PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dwight Butler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Lillard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony Lillard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Butler
vs
Lillard

153 cm
23
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dwight Butler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anthony Lillard!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lillard shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Butler's guard.
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.
Butler working a defensive guard here.
Lillard trying to control but Butler is working from the bottom.
Butler on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Butler tries to get out of the position.
Butler avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lillard throws a big elbow that misses.
Lillard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lillard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Butler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lillard with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Lillard drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Butler manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lillard has Butler in his guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lillard can't keep his opponent in guard - Butler advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler tries to stand and escape but Lillard actually recovers to full guard.
Butler has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lillard has his hands on Butler's head, controlling the position.
Lillard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Butler looking to sit in guard and control but Lillard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Butler working for a triangle but Lillard defends it easily.
Lillard trying to control the position from guard on top but Butler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lillard works over Butler with some ground and pound from guard.
Butler trying to control the position.
Butler 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.
Butler is looking to stand up but Lillard isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lillard connects with a couple of short punches.
Lillard sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lillard stands and throws Butler's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Lillard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Butler has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lillard tries to move into full mount but can't pass Butler's legs.
Lillard is working Butler over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butler is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Lillard is looking to take a break and control but Butler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lillard tries to stand but Butler is controlling his head.
Lillard lands an elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Butler can't do much from the bottom here.
Butler wants to get back to his feet but Lillard is dominant here and he's now got Butler's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Lillard dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lillard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Butler pinned against the cage. Butler gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lillard misses with a takedown attempt - Butler sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Lillard gets caught napping as Butler dives in and scores a takedown. Lillard manages to retain guard.
Butler trying to control the position from guard on top but Lillard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lillard wriggles free and stands up.
No luck for Butler with that takedown attempt.
Butler fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lillard avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Lillard or perhaps it was just good defense by Butler which made him look bad.
Dwight Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Lillard.

Lillard gets caught napping as Butler dives in and scores a takedown. Lillard manages to retain guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lillard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lillard trying to keep a closed guard but Butler is proving a slippery customer.
Butler won't allow Lillard to sweep him here.
Lillard is controlling Butler's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butler preventing the sweep.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Anthony Lillard wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nice takedown defense from Butler. No joy for Lillard on that attempt.
Lillard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Butler is fending him off so far but Lillard persists. Nope, Butler circles away and we're back to standing.
Butler throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lillard's waist but Lillard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Butler off to one side.
Lillard avoids the head kick by Butler.

Butler gets a takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lillard is pressing down on Butler's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butler slips nicely into half guard.
Lillard wants to improve his position but Butler is controlling well.
Lillard controlling the position well.
Butler wants to free his trapped foot but Lillard is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Lillard wants to control but Butler is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Lillard controlling the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lillard misses with a takedown attempt
and Butler counters with a left and a right that stings Lillard.
Lillard shoots in looking for a takedown. Butler tries to sprawl out of it but Lillard keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Butler manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Butler looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Butler wants to take a breather but Lillard is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwight Butler dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Butler shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lillard pinned against the cage. Lillard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Butler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lillard.
Lillard shoots in but Butler avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Butler takes a swing at Lillard's ribcage but misses.

Lillard closes the distance and pushes Butler back into the cage.
Butler wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lillard wants a takedown.
Butler is trying to push Lillard away but Lillard has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lillard tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Dwight Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Lillard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler goes for a takedown attempt but Lillard pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Butler fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown by Butler or perhaps it was just good defense by Lillard which made him look bad.
Lillard tries for a takedown but Butler circles away easily
and Butler counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Butler gets caught flat footed, as Lillard shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Lillard cracks Butler with a solid left hand.
Lillard trying to control but Butler is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lillard slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Lillard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Butler works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lillard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Butler has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Lillard is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Butler.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lillard moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Butler takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lillard controlling the position from side mount.
Lillard lands a few punches from side control.
Lillard working the head with strikes.
Lillard taking a breather here.
Lillard trying to control the action but Butler is working from the bottom.
Butler struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lillard controlling the position from side mount.
Lillard wants to control but Butler is keeping him busy.

Lillard tries for a kimura but Butler is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lillard landing a few strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Lillard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lillard 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Lillard!