PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Haile Gebreselassie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian McMillian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Gebreselassie
vs
McMillian

170 cm
25
198 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very confident

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Haile Gebreselassie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ian McMillian!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McMillian throws a leg kick that is checked

and Gebreselassie counters with a shoot takedown. McMillian fights it but they end up in guard.
Gebreselassie stands and throws McMillian's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gebreselassie lands a few punches from side control.
McMillian dodges the ground and pound from Gebreselassie.
Gebreselassie landing a few strikes.
Gebreselassie is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Gebreselassie working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMillian tries to improve position but can't.
McMillian struggling a bit here.
McMillian prevents Gebreselassie from moving into mount.
McMillian is trying to escape the position but Gebreselassie is controlling the position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
McMillian doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gebreselassie counters with a flying knee. Nice.
McMillian throws a sloppy head kick
and Gebreselassie counters with a body kick.
McMillian tries for a takedown but Gebreselassie circles away easily
and Gebreselassie counters with a thumping low kick.
McMillian looks gassed!
Gebreselassie lands with a kick to the ribs.
McMillian tries for a takedown but Gebreselassie circles away easily
and Gebreselassie makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Haile Gebreselassie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ian McMillian.
Good leg kick by Gebreselassie there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
McMillian shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gebreselassie counters with a body kick that stops McMillian in his tracks momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gebreselassie feints and then cracks McMillian's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McMillian down.
Gebreselassie turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gebreselassie throws a leg kick which misses McMillian's front leg but catches the back leg as McMillian tries to avoid it.
Gebreselassie scores with a kick to the midsection.
Ian McMillian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gebreselassie turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gebreselassie lands a high kick!
Gebreselassie chopping away at his opponent's legs.
McMillian takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
McMillian takes a head kick and keeps coming.
McMillian tries to land a body kick
and Gebreselassie counters with a low kick, right behind McMillian 's knee.
Gebreselassie looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gebreselassie.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McMillian throws a leg kick
and Gebreselassie counters with an inside leg kick.
Gebreselassie throws a head kick that half lands.
Gebreselassie throws a leg kick which misses McMillian's front leg but catches the back leg as McMillian tries to avoid it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Gebreselassie. That's going to slow McMillian down.
McMillian takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Gebreselassie connects with an inside leg kick.
Gebreselassie moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gebreselassie is looking to slow McMillian down with leg kicks.
Gebreselassie scores with a head kick.
Gebreselassie lands a head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gebreselassie dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McMillian. That did some damage!
McMillian has his takedown stuffed
and Gebreselassie counters with a nice body kick.
Haile Gebreselassie is winning the standup battle so far.
McMillian on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gebreselassie. Gebreselassie obviously looking to wear him down.
McMillian has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Gebreselassie.
Gebreselassie throws a nice inside leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gebreselassie.
McMillian is trying desperately to land a takedown but Gebreselassie is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for McMillian.
Gebreselassie throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gebreselassie throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gebreselassie, right into the meat.
McMillian is breathing heavily.
Gebreselassie fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and McMillian has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gebreselassie connects with a leg kick. McMillian looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A slapping body kick lands there for Gebreselassie.
Gebreselassie throws a head kick that McMillian semi-blocks.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gebreselassie.

Gebreselassie 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.
Gebreselassie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gebreselassie wants to control from the top but McMillian keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gebreselassie controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Haile Gebreselassie.
That kick from Gebreselassie tenderised McMillian's leg. McMillian is trying to keep his angry face on.
McMillian shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Gebreselassie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gebreselassie keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Gebreselassie lands with a punch from half guard.
Ground and pound from Gebreselassie.
Gebreselassie is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for McMillian!
Gebreselassie connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
McMillian is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gebreselassie connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Gebreselassie has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of McMillian's face.
McMillian is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gebreselassie controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gebreselassie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McMillian is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haile Gebreselassie dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gebreselassie throws a nice head kick!
McMillian fails with the takedown
and Gebreselassie counters with a head kick. That will keep McMillian thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A head kick by McMillian misses
and Gebreselassie makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Gebreselassie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gebreselassie lands in his opponent's guard.
Gebreselassie passes into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMillian has hold of Gebreselassie's hands but Gebreselassie slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Gebreselassie is looking for a kimura here.
Gebreselassie trying to pass the guard but McMillian defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Gebreselassie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McMillian is just riding it out for now. Gebreselassie eventually gives up the hold.
Gebreselassie is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gebreselassie is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But McMillian has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from McMillian!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Gebreselassie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McMillian doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Gebreselassie is tightening it up a little... McMillian has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! McMillian reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! McMillian taps out! nice BJJ there by Gebreselassie!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Haile Gebreselassie!