PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Zimmerman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Guillard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Guillard has chosen White Lines as his entrance music. Rickson Zimmerman had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Zimmerman
vs
Guillard

185 cm
25
194 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
189 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

Heavy Hitters

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rickson Zimmerman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, TJ Guillard!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Guillard lands the left hand.
Guillard looks to land a combination but Zimmerman avoids it well.
Zimmerman throws a nice looking combination but Guillard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Guillard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zimmerman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zimmerman drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Guillard blocks the body kick.
And Guillard tries to counter it with a takedown but Zimmerman pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Guillard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zimmerman wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Guillard with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Guillard throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zimmerman blocks a leg kick.
Zimmerman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Guillard with the counter takedown but Zimmerman avoids it easily.
Guillard falls off balance throwing a combination

and Zimmerman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Zimmerman wants to control from the top but Guillard keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zimmerman throwing strikes but missing.
Zimmerman tries to stand but Guillard is controlling from the bottom.
Zimmerman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Guillard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Guillard is looking to stand back up but Zimmerman counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Guillard.
Zimmerman trying to control from half guard but Guillard is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zimmerman is really struggling to control Guillard but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zimmerman prevents Guillard from standing back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Zimmerman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Guillard.
Guillard misses the jab.
Guillard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Guillard looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Zimmerman gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Zimmerman wants to take the fight to the mat but Guillard manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Zimmerman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zimmerman breaks from the clinch.
Guillard misses with a two punch combination.
TJ Guillard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Guillard looks to land a combination but Zimmerman avoids it well.
Zimmerman is looking to counter punch.
Guillard looks winded!

Guillard tries to keep at a distance but Zimmerman has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zimmerman effectively controlling the action here.
Guillard working hard to break the clinch.

Zimmerman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Guillard's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Guillard duly obliges.
Guillard throws a leg kick

and Zimmerman counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Guillard is not content to let Zimmerman control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zimmerman dominating with strikes here.
Zimmerman controlling from the full mount.
Zimmerman raining down hammerfists from mount.
Zimmerman wants to control the pace but Guillard is squirming around nicely.
Zimmerman landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but TJ Guillard will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A punch combination from Guillard misses.
Zimmerman checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Guillard looks to land a combination but Zimmerman avoids it well.
Zimmerman throws a big counter combination but Guillard scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Zimmerman closes the distance and clinches.
Zimmerman tries for a takedown but Guillard manages to get underhooks.

Guillard gets control of Zimmerman's arms and successfully pulls guard. Guillard will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Guillard keeping moving, preventing Zimmerman from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zimmerman is looking to stand up but Guillard won't let him.
Zimmerman passes Guillard's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zimmerman is trying to control. Guillard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Guillard is breathing heavily.

Guillard is defending against the submission attempts here by Zimmerman.
Zimmerman looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Zimmerman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zimmerman is trying to control the action in half guard but Guillard is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zimmerman thows a huge punch but Guillard dodges it nicely.
Zimmerman is trying to control. Guillard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zimmerman performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Zimmerman shoots in but Guillard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zimmerman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guillard throws a nice looking combination but Zimmerman bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zimmerman goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Zimmerman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Guillard misses with a wild combination.
Guillard throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Guillard digs a good body shot into Zimmerman's ribs.
Zimmerman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Guillard swats him away and circles back towards the center.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Guillard enables Zimmerman to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Guillard manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Guillard wriggles free and stands up.
Guillard misses with a few strikes there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Guillard moves out of range as Zimmerman throws a body kick.

Zimmerman closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Zimmerman connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Guillard some visible discomfort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman wants to control but Guillard is keeping him busy.
Zimmerman wants to stand but Guillard is controlling his arm.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zimmerman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Guillard keeps working.
Zimmerman lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but TJ Guillard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nice defenses there by Zimmerman.
Guillard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zimmerman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zimmerman avoids a punch combination nicely.
Guillard throws a right hand that Zimmerman ducks under and follows up with a left that Zimmerman also avoids with ease.
Rickson Zimmerman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A low kick from Guillard misses

and Zimmerman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Guillard's guard.
Rickson Zimmerman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zimmerman stands and throws Guillard's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Zimmerman throwing shots but missing, from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zimmerman is looking to take a break and control but Guillard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Guillard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zimmerman lands an elbow.
Guillard is not content to let Zimmerman control the position.

Zimmerman thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zimmerman is looking to take a break and control but Guillard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zimmerman lands an elbow.
Zimmerman laying and praying for a moment but Guillard takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guillard is refusing to be controlled, as Zimmerman sits in half guard.
Zimmerman tries to pass the half guard into mount. Guillard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Zimmerman landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Guillard won't allow Zimmerman to pass to mount.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Zimmerman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Guillard misses with a two punch combination.
Guillard misses with a double jab.
Zimmerman looks for the body kick but Guillard saw that one coming.
Zimmerman shoots in for a takedown but Guillard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Zimmerman feints and as Guillard raises his hands in defense, Zimmerman changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Guillard wants to get back to his feet but Zimmerman passes into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Zimmerman looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rickson Zimmerman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Guillard 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... TJ Guillard!
TJ Guillard was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.