PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Andy Gillespie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilkka Laitinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laitinen has chosen AC/DC - Thunderstruck as his entrance music. Ilkka Laitinen has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Gillespie
vs
Laitinen

157 cm
30
147 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

177 cm
41
165 lbs
42 - 24 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Phantom Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Andy Gillespie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 42 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilkka Laitinen!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Colin Fotheringham and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laitinen cracks a nice hook into Gillespie's ribs.
Gillespie looks for the body kick but Laitinen saw that one coming.
Laitinen thumps Gillespie with a low kick.
Gillespie fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Laitinen is out of range.
An inside leg kick from Gillespie misses.
Laitinen tries to work over Gillespie's front leg with a kick but Gillespie checks it.
Gillespie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Laitinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Gillespie.
It seemed like Laitinen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A cross from Gillespie lands.
Laitinen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gillespie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Laitinen.
Laitinen wants to slow Gillespie down by chopping away at his legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gillespie wants to slow Laitinen down by chopping away at his legs.
Gillespie misses with a body kick.
Gillespie pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Laitinen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Gillespie definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Gillespie keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Gillespie smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laitinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gillespie is looking to counter punch.
Gillespie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Laitinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Gillespie.
A head kick by Gillespie misses
and Laitinen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Andy Gillespie has been cut.
Laitinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gillespie misses with a head kick.
Gillespie throws a hook but Laitinen blocks it.
Laitinen throws out a leg kick but Gillespie moves out of range and Laitinen only half commits.
Gillespie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gillespie misses with a head kick.
Laitinen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Laitinen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Laitinen throws a chopping leg kick but Gillespie manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Laitinen tried to score with a low kick but Gillespie checks it.
Laitinen scores with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen thows a leg kick but Gillespie checks it
and Gillespie counters with a nice low kick that buckles Laitinen's knee momentarily.
Laitinen blocks a head kick by Gillespie.
Gillespie thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gillespie just misses with a punch to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gillespie checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Laitinen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gillespie.
Gillespie throws a hook but Laitinen blocks it.
Laitinen lands a body shot.
Gillespie lunges at Laitinen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Laitinen's hand.
Gillespie throws a leg kick that is checked
and Laitinen counters with a nice low kick that buckles Gillespie's knee momentarily.
Gillespie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A countering left hand to the body from Laitinen misses.
Laitinen misses with a low kick.
Gillespie is looking to counter punch.
Laitinen scores with a nice strike.
Gillespie throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen checks a leg kick.
Laitinen ducks under a wild hook from Gillespie.
Gillespie connects with an inside leg kick.
Gillespie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Laitinen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gillespie.
Laitinen misses with a body kick.
Laitinen scores with a nice strike.
Gillespie delivers a nice body kick.
Laitinen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Laitinen lands a lovely overhand right.
Laitinen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gillespie doesn't seem bothered though.
Gillespie lands a slapping body shot.
Laitinen checks a leg kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Laitinen misses its intended target.
Gillespie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Laitinen throws out the jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gillespie checks the leg kick nicely there.
Laitinen avoids the body shot from Gillespie.
Gillespie feints and then cracks Laitinen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Laitinen down.
Gillespie just misses with a punch to the body.
Gillespie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Laitinen manages to avoid it.
Laitinen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Gillespie with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Laitinen. Gillespie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gillespie was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Gillespie throws a series of punches but Laitinen moves out of range.
Laitinen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Laitinen moves out of range of the leg kick from Gillespie.
A little jabbing left from Laitinen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Laitinen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gillespie in his tracks.
Gillespie connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Laitinen's hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Andy Gillespie will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Andy Gillespie's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Laitinen takes a swing at Gillespie's ribcage but misses.
Gillespie just misses with a punch to the body.
Gillespie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Laitinen let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Gillespie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Laitinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Gillespie.
Laitinen takes one to the side of the head.
Gillespie throws a leg kick that misses.
Laitinen misses the shot to the body.
Gillespie looks for the body kick but Laitinen saw that one coming.
Laitinen is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Gillespie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Laitinen moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gillespie scores with a head kick. Laitinen tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Gillespie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Laitinen lands a nice hook to Gillespie's body. Gillespie takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Gillespie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Laitinen moves away.
Laitinen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Laitinen! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gillespie throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gillespie keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Gillespie feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Laitinen's calf.
Andy Gillespie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laitinen checks a leg kick.
Gillespie feints and then cracks Laitinen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Laitinen down.
Good standup being displayed there by Laitinen as he connects with a hook.
Laitinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gillespie.
Laitinen thumps Gillespie with a low kick.
Gillespie lands with a slapping head kick.
Gillespie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Laitinen checks a low kick from Gillespie.
Good leg kick by Laitinen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Laitinen swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen blocks a head kick by Gillespie.
Laitinen was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Laitinen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gillespie. Gillespie obviously looking to wear him down.
