PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Garret Tillman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashad Makhachev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garret Tillman has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Tillman
vs
Makhachev

211 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

187 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Garret Tillman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rashad Makhachev!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tillman shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Makhachev as he jumps to the side.

Makhachev looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Tillman!

Makhachev wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tillman, who protects the arm well.

Makhachev stands up and beckons Tillman to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Makhachev drives through and clinches with Tillman against the cage.
Tillman wants to take the fight to the mat but Makhachev manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Tillman is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Makhachev to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garret Tillman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tillman drags the fight down to the ground.
Makhachev controlling from the top position.
Tillman trying to keep a closed guard but Makhachev is proving a slippery customer.
Tillman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tillman 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.
Tillman seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two 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.
Tillman has a closed guard, preventing Makhachev from standing up.
Makhachev stays in close to Tillman's body and controls the position.
Tillman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Makhachev looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Tillman appears to be looking for a big counter.

Makhachev drives through and clinches with Tillman against the cage.
Tillman is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Makhachev to keep the fight standing.

Makhachev jumps into guard, dragging Tillman to the mat.
Makhachev is pulling down on Tillman's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tillman has gone for a leg lock! Makhachev slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tillman's guard.

Tillman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Makhachev manages to get himself to full guard.

Makhachev is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Makhachev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tillman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tillman postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makhachev controlling the position.
Makhachev wants to control but Tillman passes easily into half guard.
Makhachev desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Ground and pound from Tillman.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Makhachev wants to control but Tillman is keeping busy.
Tillman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Makhachev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Makhachev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Makhachev content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Makhachev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Makhachev seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makhachev trying to control from half guard but Tillman is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Makhachev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tillman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Makhachev is working away from the top position though.
Tillman is trying to control but Makhachev manages to pass to mount!
Makhachev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

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.
Makhachev avoids the attempt from Tillman to control.
Makhachev thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Makhachev throws some wild stikes that Tillman manages to avoid easily.

Makhachev jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Tillman manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Tillman managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Makhachev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tillman parries the strikes from Makhachev easily there. Makhachev is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Tillman to escape.
Rashad Makhachev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Makhachev trying to control the action but Tillman is working from the bottom.
Tillman is trying to work for a sweep but Makhachev has mounted him!
Tillman wants to control but Makhachev is having none of it.
Makhachev throwing strikes but Tillman bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
Makhachev is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Makhachev is on top in guard.

Tillman is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Makhachev decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Makhachev lands with a kick to the ribs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tillman with a poor takedown
and Makhachev counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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

Tillman is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashad Makhachev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Tillman avoids the head kick by Makhachev.
Makhachev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tillman.
Tillman throws a big counter combination but Makhachev scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Makhachev pushes Tillman up against the cage in a clinch.
Makhachev lands a damaging elbow.
Oh Tillman is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

It looks like Garret Tillman has been cut.

Makhachev breaks the clinch.
Makhachev throws a pinpoint strike between Tillman's hands that connects right on the jaw and sends Tillman crashing to the floor! He's out before he even hits the mat and Makhachev scores a great knockout victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Rashad Makhachev!