PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Young Horse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Illman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Horse
vs
Illman

180 cm
23
170 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

170 cm
18
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Young Horse!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aaron Illman!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horse tries to clinch there but Illman circles away.
Horse misses with a two punch combination.
Illman swats away the attempt to clinch by Horse.
Horse tries to clinch up but Illman circles away and keeps his distance.
Horse misses with the combination.
Horse tries a head kick but it misses.
Illman connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Horse tries to clinch there but Illman circles away.
Illman swats away the attempt to clinch by Horse.
Horse wants to clinch up but Illman keeps it at a distance.
Horse tries to clinch up but Illman circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice combination there by Illman.
Horse doesn't manage to clinch there - Illman circles away.
Illman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Horse fails with an attempt to clinch.

Illman clinches up with Horse and pushes him back against the cage.
Illman avoiding damage as Horse throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Horse breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Horse tries to clinch up
and Illman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Young Horse seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horse misses with a two punch combination.

Illman takes the fight into the clinch.
Illman managing to block the knees to the body from Horse.
Illman wants to get back to striking at distance but Horse won't allow it.
Horse tries to land knees in the clinch but Illman avoids the damage to the body.
Illman is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Illman is looking to break free of the clinch but Horse has double underhooks.
Horse misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Illman.
Illman wants to break free but Horse has control.
Illman can't break the clinch.
Horse using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Illman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Illman wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Illman is looking to break free of the clinch but Horse has double underhooks.
Illman avoiding damage as Horse throws knees to the body.
Illman drops down looking for an ankle pick but Horse pulls his leg out and moves away.
Young Horse is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Illman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Horse is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horse is looking to stand up but Illman isn't so interested in that idea.
Horse keeping moving, preventing Illman from controlling successfully.
Illman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Illman wanted to stand there but Horse had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Illman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Horse swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Illman stops Horse from standing up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Illman misses with a body kick.
Horse throws a leg kick
and Illman counters with a two punch combo.

Illman has closed the distance and engaged Horse in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Illman is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Horse trying to land knees to the body.
Illman has had enough of the clinch but Horse keeps him there for the moment.
Horse misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Illman.
Horse misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Illman.
Illman has had enough of the clinch but Horse keeps him there for the moment.
Illman throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Illman is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Illman tries to throw a body punch but Horse avoids it by throwing Illman back against the cage.
Horse lands a nice knee to the body.

Horse breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Horse tries to clinch

and Illman counters by clinching up.
Illman can't find room to land a body shot as Horse controls the action.
Illman avoiding damage as Horse throws knees to the body.
Illman can't break the clinch.
Illman has had enough of the clinch but Horse keeps him there for the moment.
Horse lands a nice knee to the body.
Illman is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Young Horse has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Illman.
Horse landing knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Illman fails to land.
Horse trying to land knees to the body.

Horse escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Illman lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Horse closes the distance but Illman moves to the side
and Illman makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Horse really felt that one!
Illman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Horse wants to clinch but Illman slips to the side
and Illman counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Horse throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Illman counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Illman.
Illman wants to get back to striking at distance but Horse won't allow it.
Horse trying to land knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Horse.
Illman is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Horse pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Illman avoiding damage as Horse throws knees to the body.
Illman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Illman is trying to break the clinch but Horse has him pressed against the cage.
Illman managing to block the knees to the body from Horse.
Horse unloads a knee to the mid-section. Illman lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Illman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horse's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Horse duly obliges.
Illman circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Illman counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Illman dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Horse tries to clinch but Illman moves away
and Illman counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Horse tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Illman counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Illman.
Illman avoiding damage as Horse throws knees to the body.
Illman wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Horse has him pressed against the cage.
Horse unloads a knee to the mid-section. Illman lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Illman avoiding damage as Horse throws knees to the body.
Horse landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Horse pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horse throws a left and a right that both miss
and Illman counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Horse thinking.
Illman misses with a head kick.
Horse tries to close the distance and clinch but Illman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Horse throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Horse wants to clinch but Illman slips to the side
and Illman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Horse misses with a double jab
and Illman counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Illman lands with a nice combination. Horse backs away looking to recover.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Horse throws a combination that misses

and Illman counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Horse is refusing to be controlled, as Illman sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Illman is nestled in close to Horse, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Horse looks like he's trying to stand up.