Gillespie tests Laitinen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gillespie scores with a crisp jab that stopped Laitinen in his tracks.
Gillespie checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Gillespie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Laitinen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gillespie is looking to wear down Laitinen with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Laitinen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from Gillespie.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Gillespie here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Gillespie will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Gillespie checks a low kick from Laitinen.
Laitinen scores with a jab to the body.
Gillespie wants to slow Laitinen down by chopping away at his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gillespie.
Laitinen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Laitinen looks to score with a jab to the body but Gillespie is just out of range.
Gillespie thumps Laitinen with a low kick.
Laitinen throws an overhand right that lands on Gillespie's shoulder, as Gillespie tries to avoid the shot.
Gillespie looks to land a left hand but Laitinen moved out of range nicely.
Gillespie with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Laitinen lands a right hook to the body.
Gillespie misses with a head kick.
Gillespie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laitinen.
A countering left hand to the body from Laitinen misses.
Nice defenses there by Laitinen.
A nice side step and Laitinen releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Gillespie throws a head kick but Laitinen moves out of range.
Laitinen lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie works Laitinen's body with a nice hook.
Gillespie cracks Laitinen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice defenses there by Laitinen.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Laitinen might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Gillespie has got the better of the exchanges.
Gillespie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Laitinen.
Gillespie throws a shot from downtown. Laitinen moves away and avoids it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Laitinen.
Laitinen throws a body punch but Gillespie moves out of range.
Gillespie checks the leg kick nicely there.
A leg kick checked by Gillespie.
Laitinen is a very stocky fighter. Infact he's such a weird shape that he's almost like some sort of comedy character - it's hard to believe he's real.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gillespie.
Gillespie bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Laitinen's head backwards.
Laitinen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gillespie is out of range and Laitinen settles back down.
Gillespie fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Laitinen checks it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Gillespie dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Andy Gillespie's cut.
That's time! Gillespie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Laitinen misses with a kick to the body.
Laitinen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gillespie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Laitinen.
Gillespie was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
A head kick misses from Gillespie.
Laitinen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gillespie throws a leg kick
and Laitinen counters with a left to the body.
Laitinen has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Gillespie.
Laitinen throws a leg kick that misses.
Gillespie misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gillespie dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Laitinen. That did some damage!
Gillespie throws out a loose jab but Laitinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Laitinen appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Gillespie lands a nice leg kick that just misses Laitinen's sensitive parts.
Gillespie drops his hands momentarily and Laitinen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crunch! Gillespie slams his shin into Laitinen's torso.
Laitinen thuds his right hand into Gillespie's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gillespie throws a shot from downtown. Laitinen moves away and avoids it.
Laitinen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Gillespie pivots, looking for a leg kick but Laitinen is out of range and Gillespie settles back down.
Laitinen throws a body shot but no joy.
Gillespie tries a head kick but it misses.
Gillespie is looking to score with low kicks.
Laitinen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A nice inside leg kick there by Gillespie. That's going to slow Laitinen down.
Laitinen blocks the body kick.
Gillespie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Laitinen counters with a left to the body.
Good work by Laitinen as he checks the leg kick.
Gillespie slips a jab from Laitinen.
Ilkka Laitinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Gillespie counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Gillespie avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Laitinen blocks a low kick nicely.
Laitinen misses with a low kick.
Laitinen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gillespie. Gillespie obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laitinen just misses with a punch to the body.
Laitinen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Gillespie pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Laitinen is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Gillespie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Laitinen throws out the jab.
Laitinen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Andy Gillespie is winning the standup battle so far.
A leg kick checked by Laitinen.
Gillespie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Laitinen manages to avoid it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gillespie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie throws a body kick that misses.
Gillespie ducks under a wild hook from Laitinen.
Laitinen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Laitinen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gillespie fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Laitinen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Laitinen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Laitinen looks to score with a jab to the body but Gillespie is just out of range.
Andy Gillespie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Laitinen avoids the head kick by Gillespie.
Laitinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gillespie.
Gillespie with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Laitinen looks for the body kick but Gillespie saw that one coming.
Laitinen takes a swing at Gillespie's ribcage but misses.
Gillespie swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
That kick from Gillespie tenderised Laitinen's leg. Laitinen is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie throws a low kick but Laitinen avoids it.
Laitinen walks into a jab.
Gillespie turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Laitinen wants to slow Gillespie down by chopping away at his legs.
Gillespie appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Gillespie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Laitinen can do to turn this around?
Laitinen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gillespie. Gillespie obviously looking to wear him down.
Gillespie wants to slow Laitinen down by chopping away at his legs.
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!
Gillespie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Laitinen.
Gillespie looks to land a body kick but Laitinen moved away.
A clash of legs there as Gillespie blocks the low kick.
Gillespie throws a hook but Laitinen avoids it easily.
Laitinen throws a leg kick but Gillespie sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Laitinen staying out of range there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Gillespie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gillespie has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Gillespie!
A very excited looking Andy Gillespie made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.