shot.
Hempele throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gilas misses with an uppercut. Hempele saw that one coming.
Jussi Hempele is winning the standup battle so far.
Hempele goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Hempele tries to clinch but Gilas is having none of it.
Hempele turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gilas misses with a series of wild punches.
A head kick misses from Hempele.
Hempele throws a leg kick but Gilas sees it coming and checks it nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gilas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hempele tries a head kick but it misses.
Gilas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jussi Hempele is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gilas swats away the attempt to clinch by Hempele.
Hempele tries to work over Gilas's front leg with a kick but Gilas checks it.
Hempele is looking to clinch but Gilas is avoiding it.
Gilas connects with a looping right hand.
Hempele lands with a kick to the temple. Gilas shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Gilas rushes Hempele and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gilas missing with knees to the body.
Gilas blocks a body shot from Hempele.
Hempele prevents the takedown attempt.
Hempele doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hempele taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Hempele misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hempele is trying to maintain a safe position but Gilas gets an underhook and turns Hempele into the cage.
Gilas is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hempele is defending well for now.

Hempele breaks from the clinch.
Hempele pushes Gilas away with a front kick.
Hempele connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Hempele gets tackled into the cage by Gilas. Gilas maintains the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gilas is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gilas tries to score a body lock takedown but Hempele shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Jussi Hempele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean Gilas.
Gilas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hempele fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Gilas gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Hempele is trying to control but can't.
Gilas is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gilas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilas looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gilas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hempele is pressing down on Gilas's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gilas throwing strikes but missing.
Gilas advances to half guard.
Hempele wants to control but Gilas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gilas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hempele defending well though.
Hempele trying to control here.
Gilas drops an elbow to the side of Hempele's head.
Gilas with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hempele trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hempele wants to sweep but Gilas has passed to side control!
Hempele tries to improve position but can't.
Hempele can't do much from the bottom here.
Gilas scoring with punches and elbows.
Hempele tries to buck Gilas off but Gilas is having none of it.
Gilas working the body and head with strikes.
Hempele struggling a bit here.
Gilas trying to control the position but Hempele is working away.
Hempele takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sean Gilas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sean Gilas's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gilas on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gilas moves out of range of the body kick.
Hempele tries to clinch up but Gilas circles away and keeps his distance.
Gilas tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hempele tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hempele swings widly with a right hand
and Gilas counters with a stiff right hand.
Hempele connects with an inside leg kick.
Hempele misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gilas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gilas's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hempele misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hempele misses with a low kick as Gilas jumps back.
Gilas moves out of range as Hempele throws a body kick.
A head kick misses from Hempele.
Hempele tries to land a leg kick but Gilas saw it coming and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gilas decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Gilas there.
Hempele trying to control from the bottom.
Hempele is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gilas scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hempele trying to hold on to Gilas's head to control him but Gilas postures up.
Hempele is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gilas can do to turn this around?
Hempele blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gilas.
Gilas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hempele defending well though.
Hempele is not content to let Gilas control the position.
Gilas seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Gilas working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Gilas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gilas is looking to advance position but Hempele won't allow it.
Sean Gilas has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilas is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hempele!
Hempele wants to control but Gilas is having none of it.
Gilas landing strikes from the mount and Hempele is in trouble!
Gilas putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Hempele is in a horrible position here. Gilas smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gilas cracks Hempele with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Hempele working to try and regain half guard.
Gilas with shots to the head and body - Hempele looks very uncomfortable down there.
Gilas with a couple of short strikes.
Gilas lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hempele is in a horrible position here. Gilas smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Gilas trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gilas unloading with bombs!
Gilas lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gilas lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hempele is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gilas lands with some strikes.
Gilas prevents Hempele from getting the reversal.
Gilas postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hempele looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilas landing strikes from the mount.
Hempele is trying desperately to improve position.
Gilas landing punches.
Hempele is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at My own..., so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Hempele is looking to improve his position but Gilas isn't that keen on the idea.
Hempele is working hard here to advance position.
Hempele wants to hold on but Gilas pushes him away.
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 landing punches.
Gilas working Hempele over with strikes here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gilas lands a nice shot to the head.
Gilas lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Gilas really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sean Gilas's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A kick lands to the mid section there for Hempele.
Hempele tries a head kick but it misses.

