PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Devon Gilliam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bronko Strunz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Gilliam
vs
Strunz

183 cm
22
182 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

178 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite 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 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Devon Gilliam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bronko Strunz!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Roberts and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strunz throws a front kick aimed at Gilliam's knee but Gilliam avoids it well.
Gilliam chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Strunz can pounce on him.
Strunz tried to score with a low kick but Gilliam checks it.
Gilliam throws a leg kick
and Strunz counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Strunz throws a push kick but Gilliam slaps the foot to one side.
Strunz scores with a shot to the body.
A good leg kick by Strunz.
Strunz feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Gilliams jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Strunz lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gilliam keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Strunz.
Gilliam throwing a counter right hand but Strunz manages to avoid it.
We've been hearing reports that Gilliam has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Strunz connects with a high kick.
Strunz bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Gilliam's head backwards.
Strunz will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Strunz misses with a hook. Gilliam ducked under it nicely.
Gilliam takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Strunz cracks Gilliam with a right hand to the side of the head.
Strunz throws a good cross that connects.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gilliam takes one to the side of the head.
Gilliam throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Strunz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gilliam takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Gilliam takes a kick to the side of the head.
Strunz connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Strunz lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gilliam displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Strunz throws out the jab.
Strunz is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Gilliam had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Gilliam works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Gilliam tries to close the distance and clinch but Strunz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Strunz has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Gilliam misses with a hook.
Gilliam tries to move into range but Strunz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Strunz throws a jab when Gilliam was well out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Strunz checks a leg kick.
Gilliam takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Strunz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A swing and a miss from Strunz.
Bronko Strunz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strunz lands a jab.
Gilliam misses with a double jab.
Strunz is looking to score with low kicks.
Strunz avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Gilliam wants to clinch up but Strunz keeps it at a distance.
Strunz connects with a jab.
Strunz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gilliam misses with a series of wild punches.
Strunz misses with a looping left.
Strunz throws out a loose jab but Gilliam uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gilliam ducks under a wild hook from Strunz.
Strunz throws a shot to the body.
Strunz looks to score with a jab to the body but Gilliam is just out of range.
Strunz tests Gilliam's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strunz throws the left hand but Gilliam avoids the punch easily.
Strunz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Strunz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Strunz connects with a single shot there.
Strunz throws a jab when Gilliam was well out of range.
Strunz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gilliam manages to avoid it.
It looked like Gilliam wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gilliam takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gilliam wants to slow Strunz down by chopping away at his legs.
Gilliam lands a right hook to the body.
Strunz throws a hook but Gilliam blocks it.
Gilliam drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Strunz on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A jab from Gilliam misses.
Strunz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Strunz looks to land a body kick but Gilliam moved away.
Gilliam takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Strunz thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strunz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A swing and a miss from Strunz.
Gilliam tries to counter by clinching up but Strunz breaks away and moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gilliam tries to move into range but Strunz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gilliam misses with a hook.
Gilliam swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Strunz doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Gilliam is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Strunz.
Strunz connects with a leg kick. Gilliam looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Strunz.
Gilliam throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gilliam misses with a body shot.
Gilliam misses with an uppercut. Strunz saw that one coming.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Strunz! But no joy.
Gilliam throws a looping overhand right but Strunz ducks down to avoid it.
Gilliam takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Gilliam fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strunz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bronko Strunz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gilliam fails with an attempt to clinch.
Strunz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Strunz takes a swing at Gilliam's ribcage but misses.
Gilliam throws out a loose jab but Strunz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gilliam swinging wildly here.
Strunz looks to land a left hand but Gilliam moved out of range nicely.
Strunz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Strunz lands a slapping body shot.
Strunz throws a shot from downtown. Gilliam moves away and avoids it.
A little feinted left hand from Gilliam on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Strunz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gilliam is looking to counter punch.
Gilliam tries to move into range but Strunz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strunz scores with a jab.
Gilliam misses with a looping left.
A slapping leg kick lands for Strunz.
Gilliam lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Gilliam has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strunz misses with a punch to the body.
Gilliam misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gilliam tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gilliam fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Strunz blocking some punches.
Strunz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Strunz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bronko Strunz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Strunz catches Gilliam with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Strunz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gilliam's head.
Strunz lands a nice shot to the body.
Strunz connects with a solid leg kick.
Gilliam uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Strunz.
Gilliam lands with a straight right. Strunz didn't see that one coming.
Strunz lands with a cross.
Strunz scoring well with a low kick there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gilliam misses with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strunz looks to land a body kick but Gilliam moved away.
Nice uppercut there from Strunz.
Gilliam looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Strunz moves out of range as Gilliam strikes.
Strunz throws out a counter right but Gilliam avoids it with no problem.
Strunz throws a leg kick but Gilliam checks it.
Strunz scores with a jab to the jaw.
Strunz swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gilliam.
Strunz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Gilliam getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Strunz scoring well with a low kick there.
Gilliam walks forward, straight into a front kick from Strunz.
Strunz lands a head shot.
Jab from Strunz.
Strunz works the jab nicely.
Strunz takes a swing at Gilliam's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilliam defending well as Strunz loads up on a big left hand.
Strunz loads up on a big right hand but Gilliam slips the punch.
Jab from Gilliam.
Strunz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Gilliam takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Strunz tries a low kick but Gilliam avoids it.
Gilliam misses with a lunging right hand
and Strunz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gilliam takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gilliam throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Strunz slips under a jab from Gilliam.
Gilliam on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The fighters circling - Gilliam throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gilliam is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gilliam missing with a left hand there. Strunz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Strunz lands a jab to the head.
Gilliam has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Gilliam shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gilliam takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Strunz connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Gilliam tries to close the distance and clinch but Strunz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A countering left hand to the body from Strunz misses.
Gilliam swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Strunz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A lazy left from Gilliam finds it's target.
Gilliam takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gilliam doesn't manage to clinch there - Strunz circles away.
Gilliam takes one to the chin there.
Strunz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gilliam tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strunz connects with a high kick.
A punch lands to the side of Gilliam 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Strunz looks to throw the jab but Gilliam is out of range.
Strunz thumps Gilliam with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bronko Strunz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gilliam tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Strunz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A nice side step and Strunz releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Gilliam moves into the clinch.
Gilliam misses with some punches.
Strunz is working Gilliam over against the cage.
Strunz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Strunz blocks an uppercut.

