PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jim Beckett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mick Gerrard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gerrard has chosen Mama weer all crazy now as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Beckett
vs
Gerrard

168 cm
33
146 lbs
25 - 12 - 1

175 cm
32
158 lbs
25 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jim Beckett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mick Gerrard!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gerrard misses with a body kick.
Beckett throws a head kick but Gerrard moves out of range.
Gerrard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gerrard fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Beckett avoids it really well and circles away.
Beckett half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Gerrard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Beckett fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Beckett misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Beckett looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Beckett steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gerrard.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gerrard, right into the meat.
Beckett takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Beckett shoots in looking for a takedown. Gerrard tries to sprawl out of it but Beckett keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gerrard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice shot lands for Beckett.
Nice jab there from Beckett.
Beckett on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gerrard. Gerrard obviously looking to wear him down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gerrard gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beckett misses with a body shot
letting Gerrard counter with a right hand.
Beckett misses the shot to the body.
Beckett slips a straight right by Gerrard.
Beckett closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Gerrard throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gerrard moves away from the strike by Beckett.
Gerrard is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Beckett with a body shot.
Beckett feints and then cracks Gerrard's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gerrard down.

Gerrard scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Beckett wants to control but Gerrard is keeping busy.
Gerrard is trying to control. Beckett wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gerrard works his foot free and advances to mount.
Beckett bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gerrard managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard wants to sweep here but Beckett controlling him for the moment.
Beckett lands a couple of digs.
Beckett working some strikes from top position.
Beckett landing with the ground and pound.
Gerrard trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gerrard looking for subs off his back but Beckett has passed one foot through into half guard.
Beckett missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Beckett lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gerrard has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Beckett is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Beckett is pressing down on Gerrard's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gerrard is holding on for now.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Beckett lands a nice short elbow.
Gerrard moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gerrard wants to sweep but no luck.
Beckett is fighting to break Gerrard's control of his arms but Gerrard is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Beckett trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Beckett dominated that round.
That's time! Beckett's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Beckett misses with a hook. Gerrard ducked under it nicely.
Beckett uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gerrard.
Gerrard throws a hook to the side of Beckett's head but Beckett sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Beckett half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Beckett lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gerrard looks to throw the jab but Beckett is out of range.
Gerrard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Beckett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gerrard throws a leg kick that is checked

so Beckett counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Gerrard has his feet on Beckett's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Gerrard pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gerrard looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Beckett slips a jab from Gerrard.
Beckett tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gerrard swinging wildly here.
Beckett scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Beckett swings for the body but Gerrard moves out of range.
Beckett dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gerrard scores with a hook to the body. Beckett takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sloppy strikes from Beckett. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerrard blocks a head kick by Beckett.
Gerrard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gerrard takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Beckett misses with a body shot.
Gerrard connects with a solid leg kick.
Beckett pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gerrard throws a lazy right hand but Beckett sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Beckett stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gerrard.
Beckett 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.
Gerrard lands a lovely overhand right.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Beckett.
Gerrard tries to move into range but Beckett moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Beckett has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Gerrard.
Beckett cracks the inside of Gerrard's front leg.
Jim Beckett is winning the standup battle so far.
Beckett scores with a nice right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gerrard misses with a few strikes there.
Beckett uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gerrard.
A combination from Beckett does no damage.
It seemed like Gerrard was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Gerrard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gerrard tries to move into range but Beckett moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Beckett is able to avoid easily.
Beckett throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gerrard stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Beckett throws a head kick but Gerrard moves out of range.
Gerrard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jim Beckett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Beckett throws a looping overhand right but Gerrard ducks down to avoid it.
Beckett misses with a body shot.
Beckett misses the shot to the body.
Beckett jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gerrard throws a big shot that misses.
Beckett shoots in looking for a takedown but Gerrard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Beckett's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Beckett swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A slow jab from Gerrard misses its intended target.
Gerrard throws a big shot that misses.
Gerrard slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Beckett thumps Gerrard with a low kick.
Gerrard lands a nice shot that snaps Beckett's head back.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gerrard.
Gerrard moves out of range of the leg kick from Beckett.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckett throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Beckett tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Beckett.
Gerrard listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Beckett misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gerrard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gerrard lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Gerrard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gerrard takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gerrard throws a sloppy head kick and Beckett moves out of range easily.
Beckett misses with a double jab.
Gerrard misses with a hook. Beckett ducked under it nicely.
Beckett throws out a leg kick but Gerrard moves out of range and Beckett only half commits.
Nice defenses there by Beckett.
Gerrard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
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!
Gerrard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Beckett tries to score with a low kick but Gerrard moves his leg out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beckett moves out of range of the strikes.
Beckett attempts a counter takedown but Gerrard avoids it well and moves away.
Beckett finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Beckett throws a right hand that Gerrard ducks under and follows up with a left that Gerrard also avoids with ease.
Beckett rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gerrard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gerrard fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

