PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shannon Craig (ranked 8472 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raul Gillette (ranked 4876 p4p, 0 weight class). Gillette comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Rockstar kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Shannon Craig has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Craig
vs
Gillette

212 cm
26
162 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

178 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shannon Craig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Raul Gillette!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gillette throws a jab when Craig was well out of range.
Craig fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Craig with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gillette counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gillette wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Craig has him pressed against the cage.
Craig blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gillette tries to throw a body punch but Craig avoids it by throwing Gillette back against the cage.
Craig taking a breather.
A short left from Gillette.
Gillette works on Craig's body with a couple of short punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gillette wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Craig has him pressed against the cage.
Gillette lands with a right to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Gillette.
Craig wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shannon Craig. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gillette wants to break free but Craig has control.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Craig.

Craig breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Craig dodges the punch combination from Gillette.
Craig is looking to clinch.
Craig really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gillette misses with a wild combination.
A jab from Gillette does it's job there.
Nice defenses there by Craig.
Gillette throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Craig.
Gillette throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Gillette. No joy for Craig on that attempt.
Craig takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Craig ducks right into an uppercut from Gillette.
Gillette misses with a two punch combination.
Craig fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Gillette. No joy for Craig on that attempt.
Raul Gillette seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gillette throws a right and a left that Craig avoids nicely.
Craig appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Gillette moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Gillette looks winded!
Gillette throws a solid leg kick but Craig takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Gillette.
Craig closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gillette circles away.
Gillette lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Craig circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig takes one to the chin there.
Gillette throws a chopping leg kick but Craig manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
As Gillette tries to get set, Craig tries to push him back and clinch up but Gillette manages to avoid the attempt.
Raul Gillette is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gillette lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Craig circles away quickly and effectively.
The fight stays on the outside here - Craig looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've been informed that Gillette has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Craig shoots in but Gillette avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice sprawl there from Gillette as Craig shoots in.
Craig fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gillette avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Craig closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gillette's guard.
Gillette is wriggling around but Craig manages to pass to half guard.
Craig missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Craig is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gillette is just riding it out for now. Craig eventually gives up the hold.
Craig not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gillette throws a series of punches but Craig moves out of range.
Gillette throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Craig closes the distance and clinches up with Gillette, looking for a takedown. Craig pushes Gillette against the cage but Gillette circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gillette misses with a combination

and Craig counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Craig.
A shot in the inside from Gillette.
Craig is working for takedown but Gillette is calmly controlling the position for now.
A left hand lands to the body for Gillette.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gillette tries a body shot but Craig blocks it.
Gillette working aggressively here.
A short uppercut from Gillette.

Craig breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig looks for a takedown but Gillette sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shannon Craig. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gillette moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Gillette rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Craig moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gillette has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gillette fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Craig is out of range.
Gillette throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gillette thuds his right hand into Craig's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gillette defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Craig.
Craig keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gillette.

Craig gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gillette working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gillette has had enough of the clinch but Craig keeps him there for the moment.
Gillette manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gillette.
Gillette misses with the head strike.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Gillette wants to get back to striking at distance but Craig won't allow it.
Gillette lands a left hand that snaps the head of Craig backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Craig keeps control of Gillette as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gillette doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gillette throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gillette cracks Craig with a nice body shot.
A shot in the inside from Gillette.
Gillette lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Come on Gillette - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Gillette lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gillette lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A shot in the inside from Gillette.
Gillette lands a body punch.
Gillette tries to break the clinch but Craig is controlling the position.
Gillette wants to get back to striking at distance but Craig won't allow it.
Gillette lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Craig manages to break the clinch.
Craig shoots for a takedown but Gillette saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Craig slips a jab and a cross from Gillette.
Gillette is breathing heavily.
Gillette throws a left and a right that both miss
and Craig counters with a series of strikes. Gillette will be more careful next time no doubt.
Shannon Craig is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Craig closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Craig tries for a kimura but Gillette is defending well.
Craig lands some shots froms side control.

Craig working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Gillette showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gillette throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Craig.
Craig closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gillette circles away.
Gillette loads up on a big right hand but Craig slips the punch.
Gillette stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gillette wants it to stay on the feet.
Craig looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gillette is fending him off so far but Craig persists. Nope, Gillette circles away and we're back to standing.
Gillette is looking for the big counter here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shannon Craig. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gillette throws a leg kick that misses.
Gillette misses with a few strikes there.
Craig is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Gillette.
Gillette throws a front kick aimed at Craig's knee but Craig avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craig takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gillette takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gillette misses with a combination
and Craig counters with an outside leg kick.
Craig tries to close the distance and clinch but Gillette swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gillette swats away the attempt to clinch by Craig.
Craig shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gillette sprawls well. Gillette wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Craig gets slowly back to his feet.
Craig with a poor takedown
and Gillette counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gillette fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Craig with a poor takedown
and Gillette counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Gillette jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Raul Gillette seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Craig shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gillette works Craig's body with a nice hook.
Craig shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Gillette to counter with a crisp jab.
Gillette throws a solid leg kick but Craig takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Gillette.
Craig shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gillette sprawls well. Gillette wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Craig gets slowly back to his feet.
Gillette swinging wildly here.
Craig shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gillette pinned against the cage. Gillette gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gillette connects with a good right hand that stumbles Craig. Craig circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Craig fails with a takedown attempt.
Gillette swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Craig counters with a slapping leg kick.
Craig fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gillette avoids it really well and circles away.
Raul Gillette is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Craig as he checks the leg kick.
Gillette digs a good body shot into Craig's ribs.
Craig shoots in for a takedown but Gillette shows good takedown defense.
Craig fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gillette tries to bum rush Craig with a series of wild strikes but Craig uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As Gillette tries to get set, Craig tries to push him back and clinch up but Gillette manages to avoid the attempt.
Gillette attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Craig fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gillette will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Shannon Craig has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gillette throws a right hand that Craig ducks under and follows up with a left that Craig also avoids with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raul Gillette comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gillette 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 26:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raul Gillette!
A very excited looking Raul Gillette rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.