PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Okubo Naoya (ranked 4053 p4p, 4024 weight class) and Daniel Grant (ranked 0 p4p, 426 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Naoya
vs
Grant

195 cm
18
256
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
225
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Okubo Naoya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daniel Grant!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Colin Fray and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grant throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Naoya counters with a left to the body.
Grant lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Daniel Grant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grant throws a right and a left that both miss.
Naoya appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Grant dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Naoya misses with a wild body shot.
Naoya shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Naoya gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Grant throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice defenses there by Naoya.
Grant slips under a jab from Naoya.
Grant connects with a good right hand that stumbles Naoya. Naoya circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Naoya slips under a jab from Grant.
Grant swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Grant thuds his right hand into Naoya's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grant throws a right and a left that Naoya avoids nicely.
Naoya staying out of range there.
Grant will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Daniel Grant is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant throws a body punch but Naoya moves out of range.
Naoya is looking to counter the offense by Grant and move into the clinch.
Naoya has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Naoya there as he acknowledges the shot.
A big right from Grant misses.
Naoya seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Grant just misses with a punch to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Grant, as that shot connected.
Grant throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Naoya takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Grant throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Grant scores with a jab to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Grant blocks the leg kick.
Naoya is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Grant lands a really nice looking cross but Naoya seems unphased.
Naoya moves out of range as Grant strikes.
Good leg kick by Grant.
Grant dips to his left and cracks Naoya with an uppercut!
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!
Grant scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Grant is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Naoya had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant dips to his left and cracks Naoya with an uppercut!
Grant lands with a straight right. Naoya didn't see that one coming.
Grant tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Naoya was well out of range. Poor timing from Grant.
Naoya throws a big counter combination but Grant scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Grant pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Naoya swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Naoya tries to move into range but Grant moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Naoya takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A slow jab from Grant misses its intended target.
Naoya misses with a body shot.
Grant uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Naoya.
Grant misses with a few strikes there.
Good shot there by Grant.
Grant checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Grant takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Grant throws a body shot but no joy.
Grant uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Naoya.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naoya throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Grant dips to his left and cracks Naoya with an uppercut!
Naoya uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Grant.
Grant misses with a series of wild punches.
Naoya misses with a double jab.
Naoya displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Grant throws out the jab.
Grant ducks under a wild hook from Naoya.
Grant lands with an overhand left.
Naoya is looking to wear down Grant with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Grant uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Naoya.
Grant jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Naoya was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A slapping leg kick lands for Grant.
Horrible takedown attempt by Naoya or perhaps it was just good defense by Grant, which made it look bad.
Nice jab there from Grant.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naoya ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grant moves away.
Grant stuns Naoya with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Grant throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Naoya throws a right and a left that both miss.
Grant scores with a nice head shot.
Naoya on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Grant is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
The fighters circling - Grant throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Naoya looking to score a takedown here. Grant is defending well but Naoya drives through and ends up in Grant's guard.

Grant has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Naoya off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Naoya takes one to the side of the head.
Naoya takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Grant throws a right hand that Naoya ducks under and follows up with a left that Naoya also avoids with ease.
Naoya is looking to counter the offense by Grant and move into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Grant dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Grant misses with a wild combination.
Naoya takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Grant fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Grant lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Grant throws a right and a left that Naoya avoids nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Naoya misses the target.
Naoya misses the shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Grant. That's going to slow Naoya down.
Daniel Grant is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Grant darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Grant stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grant scores with a jab to the jaw.
Grant lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Grant lands a lovely overhand right.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Naoya gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Grant.
The fighters circling - Naoya throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Grant feints a jab promting Naoya to slip. Grant then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Naoya slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Naoya missing with a left hand there. Grant was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Grant moves into range and connects with a jab.
Naoya pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Grant clobbers Naoya with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Grant lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A nice inside leg kick there by Grant. That's going to slow Naoya down.
Naoya looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Naoya throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Daniel Grant seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Naoya takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Grant thuds a left hand into Naoya's body.
Naoya throws a leg kick but Grant moved away.
Naoya takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
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!
Grant moves out of range as Naoya strikes.
Grant looks to land a combination but Naoya avoids it well.
As Grant looks to move away, Naoya throws a big counter combo but Grant just gets out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Grant.
Grant lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Grant looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Naoya looking to score a takedown here. Grant is defending well but Naoya drives through and ends up in Grant's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grant is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Naoya is controlling him.
Naoya has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Naoya trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Naoya trying to control but Grant is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Grant has his feet on Naoya's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Naoya fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grant fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Naoya has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Grant cracks Naoya with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Grant slips a straight right by Naoya.
Grant swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Naoya.
Nice defenses there by Grant.
Naoya has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Naoya throws a leg kick but Grant sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Grant lands with a thumping leg kick.
Grant dips to his left and cracks Naoya with an uppercut!
Grant works the jab nicely.
A big left from Naoya misses.
Grant clobbers Naoya with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grant jabs at Naoya's body.
Grant throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Grant. Those never looked like landing.
Naoya tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Grant manages to circle out of the way.
Naoya keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Grant.
Naoya walks into a left hand.
Grant has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Naoya throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Naoya misses the shot to the body.
Nice cross by Grant.
Naoya throws a right and a left that Grant avoids nicely.
Grant throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Naoya seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A jab lands there for Grant.
Grant lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grant moves out of range of the strikes.
As Naoya backs off Grant throws a huge counter combo but Naoya manages to avoid it all.
A low kick lands for Grant.
Naoya is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Grant tests Naoya's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Grant showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Naoya swinging wildly here.
Naoya throws a right and a left that both miss.
Naoya gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Grant.
Naoya takes a swing at Grant's ribcage but misses.
Naoya throws a right and a left that both miss.
Grant lands a jab to the head.
Grant fails to land with a series of punches.
A counter left hand to the body from Naoya misses its target.
Grant connects with a looping right hand.
Grant misses with an uppercut
and Naoya counters with a nice body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good work by Grant as he checks the leg kick.
Nice body kick there by Naoya.
Grant catches Naoya with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Grant takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A low kick from Grant misses

and Naoya counters with a takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Naoya wants to control but Grant is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Naoya wants to control but Grant is keeping him busy.
Grant tries to escape but Naoya is in control.
Naoya moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Grant is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Naoya has just dragged him back down to the mat.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
A jab from Grant misses.
Grant's corner calls for a 1-2. Grant obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Nice shot lands for Grant.
Grant ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Grant moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Naoya takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Naoya works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Grant tests Naoya's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Naoya moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Grant lands an overhand right.
Grant throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Naoya looking to score a takedown here. Grant is defending well but Naoya drives through and ends up in Grant's guard.
Grant wants to stand but Naoya is controlling the position.
Naoya looking to pass the guard.
Naoya stands up over Grant, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Naoya loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Grant keeping full guard, as Naoya tries to pass.
Naoya is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naoya postures up in Grant's guard and throws a big left but Grant blocks it.

Grant is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Naoya presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Grant wants the takedown. Naoya is fighting it off but Grant persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Naoya's guard against the cage.
Okubo Naoya has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Grant missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Grant makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Naoya knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Grant on the ground.
Naoya throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Naoya working for submissions but it's allowed Grant to get to half guard.
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!
Grant working over Naoya with some ground and pound. Naoya looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Grant!
Daniel Grant took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION for their support in the buildup to the fight.