PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Andy Gillespie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Tatum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gillespie
vs
Tatum

157 cm
29
147 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

165 cm
41
141 lbs
30 - 20 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Andy Gillespie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 20 - 0, fighting out of London, Danny Tatum!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gillespie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tatum.
Tatum tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gillespie counters with a straight right hand.
Gillespie throws a push kick but Tatum slaps the foot to one side.
Tatum throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gillespie on the side of the head.
Gillespie is looking to slow Tatum down with leg kicks.
Nice body kick from Gillespie.
Tatum throws out a loose jab but Gillespie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gillespie throws a leg kick that misses.
Nice body kick there by Gillespie.
Gillespie throws a solid leg kick but Tatum takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Gillespie.
Gillespie throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Gillespie just misses with a punch to the body.
Tatum misses the shot to the body.
Gillespie thinks about countering with a head kick.
Tatum keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Gillespie has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Gillespie does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Tatum moves to clinch but Gillespie breaks away
and Gillespie counters with a solid body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gillespie cracks Tatum with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Tatum blocks a low kick nicely.
Tatum fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gillespie throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gillespie tries to land a front kick but Tatum steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gillespie connects with an inside leg kick.
Gillespie misses with a body shot.
Gillespie misses with a leg kick.
Gillespie lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gillespie throws a solid leg kick but Tatum takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Gillespie.
Donk. Tatum catches Gillespie right on the button with a cross.
Tatum tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gillespie was well out of range. Poor timing from Tatum.
Gillespie swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tatum misses with an uppercut.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gillespie, right into the meat.
Tatum changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gillespie tries to avoid it but Tatum manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gillespie to the ground. Gillespie escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gillespie looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gillespie half committed to a counter leg kick.
Tatum avoids a kick to the body.
Gillespie connects with a single shot there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tatum avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Gillespie misses with a hook
and Gillespie takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gillespie throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gillespie ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gillespie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tatum moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gillespie cracks the inside of Tatum's front leg.
Gillespie buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gillespie has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gillespie there as he acknowledges the shot.
Tatum throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Gillespie on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gillespie fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tatum on the side of the head.
Gillespie throws out a leg kick but Tatum moves out of range and Gillespie only half commits.
Gillespie lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Tatum has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie fakes the leg kick and cracks Tatum in the body.
Tatum moves into range and connects with a jab.
Gillespie gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Andy Gillespie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gillespie lands a high kick!
Tatum throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gillespie on the side of the head.
Gillespie staying out of range there.
Gillespie jabs at Tatum's body.
Tatum misses with a body shot.
Gillespie throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gillespie throws a leg kick which misses Tatum's front leg but catches the back leg as Tatum tries to avoid it.
Gillespie attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Tatum tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Tatum lands with a good body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tatum paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Tatum checks a low kick from Gillespie.
Tatum changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
An inside leg kick from Gillespie misses.
That kick from Gillespie tenderised Tatum's leg. Tatum is trying to keep his angry face on.
Andy Gillespie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatum catches Gillespie with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tatum walks forward, straight into a front kick from Gillespie.
Gillespie tries to score with a low kick but Tatum moves his leg out of the way.
And Tatum tries to counter it with a takedown but Gillespie pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Gillespie tries to land a front kick but Tatum steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gillespie throws a wild body kick that Tatum sees coming a mile off.
Gillespie with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gillespie needs to keep his hands up - Tatum had a free shot at his head there.
Gillespie throws a leg kick but Tatum checks it.
Tatum tries to clinch but Gillespie is having none of it.
Tatum tried to score with a low kick but Gillespie checks it.
Gillespie fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tatum has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gillespie.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gillespie throws a leg kick
and Tatum counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Gillespie feints and then cracks Tatum's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tatum down.
Gillespie takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Gillespie connects with a nice looking jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Gillespie dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gillespie misses with a low kick.
And Tatum tries to counter it with a takedown but Gillespie pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Gillespie pivots, looking for a leg kick but Tatum is out of range and Gillespie settles back down.
Gillespie misses with a hook. Tatum ducked under it nicely.
Tatum blocks a low kick nicely.
Gillespie throws a leg kick that misses.
Gillespie has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tatum finds it's way round the side to connect with Gillespie's head.
Tatum connects with the punch.
Gillespie throws a sloppy head kick and Tatum moves out of range easily.
Gillespie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tatum moves away.
Gillespie lands an overhand right.
A jab from Tatum does it's job there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tatum tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gillespie swivels and escapes.
Gillespie thinks about countering with a head kick.
Good leg kick by Gillespie there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Gillespie takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gillespie. Tatum does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tatum lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
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!
Tatum fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gillespie dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gillespie finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Gillespie looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gillespie is looking to slow Tatum down with leg kicks.
Gillespie is looking to score with low kicks.
Gillespie punishes Tatum's body with a nice straight punch.
Gillespie misses with a low kick.
Tatum is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Gillespie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tatum throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Tatum closes the distance and pushes Gillespie back into the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gillespie.
Tatum misses with a body punch.

