PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frank Woods (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerard Gillard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Woods
vs
Gillard

190 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Silver Dragon Pharmacies

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Frank Woods!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gerard Gillard!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gillard closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Woods did well to prevent Gillard getting side control.
Woods tries to get to full guard but Gillard has control of the leg.
Woods wants to control but Gillard is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Woods desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Woods wants to stand back up but Gillard manages to pass into side control.
Gillard moves into full mount!

Gillard stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Woods manages to pull guard.
Gillard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gillard wanted to stand there but Woods had control of the position.
Gillard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gillard content to stall in guard here.
Woods is trying to keep Gillard in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gillard content to stall in guard here.
Woods tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Woods trying to strike off his back.
Gillard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Woods keeping moving, preventing Gillard from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Woods tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gillard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Woods shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gillard counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Woods is breathing heavily.
Woods keeping moving, preventing Gillard from controlling successfully.
Gillard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gillard trying to control but Woods is working from the bottom.
Woods controls Gillard momentarily but Gillard frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gillard is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gillard trying to control the position from guard on top but Woods is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gillard slips nicely into half guard.
Woods keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Gillard seems to be looking for submissions.
Woods is looking to control Gillard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Woods avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerard Gillard dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Woods scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Gillard shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Woods defends it nicely.
Gillard misses with a hook. Woods ducked under it nicely.
Gillard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Woods as he avoids it easily.
Woods shoots for a takedown but Gillard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Woods throws a series of punches but Gillard avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Woods fails with the takedown
and Gillard counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gillard loads up on a big right hand but Woods slips the punch.
Gillard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Woods circles away from the clinch attempt.
Woods stuffs the takedown attempt from Gillard. Gillard gets slowly back to his feet.
Frank Woods has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerard Gillard.
Woods shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gillard defends it nicely.
Woods shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gillard counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Woods's guard now.

Gillard decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Gillard shoots in for a takedown but Woods shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Woods has managed to clinch.
Woods gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gillard.
Gillard gets underhooks to prevent Woods's takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Woods escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gillard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Woods holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gillard tries to circle away but Woods has him pinned against the cage.
Gillard wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Woods has him pressed against the cage.
Woods fails to pull guard.
Gillard drops down looking for an ankle pick but Woods pulls his leg out and moves away.

Woods gets the takedown into side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gillard can't do much from the bottom here.
Woods wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gillard keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gillard tries to control but Woods manages to take his back.
Woods tries to keep control of the position but Gillard is staying busy.
Gillard tries to escape but Woods has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Woods trying to control momentarily.
Gillard breaks Woods's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Gillard prevents Woods from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gillard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Woods tries to avoid it but Gillard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Woods to the ground. Woods escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Woods moves into the clinch.
Woods slowing the pace effectively.

Gillard gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Woods avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gillard.
Gillard prevents Woods from improving his position.
Woods wants to control but Gillard is keeping busy.
Gillard is controlling the pace.
Gillard is trying to control the action in half guard but Woods is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerard Gillard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gillard.
Woods tries to clinch up

and Gillard counters with a nice double leg into side control. Woods won't be happy with that.

Gillard decides to stand back up. Gillard steps back and let's Woods get back to his feet.
A punch combination from Woods misses.
Woods checks the leg kick nicely there.
A head kick by Gillard misses

and Woods counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Woods trying to control but Gillard is working from the bottom.
Woods wants to stand but Gillard has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Woods wants to control from the top but Gillard keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gillard working a defensive guard here.
Woods wants to get up but he can't break Gillard's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

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.
Gillard keeping moving, preventing Woods from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gillard shoots in looking for a takedown. Woods tries to sprawl out of it but Gillard keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Woods manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gillard is trying hard to land a takedown here. Woods sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Frank Woods has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gerard Gillard.
Woods tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gillard swivels and escapes.
Gillard misses with a leg kick

and Woods counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gillard!
Woods controlling his opponent.
Gillard is looking to improve his position but Woods isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gillard tries to hold on but Woods postures up.
Gillard is in all sorts of trouble here.

Woods goes for an armbar but Gillard turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Gillard.
Woods is trying to keep Gillard in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Woods utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gillard is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gillard has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Woods is proving hard to escape from.

Gillard stands up and waves to Woods to follow him.
Gillard stuffs the takedown attempt from Woods. Woods gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Frank Woods.
I think Gillard has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gerard Gillard!