PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maurice Tillet (ranked 142 p4p, 656 weight class) and Jake Damien (ranked 22 p4p, 98 weight class). Jake Damien has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tillet
vs
Damien

178 cm
27
183
12 - 2 - 0

180 cm
27
176
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Maurice Tillet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jake Damien!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Sandra Marshall and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Damien looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tillet is fending him off so far but Damien persists. Nope, Tillet circles away and we're back to standing.
Damien shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tillet sprawls well. Tillet wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Damien gets slowly back to his feet.
Tillet changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Damien tries to sprawl but Tillet drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've been hearing that Tillet has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Damien is pressing down on Tillet's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tillet works over Damien with some ground and pound from guard.
Tillet postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tillet looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Damien is on top in guard.

Damien wants to control from the top but Tillet keeps moving.
Damien passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Damien is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tillet has escaped the position, nice work there.

Damien tries for a kimura but Tillet is defending well.

Damien tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Damien has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Damien tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tillet is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Damien is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tillet is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Tillet tries to improve position but can't.
Damien working away.
Damien wants to control but Tillet is keeping him busy.
Tillet sneaks back into half guard.
Damien is looking to advance position but Tillet won't allow it.
Tillet knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Damien on the ground.
Tillet tries to roll over but Damien keeps him under control.

Damien is working for a kimura but Tillet is defending it quite comfortably.

Damien is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tillet is just riding it out for now. Damien eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tillet is looking to improve his position.

Damien is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tillet defends it well.

Damien is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tillet is just riding it out for now. Damien eventually gives up the hold.
Tillet is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Damien's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Damien's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tillet scores with punches to the body.
Tillet looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Damien turns into Tillet and is now in his guard.
Tillet controls Damien momentarily but Damien frees himself.
Damien sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Tillet 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Damien trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tillet is pulling down on Damien's head to control his posture.
Damien stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tillet swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maurice Tillet will probably get the nod.
That's time! Tillet's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tillet throws a jab but it's blocked by Damien.

Tillet drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tillet won't allow Damien to sweep him here.

Damien working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tillet doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tillet manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tillet scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tillet trying to control the position from guard on top but Damien is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tillet is in close to Damien's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tillet keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Damien's head.
Tillet cracks Damien with a solid left hand.

Damien is rocked!
Tillet scoring with some ground and pound.
Damien is still in real trouble! Can Tillet finish him?
Tillet gets to his feet and stands over Damien, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Damien felt that one! Tillet unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Damien from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Maurice Tillet!