PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vito Gill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Leclerc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gill
vs
Leclerc

221 cm
25
194 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

185 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vito Gill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jason Leclerc!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gill misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gill circles away from the clinch attempt.
Leclerc rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gill moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Leclerc gets a double leg takedown into Gill's guard.
Gill not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gill holds on and takes a little breather.
Leclerc wants to control from the top but Gill keeps moving.
Gill looking for a sweep. Not yet Gill, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Leclerc stands up and waves to Gill to follow him.

Leclerc fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Gill to the ground. Leclerc is now in Gill's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leclerc preventing the sweep.
Leclerc must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Leclerc is looking to stand up but Gill won't let him.
Leclerc throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Gill has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Leclerc can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gill wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gill controls Leclerc momentarily but Leclerc frees himself.
Gill has his hands on Leclerc's head, controlling the position.
Leclerc content to stall in guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gill looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Leclerc is fending him off so far but Gill persists. Nope, Leclerc circles away and we're back to standing.
Gill keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Leclerc swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Leclerc misses with a head kick.
Gill throws a big counter combination but Leclerc scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Gill dodges the punch combination from Leclerc.
Leclerc throws the kick towards the body but Gill avoids it.

Leclerc shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gill manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Gill is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Leclerc defends well.
Leclerc prevents Gill from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gill is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Gill looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Leclerc stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gill swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gill wants to sweep here but Leclerc controlling him for the moment.
Gill is controlling Leclerc's posture.
Leclerc seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Gill keeping moving, preventing Leclerc from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Leclerc is fighting to break Gill's control of his arms but Gill is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Leclerc doesn't manage to clinch there - Gill circles away.

Leclerc closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gill's guard.

Gill has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Leclerc has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Gill breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gill goes for a double leg but Leclerc avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Leclerc continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vito Gill. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Leclerc shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Leclerc was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gill manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gill blocks the strikes from Leclerc.
Gill wants to stand but Leclerc has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Leclerc dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Leclerc throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Gill tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Leclerc is in Gill's guard.

Leclerc decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gill, up you get!
Gill misses with a takedown attempt - Leclerc sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Leclerc tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gill manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gill went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Leclerc shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Leclerc was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
You can see the frustration on Gill's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gill wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Gill regains half guard, as Leclerc was trying to land strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leclerc missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Leclerc is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Gill won't allow Leclerc to pass to mount.
Gill manages to get to full guard.
Gill really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gill looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Leclerc stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gill swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Gill manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Gill escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gill fails with the takedown.
Jason Leclerc seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leclerc misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Leclerc drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Gill sneaks out the side door and pushes Leclerc away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Gill drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gill content to stall in guard here.
Leclerc preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Leclerc keeping moving, preventing Gill from controlling successfully.
Gill scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leclerc has his hands on Gill's head, controlling the position.
Gill preventing the sweep.
Leclerc is breathing heavily.
Gill controlling from the top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gill's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gill trying to control but Leclerc is working from the bottom.
Gill landing some decent shots from guard.
Gill with a nice head shot there.

Gill gets to his feet - Leclerc follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Leclerc jumps into guard, dragging Gill to the mat.
Gill will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gill throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gill lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gill accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Leclerc keeping moving, preventing Gill from controlling successfully.
Gill has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gill throwing strikes but missing.

Leclerc had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gill defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gill chips away with some ground and pound.
Gill is working Leclerc over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
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 Vito Gill will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Leclerc gets a clinch.

Leclerc has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Gill clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Gill wants to control his opponent's hands but Leclerc gets his hands free.

Leclerc is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Gill has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Gill just trying to survive but Leclerc is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Jason Leclerc has got the better of the ground game so far.

Leclerc is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Gill knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Gill for a finish.
Leclerc not allowing Gill to control his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leclerc wants to control the position but Gill frees himself and scrambles - Leclerc manages to regain control in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gill is trying to work for a sweep but Leclerc has mounted him!
Gill tries to lock up and control but Leclerc gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gill regains half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Leclerc takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Leclerc throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gill counters with a body kick that stops Leclerc in his tracks momentarily.
Gill takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Leclerc fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gill sprawls well initially but Leclerc persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Gill pushes Leclerc off and gets back to his feet.

Gill is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Leclerc's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Gill is going to stand back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gill stands up and beckons Leclerc to join him on the feet.
Leclerc stuffs the takedown attempt from Gill. Gill gets slowly back to his feet.
Leclerc is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Leclerc stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Leclerc wants it to stay on the feet.
Leclerc swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Leclerc closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gill quickly recovers to half guard.

Gill has one foot on Leclerc's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Leclerc enables Gill to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Leclerc manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gill stopping the sweep attempt from Leclerc.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gill wants to stand but Leclerc is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gill distracts Leclerc with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gill distracts Leclerc with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gill throwing strikes but missing.
Gill controlling from the top position.
Leclerc 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.

Gill gets to his feet - Leclerc follows without any prompting.

Gill fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Leclerc sprawls well initially but Gill persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leclerc is refusing to be controlled, as Gill sits in half guard.
Leclerc wants to get back to full guard.
Gill working Leclerc over with strikes.
Gill is controlling the pace.
Gill working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gill scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gill not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Gill decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Gill gets a takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vito Gill showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gill has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vito Gill!