Illman escapes and gets back to his feet.

Illman tries to keep at a distance but Horse has taken the fight into the clinch.
Illman is trying to break the clinch but Horse has him pressed against the cage.
Horse tries to land knees in the clinch but Illman avoids the damage to the body.
Horse gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Illman.
Illman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Illman managing to block the knees to the body from Horse.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Illman wants to break free but Horse has control.

Horse breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Horse fails in his attempt to clinch.
Illman throws a combination. Horse tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Illman has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Horse fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Illman checks it well.
Illman scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Illman keeps the fight on the outside.
Horse throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Illman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Horse won't be happy with that.
Horse is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Illman is controlling him well.
Horse knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Illman on the ground.
Illman scores with punches from side control.
Illman lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Horse down.
Illman postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Horse is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Illman works over Horse's head and body with a nice combination.
Illman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Horse.
Illman throws a nice outside leg kick.
Illman blocks a head kick by Horse.
Illman throws a right hand that Horse ducks under and follows up with a left that Horse also avoids with ease.
Horse misses with a combination
and Illman counters with a two punch combo.
Horse moves in looking to clinch but Illman pushes him off.
Horse wants to clinch but Illman slips to the side

and Illman counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Horse is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horse avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Illman.
Illman wants to get back to his feet.
Illman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Horse's head.
Horse wants to get back to his feet.
Illman is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Horse throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Illman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Horse won't be happy with that.
Horse is pushing Illman's head away, looking to escape. Illman manages to hold on to the position though.
Illman is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Horse will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horse stops Illman from passing to mount.
Horse tries to escape but Illman is in control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Illman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Horse's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Horse tries to clinch up

and Illman counters with a single leg into guard. Horse didn't expect that.
Illman won't allow Horse to get back to his feet.
Illman trying to control the position from guard on top but Horse is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Illman is working Horse over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Horse wants to get back to his feet but Illman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Illman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Illman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Illman stops Horse from standing up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Horse tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Illman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Horse will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horse throws a left and a right that both miss
and Illman counters with a three punch combo that has Horse backing up. Horse nods at Illman to acknowledge the strikes.
Horse throws a left and a right that both miss

and Illman counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Illman.

Horse breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Horse tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Illman counters with a left and a right that stings Horse.
Horse throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Illman counter with a right hand.
Horse misses with a body kick.
Horse falls off balance throwing a combination
and Illman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Horse throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Illman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A left and a right from Illman both land. Nice combination.
Horse darts in trying to clinch
and Illman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

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.
Horse misses with a combination

and Illman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Horse won't be happy with that.

Illman has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Horse clinches but Illman breaks the clinch
and Illman counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Horse tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Illman counters with a one-two to the body.
Illman fails with a takedown attempt.
Illman shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Horse as he jumps to the side.
Horse tries to clinch
and Illman counters with a series of strikes. Horse will be more careful next time no doubt.
A punch combination from Horse misses.
Horse closes the distance looking to clinch

and Illman counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Illman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horse tries to land knees in the clinch but Illman avoids the damage to the body.
Horse looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Illman is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Horse tries to land knees in the clinch but Illman avoids the damage to the body.
Illman wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Horse has him pressed against the cage.
Horse landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Illman managing to block the knees to the body from Horse.
Horse prevents Illman from breaking the clinch.
Horse landing knees to the body.
Horse tries to land knees in the clinch but Illman avoids the damage to the body.
Horse landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Illman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Illman misses with an elbow strike.
Illman is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Horse landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Horse prevents Illman from breaking the clinch.

Horse pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horse throws a head kick that misses
and Horse takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Horse throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Illman counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Illman dips to his left and cracks Horse with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Horse tries to clinch but Illman moves away
and Illman counters with a nice uppercut.
Horse pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Horse tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Illman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Horse's guard.
Horse is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Illman trying to control the position from guard on top but Horse is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Illman stops Horse from standing up.
Young Horse has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Illman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Horse is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Illman is controlling him.
Aaron Illman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horse closes the distance but Illman moves to the side

and Illman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Illman.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Illman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Illman winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Illman!