PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gerard Gilliam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Williams will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Gilliam
vs
Williams

165 cm
23
279 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

210 cm
19
245 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gerard Gilliam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Williams!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Williams closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Williams lands in his opponent's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Williams trying to control the position from guard on top but Gilliam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Williams stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gilliam swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Williams throws a strike but Gilliam rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Williams wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gilliam accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Williams is trying to control the position but Gilliam postures up.
Gilliam won't allow Williams to get back to his feet.
Gilliam is looking to work some ground and pound but Williams has wrist control.

Williams working for submissions but it's allowed Gilliam to get to half guard.
Gilliam has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Gilliam is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gilliam wants to stand up but Williams has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Gilliam stands up from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilliam tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Williams swivels and escapes.

Gilliam clinches up against the cage.
Gilliam looking for a takedown.
Williams wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gilliam has him pressed against the cage.
Williams looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Williams taking a breather.

Gilliam gets control of Williams's arms and successfully pulls guard. Gilliam will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Gilliam bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Williams's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Williams pulls Gilliam in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilliam with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gilliam tries to stand but Williams is controlling from the bottom.

Williams is working an open guard so Gilliam takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Williams shoots in looking for a takedown. Gilliam tries to sprawl out of it but Williams keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gilliam manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Williams shoots in but no luck this time.

Williams moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams wants to take the fight to the mat but Gilliam manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gerard Gilliam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Williams.
Gilliam wants a takedown.
Williams fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Williams looks winded!
Williams drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Gilliam has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Williams regains guard immediately.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Williams is pulling down on Gilliam's head to control his posture.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gilliam would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gerard Gilliam will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Williams's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gilliam connects with a body shot that sends Williams's belly button to the back.
Nice takedown defense from Gilliam. No joy for Williams on that attempt.
Williams tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gilliam sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Williams somewhat.
Gilliam tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gilliam gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Williams counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Gilliam!
Williams wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gilliam keeps working.
Williams staying calm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams is looking to take a break and control but Gilliam is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gilliam wants to control but Williams postures up.

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.

Williams decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Gilliam could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Williams doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gilliam counters with a one-two to the body.
Gerard Gilliam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Williams.

Gilliam clinches up with Williams and pushes him back against the cage.

Gilliam gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Gilliam might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Gilliam stands and steps away. Williams gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gilliam closes this distance looking for a takedown but Williams circles away.
Williams tries a head kick but it misses.

Williams has taken the fight to the clinch.

Gilliam gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams has a closed guard, preventing Gilliam from standing up.
Gilliam working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Williams's head.
Williams manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gilliam manages to get himself to full guard.
Williams postures up.
Gilliam keeping full guard, as Williams tries to pass.
Gilliam keeping moving, preventing Williams from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilliam working a defensive guard but Williams manages to pass into side control anyway.
Williams looks up at the clock and then as Gilliam takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Williams smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gilliam is not content to let Williams control the position.
Williams has knee on belly and moves into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Williams will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on John Williams's cut.
That's time! Gilliam's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Williams.
Williams fails with a takedown attempt.

Williams has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gilliam is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Williams jumps guard but Gilliam turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gerard Gilliam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Williams.
Gilliam has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Williams avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Williams is pressed up against the cage. Gilliam has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Williams down to the mat. Williams avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Gilliam has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilliam is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Williams is defending well.
Williams is trying to break free.
Gilliam is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Williams gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Williams drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gilliam lands a body shot in the clinch.
Williams is pressed up against the cage. Gilliam has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Williams down to the mat. Williams avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Williams feints and as Gilliam raises his hands in defense, Williams changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gilliam trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Williams wants to control from the top but Gilliam keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Williams drives through and clinches with Gilliam against the cage.

Williams has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gilliam uses from the top position.
Gilliam preventing the sweep.
Williams has a closed guard, preventing Gilliam from standing up.
John Williams has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Williams avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gilliam distracts Williams with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gilliam's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Williams has a closed guard, preventing Gilliam from standing up.

Williams working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gilliam doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gilliam manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Williams is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gilliam would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Williams is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Gilliam stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Gilliam gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Williams is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Williams is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Williams.
I think Williams 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!