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

Gerrard pushes Beckett off and gets back to his feet.
Gerrard moves out of range of the strikes.
Gerrard connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A jab from Gerrard misses.
Beckett tries to counter with a takedown but Gerrard is quick to defend against it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Beckett.
Gerrard misses with an uppercut. Beckett saw that one coming.
Beckett feinted with a counter takedown.
Gerrard tried to score with a low kick but Beckett checks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gerrard. Beckett does a little dance to reset his feet.
Beckett throws a head kick but Gerrard moves out of range.
Gerrard ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Beckett misses with a takedown attempt - Gerrard sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mick Gerrard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Beckett takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Beckett is looking to score with low kicks.
Gerrard is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Gerrard connects with a leg kick. Beckett looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Beckett dodges the punch combination from Gerrard.
Beckett throws a big shot that misses.
Gerrard ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gerrard's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Beckett misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gerrard throws the left hand but Beckett avoids the punch easily.
Gerrard throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gerrard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gerrard throws out a loose jab but Beckett uses good head movement to avoid it.
Beckett misses with a wild body shot.
Beckett fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Beckett takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A head kick misses from Beckett.
Gerrard looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beckett misses with a head kick.
Gerrard lands with a good body shot.
Beckett swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gerrard takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Beckett avoids the head kick by Gerrard.
Beckett tries to counter with a takedown but Gerrard is quick to defend against it.
Gerrard on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Gerrard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gerrard avoids the body shot from Beckett.
Beckett tries to work over Gerrard's front leg with a kick but Gerrard checks it.
Gerrard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Beckett.
Beckett looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Beckett dives in and grabs Gerrard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gerrard pushes down on Beckett's head and hops out.
Beckett misses the shot to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Beckett.
Beckett goes for a double leg but Gerrard avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gerrard continues to drive forward.
A little jabbing left from Gerrard on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Beckett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gerrard misses with an uppercut. Beckett saw that one coming.
Beckett scores with a jab to the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gerrard blocks a leg kick.
Beckett lands a jab to Gerrard's midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard tries to clinch but Beckett is having none of it.
Beckett misses with a looping left.
Gerrard staying out of range there.
Gerrard misses with a head kick.
Beckett is looking to slow Gerrard down with leg kicks.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Jab by Beckett.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gerrard.
Gerrard getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Gerrard throws a shot from downtown. Beckett moves away and avoids it.
Gerrard scores with a punch to the head.
Gerrard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Beckett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Beckett throws a solid leg kick but Gerrard takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Beckett.
Beckett keeps the fight on the outside.
Gerrard tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Beckett defends well and Gerrard ends up having to push Beckett into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Beckett moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gerrard throws a body kick that misses.
Beckett throws the left hand but Gerrard avoids the punch easily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Beckett checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckett walks into a jab.
Gerrard delivers a nice body kick.
Gerrard is looking to clinch.
Gerrard walks into a stiff left hand from Beckett.
Beckett connects with a looping right hand.
A jab from Beckett finds it's way through Gerrard's defenses.
Beckett throws a push kick but Gerrard slaps the foot to one side.
Beckett will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Beckett feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gerrard's calf.
Donk. Gerrard catches Beckett right on the button with a cross.
Beckett sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Beckett misses with a jab, cross combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gerrard moves into the clinch successfully.
Gerrard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Gerrard fails to land.

Gerrard breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beckett pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gerrard throws a head kick but Beckett moves out of range.
Gerrard lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Beckett wants to land a leg kick but Gerrard is out of range.
Beckett works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Beckett swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Beckett doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Beckett. Gerrard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Beckett backing away here, and Gerrard unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

Beckett shoots in and bounces Gerrard off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gerrard is trying to control the position but Beckett postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Beckett slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

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 Jim Beckett.
I think Beckett 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Beckett!
An out of breath Jim Beckett thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.