PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rio Grande (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Grant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Grande
vs
Grant

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
193 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rio Grande!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Grant!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grande slips a jab and a cross from Grant.
Grant misses with a wild combination.
Grande shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Grant but Grant pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Grant lands a two punch combo.
Grande misses with a looping left.

Grande shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Grant makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Grant rushes Grande and presses him up against the cage.
Grant is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Grant pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Grant feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Grande's calf.
A right-left combo lands from Grant.
Grant throws a leg kick but Grande sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Grant clinches up with Grande and pushes him back against the cage.
Grant is trying to break the clinch but Grande has him pressed against the cage.
Grant wants to break free but Grande has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grande drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Grant wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Grande tries for a takedown but Grant manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rio Grande. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grande jumps guard but Grant stands there with Grande around his waist. Grande gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Grande is working for takedown but Grant is calmly controlling the position for now.
Grant wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Grant wants to break the clinch but can't.

Grande breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grande looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Grant is fending him off so far but Grande persists. Nope, Grant circles away and we're back to standing.
Grande throws a sloppy head kick and Grant moves out of range easily.
Grant throws a series of punches but Grande moves out of range.

Grant fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Grande sprawls well initially but Grant persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Grande trying to control here.
Grande is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant wants to pass to mount but Grande is defending the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grande gets back to full guard.
Grande 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.
Grant pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Grande is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grande working for submissions but it's allowed Grant to get to half guard.
Grande is breathing heavily.
Ground and pound from Grant.

Grant stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Grande to get to his feet.
Grande has his takedown stuffed

and Grant counters with a takedown into side control.
Grant working the head and body with strikes.

Grant stands up and beckons Grande to his feet.
Grant scores with a jab to the body.
Marcus Grant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grant clinches up against the cage.
Grant is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Grant breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Grant scores with a takedown into Grande's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grande striking off his back but it's not causing Grant any problems.
Grant scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Grant decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Danga de danga de dang - Grant scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grande tries for a takedown but Grant circles away easily
enabling Grant to counter with a crisp jab.
Grande gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Grant counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Grande!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Grant dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Grant misses with a head kick.
Grant displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Grant misses with a double jab.
Grant looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Grant throws a leg kick but Grande checks it.
Grant swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Grant's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Grant duly obliges.
Grande fails with the takedown
and Grant counters with a nice uppercut.
Grande misses with a takedown attempt

so Grant counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Grant decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Grande, up you get!
Rio Grande is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Grant shoots in and bounces Grande off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Grant gets to his feet. Grande looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grant instigates a clinch.
Grande tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rio Grande. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grant is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Grande pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Grant wants to break free but Grande has control.
Grant wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Grant digs a right hand underneath Grande's ribcage. Grande let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Grant breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Grant fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Grande, pushing him back against the cage.
Grant wants to get back to striking at distance but Grande won't allow it.
Grant can't break the clinch.
Grant scores with a hook to the body.
Grande with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Grant tries to break the clinch but Grande is controlling the position.
Grant is looking to break free of the clinch but Grande has double underhooks.

Grant breaks the clinch.
Grant scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Grant scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grande sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Grant tries to pass the half guard into mount. Grande knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Grant winds up and cracks Grande with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Grande is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nice strikes from Grant there.
Grande wants to control but Grant is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Grant stands up and beckons Grande to join him on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grande is looking to clinch.
Grant lands a jab-cross combination.
Grande showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Grant.
Grant misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Grant throws a right and a left that both miss.
Grant tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Grant works over Grande's head and body with a nice combination.
Grant throws a series of punches but Grande moves out of range.
Grant throws a nice looking combination but Grande bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Grande tries for a takedown but Grant circles away easily

and Grant counters by clinching up.
Grant prevents the takedown attempt.

Grant pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Grant misses with a double jab.
Grant lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Grande at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grant swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Grant catches Grande with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Grant changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Grande looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Grande looking for a sweep but Grant has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Grant can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Grande is looking to escape.
Grande really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grant looking to control but Grande is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Grant showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Grant throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Grande.
Grant fails to land with a series of punches.
Grande tries for a takedown but Grant circles away easily

and Grant counters by moving into the clinch.
Grande has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Grant avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Grant manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Grant wants to get back to striking at distance but Grande won't allow it.
Grant is looking to break free of the clinch but Grande has double underhooks.

Grant escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grant throws a series of punches but Grande moves out of range.
Grande slips a jab and a cross from Grant.
Grant takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Grant misses with a double jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Grant misses with a double jab.

Grant darts in and clinches Grande up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grande tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Grande prevents Grant from breaking the clinch.
Grande wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Grant wants to get back to striking at distance but Grande won't allow it.

Grant breaks the clinch.
Grande with a lazy takedown attempt
and Grant counters with an outside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rio Grande. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grant throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Left hook, right uppercut from Grant.
Grande takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Left hook, right uppercut from Grant.
Grande has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Grant closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Grande shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Grant counters with a nice uppercut.
Grant lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Grant misses with a jab, cross combination.
Grant lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant circles away from the clinch attempt.
Grant swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Grande.
Grande gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Grant counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grande is looking to sweep but instead, Grant has passed into half guard.
Grande has hold of Grant's hands but Grant slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Grande is trying to control but can't.
Grant landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Grant stands up from half guard.

Grant decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grant decides to return to a standing position.
Grant lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A head kick from Grant lands but Grande takes it in his stride.
Grande misses with a takedown

and Grant counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Grant manages to break the clinch.

Grant takes the fight into the clinch.
Grant wants to break free but Grande has control.

Grant pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Grande lands with a nice body kick.
Grant looks to land a combination but Grande avoids it well.
Grande tries to clinch but Grant moves away

so Grant counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Grande has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Grant has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Grande's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Grande taking a bit of punishment here - Grant scoring with strikes.
Grande is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Grant is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Grande can't escape the position.
Grande is squirming around, avoiding Grant's attempts to control the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grande keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Grant comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Grant has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 25:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 25:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Grant!