PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tappy Gilmore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Taslim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taslim is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: La Coka Nostra - "Mind Your Business". Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gilmore
vs
Taslim

175 cm
29
155 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

175 cm
26
164 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tappy Gilmore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Taslim!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Taslim misses.
Gilmore avoids a punch combination nicely.
Taslim throws a nice inside leg kick.
Taslim misses with a wild combination.

Taslim shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gilmore napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Gilmore tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Taslim wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Taslim working away.
Taslim scoring with punches from side control.
Taslim working away.
Taslim lands a few punches from side control.
Gilmore takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gilmore can't do much from the bottom here.
Gilmore is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
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.
Taslim lands an elbow.

Taslim is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gilmore has escaped the position, nice work there.
Taslim tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Gilmore manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gilmore manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Taslim postures up in Gilmore's guard and throws a big left but Gilmore blocks it.

Gilmore is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gilmore looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Taslim postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gilmore looking for a sweep. Not yet Gilmore, not yet.

Gilmore looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Taslim missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Taslim's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gilmore is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Taslim lands a couple of elbows.

Gilmore looking for a guillotine here but Taslim defends easily.
Taslim trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gilmore throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Taslim must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taslim is working Gilmore over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Taslim trying to control the position from guard on top but Gilmore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Taslim loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gilmore controls Taslim momentarily but Taslim frees himself.
Gilmore utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Taslim throwing strikes but missing.

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.
Taslim lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Gilmore working for a triangle but Taslim defends it easily.
Gilmore preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Taslim's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gilmore seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Taslim missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taslim really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gilmore. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gilmore keeping full guard, as Taslim tries to pass.
Taslim has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gilmore is proving hard to escape from.
Taslim throwing strikes from guard but Gilmore blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gilmore takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Taslim scores with a head kick.
Taslim bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Gilmore swats away the attempt to clinch by Taslim.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gilmore.
Gilmore passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Taslim!

Gilmore is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Taslim is surviving well by controlling Gilmore's body position as best he can.

Gilmore is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Taslim can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Taslim has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taslim is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taslim stops Gilmore from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taslim is trying to escape the mount.

Gilmore looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Taslim is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Gilmore takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Gilmore is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Taslim to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Taslim shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taslim bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gilmore looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taslim is one step ahead there.
Gilmore not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taslim postures up in Gilmore's guard and throws a big left but Gilmore blocks it.
Gilmore wants to sweep here but Taslim controlling him for the moment.
Taslim lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilmore working a defensive guard here.
Taslim connects with a couple of short punches.
Taslim trying to control the position from guard on top but Gilmore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gilmore working for a triangle but Taslim defends it easily.
Taslim makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Taslim trying to control the position from guard on top but Gilmore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gilmore wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilmore is trying to keep Taslim in close.
Taslim forces his way into half guard.
Taslim is trying to control the action in half guard but Gilmore is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gilmore moves into full guard.
Taslim is in close to Gilmore's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Taslim working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taslim makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Taslim working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Taslim throws a strike but Gilmore rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Taslim wants to get back to his feet but Gilmore is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tappy Gilmore will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Taslim wants to take the fight to the mat but Gilmore manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Taslim breaks from the clinch.
Taslim lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gilmore at a distance.
Taslim stalks Gilmore and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gilmore's face. Gilmore staggers backwards, shaken.
Gilmore closes this distance looking for a takedown but Taslim circles away.
Gilmore walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Danga de danga de dang - Taslim scores with a four punch combination!

Gilmore is rocked!
Tappy Gilmore seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gilmore throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A right-left combo lands from Taslim.
Oh Gilmore is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Taslim clinches up against the cage.
A short right from Taslim.
Gilmore is trying to pull guard but Taslim turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Taslim breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A shot to the liver by Taslim. Beautiful body shot.
Taslim fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gilmore throws a push kick but Taslim slaps the foot to one side.

Taslim lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Gilmore sprawling to the canvas. Taslim follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Gilmore hang on?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilmore tries to roll over but Taslim keeps him under control.
Taslim thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gilmore's head.
Taslim trying to pass the guard but Gilmore defending well.
Gilmore wants to improve his position but Taslim is controlling well.
Taslim thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gilmore's head.
Taslim slips a nice elbow through Gilmore's hands, connecting with Gilmore's forehead.
Taslim sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gilmore defending well though.
Taslim lands strikes from half guard.
Taslim missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gilmore keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gilmore keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Taslim takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taslim trying to mount his opponent but Gilmore defends it.
Gilmore seems to have got his legs back now.
Gilmore manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilmore throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Taslim in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Gilmore is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Taslim frees his head nicely. Oh but Gilmore has switched to an armbar! Taslim is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Tappy Gilmore!