PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Apollo Creed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hew Illwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Creed
vs
Illwin

193 cm
21
207 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

190 cm
21
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Apollo Creed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hew Illwin!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Illwin throws a nice looking combination but Creed bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Creed shoots in and drives through. Illwin sprawls well.
Illwin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Creed has closed the distance and engaged Illwin in a clinch.
Illwin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Illwin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Creed has him pressed against the cage.

Creed gets control of Illwin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Creed will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Creed looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Illwin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Illwin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Illwin swinging wilding here.
Some wild striking there from Illwin.
Illwin tries to bum rush Creed with a series of wild strikes but Creed uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Illwin misses with a wild combination.
Illwin looks gassed!
Illwin avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Illwin both land. Nice combination.
A left and a right from Illwin both land. Nice combination.
Illwin looks to land a combination but Creed avoids it well.
Creed misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Creed ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Illwin throws a right hand that Creed ducks under and follows up with a left that Creed also avoids with ease.
Creed tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Illwin swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Apollo Creed. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Illwin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Creed counters with a nice body kick.
Creed tries for a takedown but Illwin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Creed fails to land the takedown.
Illwin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Creed decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Illwin's guard.
Creed advances position into side control!
Creed controlling the position from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Creed connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Illwin some visible discomfort.
Creed remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Illwin pushes Creed away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Creed gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
You can see the frustration on Illwin's face as Creed controls the position.

Creed decides to stand back up.
Creed fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Illwin misses with a double jab

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Creed trying to control the position from guard on top but Illwin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Illwin pushes Creed off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Illwin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Creed counters with a nice double leg into side control. Illwin won't be happy with that.
Illwin is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Creed has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Creed wants to control but Illwin is keeping him busy.
Illwin is letting Creed control him for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Creed decides to stand up, so the ref orders Illwin to his feet.

Creed scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Illwin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Creed. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Illwin looks like he's trying to stand up.
Creed is tying to control. Illwin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Creed is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Illwin is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Illwin manages to escape and get back to his feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Creed dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Illwin misses with a double jab

and Creed holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Illwin can't break the clinch.
Illwin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Creed has him pressed against the cage.

Creed successfully pulls guard.
Illwin wants to stand but Creed has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Creed controls Illwin momentarily but Illwin frees himself.
Creed has control of Illwin's left arm, preventing Illwin from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Creed trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Creed lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Illwin!
Creed controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Illwin is bucking up trying to escape but Creed cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Creed looking to control but Illwin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Creed looking to finish Illwin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Illwin!
Creed content just to control the position here.
Creed lands a big shot there that rocks Illwin but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

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.
Creed sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Creed trying to control but Illwin is having none of it.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Apollo Creed just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Illwin falls off balance throwing a combination

and Creed counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Creed prevents Illwin from getting back to his feet.

Creed decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Illwin, up you get!
Creed lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Illwin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Creed fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Illwin scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Creed fails to land the takedown.
Illwin with a hook.
Creed shoots in looking for a takedown. Illwin tries to sprawl out of it but Creed keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Illwin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Apollo Creed. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Illwin digs a good body shot into Creed's ribs.
Apollo Creed is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Illwin throws a combination that misses

and Creed moves into the clinch.

Creed pulls guard successfully.
Creed looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Illwin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Illwin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Creed fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Illwin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Creed changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Illwin connects with a good right hand that stumbles Creed. Creed circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Creed closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Illwin to the mat! Illwin manages to get full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Illwin can do anything to dispel that myth.

Illwin kicks Creed off and gets to his feet.
Creed fails with a takedown attempt.
Creed throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Illwin's waist but Illwin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Creed off to one side.
A left and a right from Illwin both land. Nice combination.
A head kick from Creed lands but Illwin takes it in his stride.
Good shot there by Illwin.
Creed lands with a cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Creed dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Creed fails with the takedown.
Creed tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Illwin paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Creed drives through with a takedown into guard.
Creed slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Illwin wants to stand but Creed is controlling the position.
Creed trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Illwin keeping moving, preventing Creed from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Illwin wants to stand and escape but Creed is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Creed pushes down on Illwin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Illwin pushes Creed off but Creed dives into side control.
Illwin taking a bit of punishment here - Creed scoring with strikes.
Creed trying to control the action but Illwin is working from the bottom.
Apollo Creed overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Illwin throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Creed fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Creed scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Illwin is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Creed asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Creed is trying to get an arm triangle but Illwin is defending well.
Creed trying to control the position but Illwin is working away.
Illwin wants to get back to his feet.
Creed wants to lay and pray for a moment but Illwin keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Illwin wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Creed is looking to take a break and control but Illwin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Illwin trying to remain calm as Creed controls from the top position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A left and a right from Illwin both land. Nice combination.
Creed shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Apollo Creed. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Illwin throws a one two combo.
Hew Illwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Illwin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Creed circles away quickly and effectively.

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.
Creed misses with a series of wild punches.
Illwin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Creed.
Illwin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Creed shoots in for a takedown but Illwin shows good takedown defense.
Illwin stalks Creed and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Creed's face. Creed staggers backwards, shaken.
Illwin throws a left and a right that both miss

and Creed decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Illwin's guard.
Creed with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Illwin wants to stand up but Creed is controlling him.
Creed wants to pass the guard but Illwin is keeping the position.
Creed prevents Illwin from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Apollo Creed showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Creed, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Apollo Creed!