PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Dillard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matas Sulinskas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nathan Dillard has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Dillard
vs
Sulinskas

217 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
209 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nathan Dillard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matas Sulinskas!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Richard Clark and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sulinskas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dillard throws a head kick that half lands.
Dillard closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Sulinskas throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Dillard was covering up waiting for the punch and Sulinskas finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sulinskas scoring with some ground and pound.
Dillard being controlled here, momentarily.
Dillard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sulinskas is one step ahead there.
Sulinskas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dillard is trying to control the position but Sulinskas postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sulinskas wants to pass the guard but Dillard is keeping the position.
Sulinskas won't allow Dillard to get back to his feet.
Dillard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sulinskas controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

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

Sulinskas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sulinskas lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sulinskas controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Dillard trying to control the position.
Dillard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dillard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dillard looking to control.
Sulinskas controlling from the top position.
Sulinskas tries to free his leg and advance position but Dillard is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dillard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sulinskas is one step ahead there.
Sulinskas showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sulinskas goes for a double leg but Dillard avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Dillard continues to drive forward.

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

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dillard uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sulinskas shoots for a takedown but Dillard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dillard went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Nathan Dillard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matas Sulinskas.
Sulinskas looks winded!
Sulinskas dives in and grabs Dillard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dillard pushes down on Sulinskas's head and hops out.
Dillard closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sulinskas circles away.
Sulinskas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dillard.
Dillard stuffs the takedown attempt from Sulinskas. Sulinskas gets slowly back to his feet.
Dillard is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sulinskas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dillard has a takedown stuffed.
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 Nathan Dillard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Dillard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A head kick misses from Dillard.
Dillard will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dillard sets himself, and Sulinskas steps forward looking for the clinch! Dillard avoids it this time.

Sulinskas looking to score a takedown here. Dillard is defending well but Sulinskas drives through and ends up in Dillard's guard.
Dillard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dillard controls Sulinskas momentarily but Sulinskas frees himself.
Sulinskas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sulinskas trying to stand up but can't free himself from Dillard's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillard is trying to keep Sulinskas in close.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sulinskas looking to pass the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Sulinskas rushes Dillard and presses him up against the cage.

Dillard manages to pull guard.
Sulinskas content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dillard working a defensive guard but Sulinskas passes into half guard.

Sulinskas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sulinskas is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Dillard wants to stand back up but Sulinskas manages to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sulinskas wants to stand but Dillard is controlling his arm.
Dillard is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sulinskas landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Dillard sneaks out the side door and pushes Sulinskas away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Dillard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sulinskas swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Dillard counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dillard dives in for a single leg takedown but Sulinskas sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Sulinskas rushes Dillard and presses him up against the cage.

Sulinskas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Sulinskas clinches.
Dillard is trying to pull guard but Sulinskas turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Dillard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dillard jumps guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sulinskas is stalling in the full guard.
Let's hope that Sulinskas has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Dillard is trying to control the position but Sulinskas postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dillard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sulinskas slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matas Sulinskas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A head kick by Sulinskas misses
and Dillard counters with a head kick. That will keep Sulinskas thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Sulinskas tries to close the distance and clinch but Dillard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sulinskas swings for the body but Dillard moves out of range.
Sulinskas throws a combination that misses
and Dillard counters with a three punch combo that has Sulinskas backing up. Sulinskas nods at Dillard to acknowledge the strikes.
Matas Sulinskas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dillard tries for a takedown but Sulinskas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sulinskas throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Dillard gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sulinskas to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sulinskas lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sulinskas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dillard is keeping the position for now.
Sulinskas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillard wants to stand but Sulinskas is controlling the position.
Dillard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sulinskas would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sulinskas is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Dillard looking to control.
Matas Sulinskas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sulinskas lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dillard wants to hit a switch here but Sulinskas passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Dillard there!
Sulinskas landing strikes from the mount.

Dillard is rocked!
Sulinskas drops a big elbow. That's hurt Dillard! More shots from Sulinskas and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Matas Sulinskas!
Matas Sulinskas took some time post fight to say the following; 'I'M THE FUTURE BEST OF ALL TIME'.