Gillespie breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gillespie jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Gillespie gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Tatum looks to land a right hand but Gillespie moved out of range.
Gillespie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tatum can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatum swings away with a body shot that misses
and Gillespie counters with a left to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gillespie scores with a nice body kick.
Gillespie tries a low kick but Tatum avoids it.
Tatum wants to clinch but Gillespie slips to the side
and Gillespie counters with an inside leg kick.
Tatum connects with a nice looking jab.
A bone on bone clash there as Tatum blocks the leg kick.
Gillespie throws a head kick that misses.
Gillespie ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Gillespie tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tatum is able to avoid easily.
Tatum takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tatum throws an overhand right that lands on Gillespie's shoulder, as Gillespie tries to avoid the shot.
Tatum throws the left hand but Gillespie avoids the punch easily.
Gillespie throws a leg kick but Tatum moved away.
Gillespie throws a body punch but Tatum moves out of range.
Gillespie fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Tatum is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatum tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gillespie manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gillespie misses the jab.
Gillespie pivots, looking for a leg kick but Tatum is out of range and Gillespie settles back down.
A head kick misses from Tatum.
As Tatum backs away, Gillespie returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Gillespie misses with an attempted mid kick.
Good shot there by Tatum.
Gillespie throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Tatum counters with a shoot takedown. Gillespie fights it but they end up in guard.
Tatum stopping the sweep attempt from Gillespie.
Tatum trying to control the position from guard on top but Gillespie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tatum is working Gillespie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gillespie is trying to keep Tatum in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tatum throwing strikes from guard but Gillespie blocks nicely.
Tatum has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tatum throwing strikes from guard but Gillespie blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatum trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tatum is fighting to break Gillespie's control of his arms but Gillespie is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tatum's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tatum stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gillespie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tatum throws a strike but Gillespie rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gillespie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gillespie stopping the sweep attempt from Tatum.
Gillespie forces his way into half guard.

Tatum is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gillespie pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Andy Gillespie will probably get the nod.
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!

Gillespie thuds his shin into the meat of Tatum's side.
Tatum closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gillespie finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Gillespie tries to land a body kick

so Tatum counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tatum connects with a couple of short punches.
Gillespie has Tatum pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tatum chips away with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tatum with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gillespie is pulling down on Tatum's head to control his posture.
Tatum with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tatum lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatum throws a big right hand that misses.
Gillespie keeping full guard, as Tatum tries to pass.
Gillespie is trying to keep Tatum in close.
Tatum works over Gillespie with some ground and pound from guard.
Tatum throws a big elbow that misses.
Gillespie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tatum manages to get himself to full guard.

Tatum keeping full guard, as Gillespie tries to pass.
Gillespie pushes down on Tatum's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Tatum looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatum avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gillespie.
Gillespie trying to mount his opponent but Tatum defends it.

Tatum looking for submissions off his back.

Tatum looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gillespie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tatum's head.
Gillespie trying to advance position but Tatum counters by regaining guard.
Tatum preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Tatum is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gillespie content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gillespie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tatum works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Tatum is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gillespie is aware though and is defending well.
Danny Tatum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andy Gillespie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gillespie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tatum's guard.

Tatum looking for submissions off his back.
Danny Tatum has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gillespie lands a nice short elbow.
Gillespie stalling away here and it's allowed Tatum to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Tatum is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gillespie defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gillespie won't allow Tatum to sweep him here.
Gillespie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tatum's guard.
Gillespie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gillespie trying to control from half guard but Tatum is working away.
Tatum is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gillespie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tatum looking for submissions off his back.
Gillespie wants to pass the guard but Tatum is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Danny Tatum.
I think Gillespie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Gillespie!
Andy Gillespie managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry), into his post fight interview.