PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Gilmore (ranked 1928 p4p, 248 weight class) and Gary The Reaper (ranked 881 p4p, 124 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gilmore
vs
The Reaper

183 cm
28
195 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

186 cm
29
200 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Sin City Allstars

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Gilmore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gary The Reaper!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gilmore misses with a kick to the body

and The Reaper decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gilmore's guard.
The Reaper stands and throws Gilmore's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gilmore is not content to let The Reaper control the position.
The Reaper tries to score with some ground and pound. Gilmore controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gilmore tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but The Reaper wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The Reaper controlling from side mount.
The Reaper is working Gilmore over with some ground and pound from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Reaper lands an elbow.
The Reaper creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The Reaper misses with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Reaper wants to control but Gilmore is keeping him busy.
The Reaper controlling from side mount.
Gilmore tries to escape but The Reaper is in control.
The Reaper working the head and body with strikes.
The Reaper scoring with punches and elbows.
Gilmore is not content to let The Reaper control the position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Gilmore is trying to work for a sweep but The Reaper has mounted him!
Gilmore wants to control but The Reaper is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Reaper fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The Reaper dominating with strikes here.
The Reaper postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gilmore looks a forlorn figure.
Gilmore tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The Reaper controlling from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The Reaper lands a big elbow.
The Reaper looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The Reaper looking to finish Gilmore with some ground and pound. This is bad for Gilmore!
The Reaper landing strikes from the mount and Gilmore is in trouble!
The Reaper lands a couple of good shots and Gilmore has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Gilmore is covering up but some of the strikes from The Reaper are getting through and doing damage.
The Reaper lands strikes to the head.

Gilmore defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of The Reaper's arms.
A lull in the action here.
Gilmore is trying to remain composed but The Reaper is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gilmore turns into The Reaper and is now in his guard.

The Reaper working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gilmore doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gilmore manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gilmore trying to control the position from guard on top but The Reaper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Reaper manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gilmore manages to get himself to full guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gilmore is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The Reaper is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The Reaper advances position into side control!
The Reaper creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The Reaper working the ground and pound.
Gilmore definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The Reaper is chipping away with strikes.
The Reaper lands a decent elbow from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary The Reaper dominated that round.
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.

Gilmore loads up on a big right hand but The Reaper slips the punch.
And The Reaper tries to counter it with a takedown but Gilmore pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Gilmore gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The Reaper ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The Reaper dives in for a single leg takedown but Gilmore sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

The Reaper clinches up with Gilmore and pushes him back against the cage.
Gilmore works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The Reaper lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gilmore lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gilmore misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Reaper tries to pull guard but Gilmore holds him up against the cage and eventually The Reaper drops back down to his feet.
A head punch on the inside from Gilmore fails to land.
The Reaper misses with a short punch on the inside.
The Reaper lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Gilmore throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Reaper has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gilmore is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Anthony Gilmore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary The Reaper.
The Reaper tries to throw a body punch but Gilmore avoids it by throwing The Reaper back against the cage.
The Reaper lands a hook that snaps the head of Gilmore backwards.
The Reaper lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

The Reaper manages to pull guard.

The Reaper is looking for a triangle but Gilmore pushes his legs off easily.
The Reaper looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The Reaper has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gilmore sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The Reaper keeping moving, preventing Gilmore from controlling successfully.

Gilmore got a little sloppy there for a moment and The Reaper has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gilmore has managed to get both his arms back between The Reaper's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Reaper looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gilmore is one step ahead there.
The Reaper is looking to sweep but instead, Gilmore has passed into half guard.
Gary The Reaper has got the better of the ground game so far.
The Reaper is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The Reaper makes his way to full guard. A much better position for The Reaper.
The Reaper wants to control the position but Gilmore says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Reaper trying to control but Gilmore postures up.
The Reaper wants to get back to full guard.
The Reaper moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gilmore wants to control from the top but The Reaper keeps moving.
The Reaper has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Gilmore has passed into side control.
Gilmore has knee on belly and moves into mount.
The Reaper is desperately trying to improve his position but Gilmore has a good base and remains in mount.
Gilmore trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Reaper is desperately trying to improve his position but Gilmore has a good base and remains in mount.
The Reaper is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gilmore sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The Reaper is working to get back to half guard.
Gilmore tries to control but The Reaper wriggling away.
The Reaper is desperately trying to improve his position but Gilmore has a good base and remains in mount.
The Reaper regains half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gilmore is trying to control the action in half guard but The Reaper is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The Reaper is looking for a sweep. Gilmore is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gary The Reaper 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!

The Reaper fails with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Gilmore was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
The Reaper waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gilmore.
It looked like Gilmore was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from The Reaper.
The Reaper takes a kick to the side of the head.

The Reaper has managed to clinch.
Gilmore blocks an uppercut.

The Reaper has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gilmore uses from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Reaper keeping moving, preventing Gilmore from controlling successfully.
Gilmore preventing the sweep.
Gilmore working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gilmore decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on The Reaper, up you get!

Gilmore tries to keep at a distance but The Reaper has taken the fight into the clinch.
The Reaper has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The Reaper working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gilmore using the Thai plumb to throw knees but The Reaper has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The Reaper drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gilmore gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gilmore tries to work over The Reaper's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The Reaper tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gilmore's elbow.
The Reaper has a couple of punches blocked by Gilmore.
Gilmore fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gilmore misses with a punch to the body.
The Reaper makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The Reaper lands a nice uppercut.
Gilmore tries to stall but The Reaper uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gary The Reaper is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilmore displaying some good clinch control by pressing The Reaper up against the cage.
Gilmore tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Gilmore.
The Reaper tries to work over Gilmore's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The Reaper keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gilmore's efforts to push away.
The Reaper tries for a takedown. No joy.
Anthony Gilmore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary The Reaper.
Gilmore tries to break the clinch but The Reaper is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilmore can't find room to land a body shot as The Reaper controls the action.
Gilmore tries to break free but The Reaper pushes him back against the cage.
Gilmore has a couple of punches blocked by The Reaper.
Gilmore tries to work over The Reaper's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The Reaper looking for a takedown.
Gilmore wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gary The Reaper seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The Reaper fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gilmore tries a body shot but The Reaper blocks it.
The Reaper prevents a body shot from Gilmore.

That's four 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.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, The Reaper creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gilmore fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gilmore is pressed up against the cage. The Reaper has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gilmore down to the mat. Gilmore avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Anthony Gilmore has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The Reaper tries to clinch up.
Gilmore misses with a combination

and The Reaper counters with a single leg into guard. Gilmore didn't expect that.
Gilmore throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The Reaper controlling from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gary The Reaper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got The Reaper winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gary The Reaper!
Gary The Reaper thanked the fans post fight for their support.