PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dan Driver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kirk Dillard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Driver
vs
Dillard

168 cm
25
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

170 cm
26
150 lbs
9 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dan Driver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kirk Dillard!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dillard tries to clinch but Driver moves out of range.

Driver shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Driver throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Driver throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dillard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Driver has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Driver landing some decent shots from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Driver accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Driver in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Driver knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dillard on the ground.
Dillard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Driver manages to get himself to full guard.
Driver is controlling Dillard's posture.
Driver looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dillard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Driver swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Driver tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Driver is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Driver on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Driver tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Driver pulls Dillard in close to his closed guard and prevents Dillard from doing any damage or advancing position.
Dillard trying to control but Driver is working from the bottom.
Dillard advances to half guard.

Dillard is trying to work for a kimura but Driver is defending well.
Driver wants to control but Dillard is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Driver tries to roll over but Dillard keeps him under control.
Driver is working hard here to advance position.
Driver trying to control 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.
Driver is doing well to control the position and prevent Dillard from advancing to side control.
Driver is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dillard trying to control the action but Driver is working from the bottom.
Driver is trying to control but can't.
Driver is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dan Driver.

Dillard shoots in and gets a takedown into Driver's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driver controls Dillard momentarily but Dillard frees himself.
Dillard preventing the sweep.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Dillard wants to control from the top but Driver keeps moving.
Dillard forces his way into half guard.
Driver wants to improve his position but Dillard is controlling well.
Driver trying to hold on to Dillard's head to control him but Dillard postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Driver wants to get back to full guard.
Dillard takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Driver has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dillard is working away from the top position though.

We're going to have a standup here because Dan Driver wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Driver shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Dillard counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Driver is breathing heavily.
Dillard passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Driver!

Dillard is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Driver can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Dillard dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Driver misses with a takedown
and Dillard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dillard misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dillard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillard tries to close the distance and clinch but Driver swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Driver doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Dillard counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dillard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Driver doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dillard.
Driver is trying to get back to full guard.

Dillard is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Driver sees it coming and defends easily.
Driver is looking for a sweep. Dillard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Driver slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Driver wants to sweep but no luck.
Dillard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Driver is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driver has his hands on Dillard's head, controlling the position.
Dillard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Driver swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dillard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Dillard drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dillard jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Driver controlling Dillard's posture.
Kirk Dillard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dillard wants to control from the top but Driver keeps moving.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dillard tries to clinch there but Driver circles away.

Driver feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Driver throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dillard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Driver stands up over Dillard, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Dillard 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!

Driver gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Dillard decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Driver's guard.
Driver not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Driver is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Driver throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Driver lands a nice short elbow.
Driver not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Driver wants to control but Dillard is keeping him busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Dillard manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Driver looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillard working a defensive guard here.

Dillard has his foot on Driver's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Driver works his way back into a safe position though.
Dillard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Driver's guard.
Dillard passes Driver's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Dillard is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Dillard wants to take a breather but Driver is having none of it.
Driver gets full guard.
Driver controls Dillard momentarily but Dillard frees himself.
Dillard won't allow Driver to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Driver is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Driver working Dillard over with strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice strikes from Driver there.

Dillard actively working from the bottom here.
Dillard makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dillard.
Driver throwing strikes from guard but Dillard blocks nicely.
Driver in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Dillard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Driver lands a couple of digs.
Driver throwing strikes from guard but Dillard blocks nicely.
Dillard looking to control.
Kirk Dillard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driver throws and elbow that misses. Dillard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Driver's guard. Nice move by Dillard!
Driver looking for a sweep. Not yet Driver, not yet.
Dillard slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Driver is trying to control Dillard's posture but Dillard avoids it.
Driver is trying to get back to half guard.
Dillard working away.
Dillard trying to control the position but Driver is working away.
Dillard moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Driver struggling a bit here.

That's four 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.
Dillard has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Driver can't escape the position.
Dillard trying to control but Driver is having none of it.
Dillard controlling his opponent.
Driver is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Driver tries to lock up and control but Dillard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Driver has given up his back. Will we see Dillard going for some submissions?
Dan Driver has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Driver is really stuck here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kirk Dillard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dillard has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kirk Dillard!