PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Gerrard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Ledley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frank Gerrard has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Gerrard
vs
Ledley

200 cm
24
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
24
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Gerrard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Ledley!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gerrard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Gerrard changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ledley looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gerrard tries to advance to mount but can't.
Gerrard wants to control but Ledley is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Ledley's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ledley is not content to let Gerrard control the position.
Ledley is looking to regain half guard here but Gerrard keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gerrard working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gerrard lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ledley down.
Ledley wants to control but Gerrard postures up.
Gerrard wants to control but Ledley is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ledley struggling a bit here.
Ledley regains half guard.
Gerrard trying to control the pace.
Ledley should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ledley moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ledley lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ledley postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gerrard holds on and takes a little breather.
Gerrard controls Ledley momentarily but Ledley frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ledley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gerrard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gerrard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ledley's guard.

We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Ledley has eaten all the pies!
Gerrard trying to control but Ledley is working from the bottom.
Gerrard is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ledley is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Gerrard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four 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.
Ledley pulls Gerrard in close to his closed guard and prevents Gerrard from doing any damage or advancing position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Gerrard wants to control from the top but Ledley keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ledley.
Ledley trying to control the position but Gerrard is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gerrard is trying to control Ledley's posture but Ledley avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A low kick from Ledley is predictable there

and Gerrard counters with a single leg into guard. Ledley didn't expect that.
Gerrard content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gerrard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ledley wants to stand up but Gerrard is controlling him.
Gerrard is working Ledley over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ledley is trying to control the position but Gerrard postures up.
Gerrard trying to control the position from guard on top but Ledley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ledley wants to sweep here but Gerrard controlling him for the moment.
Gerrard looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerrard trying to control but Ledley is working from the bottom.
Gerrard looking to pass the guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Gerrard is in close to Ledley's body, working some short punches and elbows.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ledley is on top in guard.

Gerrard isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ledley stacks Gerrard on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Ledley!
Gerrard sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gerrard wants to sweep but no luck.
Gerrard striking off his back but it's not causing Ledley any problems.
Ledley trying to control but Gerrard is working from the bottom.
Ledley must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gerrard trying to keep a closed guard but Ledley is proving a slippery customer.
Ledley postures up in Gerrard's guard and throws a big left but Gerrard blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ledley trying to control the position from guard on top but Gerrard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gerrard wants to sweep but no luck.
Ledley with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gerrard being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ledley tries to close the distance and clinch but Gerrard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ledley throws a sloppy head kick

and Gerrard counters by clinching up.
Gerrard tries to score a body lock takedown but Ledley shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Ledley has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Gerrard clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Ledley is breathing heavily.
Gerrard just trying to survive but Ledley is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Gerrard's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Gerrard just trying to survive but Ledley is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Ledley is trying to stick to Gerrard's back but Gerrard is turning into Ledley. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ledley's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gerrard.
Ledley tries to strike from the bottom.

Gerrard thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gerrard stopping the sweep attempt from Ledley.
Ledley is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gerrard is looking for a sweep. Ledley is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gerrard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ledley.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Ledley will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Gerrard darts in looking for a takedown but Ledley gets double underhooks and turns Gerrard into the cage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ledley is defended easily by Gerrard.
Gerrard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gerrard wants it to stay on the feet.
Gerrard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ledley sprawls and moves away.
Ledley slaps away a takedown attempt from Gerrard, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gerrard shoots in and gets a takedown into Ledley's guard.
Gerrard trying to control the position from guard on top but Ledley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gerrard postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ledley keeping moving, preventing Gerrard from controlling successfully.
Ledley 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.
Ledley is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Ledley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ledley looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ledley leaves Gerrard with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Gerrard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gerrard dives in and scores a takedown into Ledley's guard.
Ledley pulls Gerrard in close to his closed guard and prevents Gerrard from doing any damage or advancing position.
Gerrard stopping the sweep attempt from Ledley.
Ledley throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Gerrard works over Ledley with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard trying to control but Ledley is working from the bottom.
Ledley is striking from the bottom but Gerrard uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Gerrard trying to control the action but Ledley is working from the bottom.
Gerrard not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Ledley is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gerrard pulls his head out easily.
John Ledley has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gerrard is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ledley defends it well.
Gerrard thows a huge punch but Ledley dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gerrard performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gerrard is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gerrard seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ledley is pressing down on Gerrard's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Gerrard showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ledley 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight for John Ledley!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Frank Gerrard!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for John Ledley!

John Ledley wins by split decision!