Strunz manages to break the clinch.
Gilliam moves in looking to clinch but Strunz pushes him off.
Gilliam looks to land a combination but Strunz avoids it well.
Gilliam clobbers Strunz with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Gilliam throws a right hand that misses
and Strunz counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strunz feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Gilliams jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Strunz connects with a body shot that sends Gilliam's belly button to the back.
Gilliam throws a lazy right hand but Strunz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gilliam tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Strunz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Strunz cracks a nice hook into Gilliam's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strunz lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Gilliam tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Strunz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Strunz bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gilliam's head.
Strunz scores with a hook to the body. Gilliam takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Strunz scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Strunz tries to land a leg kick but Gilliam saw it coming and moves away.
Gilliam pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Strunz lands with an overhand left.
Gilliam ducks under a wild hook from Strunz.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gilliam. Strunz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Strunz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gilliam.
Strunz lands a head kick!
Strunz clobbers Gilliam with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Strunz.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strunz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gilliam at a distance.
Gilliam takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Strunz thumps Gilliam with a low kick.
Gilliam bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Strunz's head.
Gilliam tries to clinch up.
Strunz takes a swing at Gilliam's ribcage but misses.
Bronko Strunz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Strunz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gilliam takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Strunz misses the shot to the body.
Gilliam moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Gilliam looks to land a left hand but Strunz moved out of range nicely.
Strunz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gilliam moves out of range as Strunz strikes.
Good leg kick by Strunz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Gilliam misses.
Strunz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gilliam looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gilliam throws a right and a left that both miss.
Good exchange - Strunz coming out on top.
Gilliam takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Strunz avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Strunz lands a really nice looking cross but Gilliam seems unphased.
Strunz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Strunz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gilliam misses with a hook.
A slow jab from Strunz misses its intended target.
Strunz walks into a stiff left hand from Gilliam.
Strunz feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gilliam's calf.
Gilliam throws an overhand right that lands on Strunz's shoulder, as Strunz tries to avoid the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Good standup being displayed there by Strunz as he connects with a hook.
Strunz misses with a head kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Strunz checks a leg kick.
Gilliam doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Strunz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Strunz throws a jab but it's blocked by Gilliam.
Gilliam lands a jab.
Gilliam scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Gilliam will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Strunz scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gilliam doesn't seem bothered though.
Strunz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bronko Strunz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Strunz 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bronko Strunz!