Gilas looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gilas content to control rather than advance.
Hempele is trying to get back to full guard.
Hempele is concentrating on defense, preventing Gilas from advancing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gilas missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gilas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hempele trying to control from the bottom.
Gilas content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Hempele trying to control from the bottom.
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.
Hempele is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gilas is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Gilas moves out of range as Hempele throws a body kick.
Hempele throws a head kick that misses
and Gilas counters with a right hand to the body.
Hempele throws a leg kick that is checked

and Gilas counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hempele won't be happy with that.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
You can see the frustration on Hempele's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gilas cracks Hempele with a big elbow.
Gilas wants to control but Hempele is keeping him busy.
Gilas working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hempele stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Gilas grinds an elbow into Hempele's temple.
Gilas takes a little break here. Hempele wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Gilas is working Hempele over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hempele defending against the ground and pound.
Gilas throws a strike aimed at the side of Hempele's head but Hempele avoids it well.
Gilas trying to control the position but Hempele is working away.
Hempele struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilas throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Gilas is looking to take a break and control but Hempele is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hempele is looking to regain half guard here but Gilas keeps moving and retains side control.
Gilas lands a few punches from side control.
Hempele takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Gilas connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hempele some visible discomfort.
Hempele is trying to control Gilas's posture but Gilas avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gilas is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Gilas working the ground and pound from side control.
Hempele is not content to let Gilas control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gilas tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Gilas lands a nice forearm strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Gilas dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Sean Gilas's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gilas chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hempele can pounce on him.
Gilas throws a jab when Hempele was well out of range.
Hempele misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hempele is looking to clinch but Gilas is avoiding it.
Hempele throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hempele avoids the body shot from Gilas.
Hempele ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gilas misses with a body shot.
Hempele tries to clinch up but Gilas circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hempele misses with a kick to the body
and Gilas counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hempele thinking.
A low kick from Hempele misses

and Gilas counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hempele is adopting a defensive guard.
Gilas working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gilas postures up.
Gilas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hempele works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gilas trying to control but Hempele is working from the bottom.
Hempele pulls Gilas in to control the position.
Gilas chips away with some ground and pound.
Hempele trying to keep a closed guard but Gilas is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hempele slaps away a takedown attempt from Gilas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hempele doesn't manage to clinch there - Gilas circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hempele throws a low kick, looking for Gilas's leg but Gilas calmly moves out of range.
Hempele tries to clinch but Gilas is having none of it.
Hempele throws a leg kick but Gilas moved away.
Hempele is looking to score with low kicks.
Gilas lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hempele tries to work over Gilas's front leg with a kick but Gilas checks it.
Hempele tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gilas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hempele misses with a low kick as Gilas jumps back.
Gilas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A slow jab from Gilas misses its intended target.
Hempele looks for the body kick but Gilas saw that one coming.
A head kick misses from Hempele.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hempele throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gilas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Gilas moves into the clinch.
Gilas tries a knee to the head but Hempele blocks it.
Hempele works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A nice left hand lands by Hempele.
Hempele tries a body shot but Gilas blocks it.
Jussi Hempele has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hempele lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hempele struggles to land a body shot inside as Gilas controls his hands.
Gilas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hempele.
A head punch on the inside from Gilas fails to land.
Hempele avoiding damage as Gilas throws knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Hempele.
Hempele dodges an elbow strike from Gilas.
Gilas misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilas prevents a body shot from Hempele.
Gilas tries to work over Hempele's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gilas has Hempele pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hempele manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hempele misses with a punch to the body.
Hempele lands a hook that snaps the head of Gilas backwards.
Hempele has a couple of punches blocked by Gilas.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short body shot lands from Hempele as the two fighters clinch.
Gilas is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Gilas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gilas has a couple of punches blocked by Hempele.
Hempele lands a body punch in the clinch.
Hempele lands with a right to the head.
Hempele blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gilas is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hempele is defending well for now.
Hempele throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gilass head.
Hempele lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gilas backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jussi Hempele.
I think Gilas 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 47:48
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 47:48
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean Gilas! Sean Gilas retains his lightweight title!
Our winner, Sean Gilas, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.