PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Grace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AJ Magnaye (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Grace
vs
Magnaye

180 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

Knockout Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Derrick Grace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, AJ Magnaye!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Steve Erwin and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Magnaye is defended easily by Grace.
Grace looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Grace chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Magnaye can pounce on him.

Grace moves into the clinch.

Magnaye pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Magnaye shoots in but no luck this time.
Magnaye is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Grace tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Magnaye paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grace stuffs the takedown attempt from Magnaye. Magnaye gets slowly back to his feet.
Derrick Grace has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Magnaye.

Magnaye clinches up against the cage.
Grace prevents a takedown attempt there.

Magnaye ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Magnaye no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Magnaye lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Grace!

Magnaye looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magnaye scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Grace tries to reverse the position but Magnaye maintains control.
BOOM! Magnaye connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Magnaye goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Grace is on top in guard.
Grace stopping the sweep attempt from Magnaye.
Grace wants to get up but he can't break Magnaye's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Magnaye is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Magnaye trying to control from Grace's half guard. Grace has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Magnaye wants to control from the top but Grace keeps moving.
Magnaye slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Grace keeping moving, preventing Magnaye from controlling successfully.
Magnaye might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Grace kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grace controlling the position.
Magnaye wants to control from the top but Grace keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by AJ Magnaye.
A punch combination from Grace misses.
Magnaye looks to land a combination. Grace sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Grace stuffs the takedown.

Magnaye darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Grace is staying active underneath Magnaye, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grace tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Magnaye wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grace keeps working.
Magnaye blocks the strikes from Grace.
Magnaye trying to control the action but Grace is working from the bottom.

Magnaye gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
A big left from Grace misses.

Magnaye shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Magnaye looking for a guillotine from mount but Grace is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Magnaye dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Magnaye fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Magnaye is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grace. Magnaye does a little dance to reset his feet.
Magnaye shoots in but no luck this time.
Magnaye is trying hard to land a takedown here. Grace sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Derrick Grace has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Magnaye.

Magnaye moves into the clinch successfully.
Grace goes for a takedown attempt but Magnaye pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Magnaye has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Magnaye there as he acknowledges the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magnaye fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Grace avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Magnaye misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magnaye shoots in for a takedown but Grace shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Magnaye shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Grace but Grace pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Magnaye shoots in and drives through. Grace sprawls well.
AJ Magnaye seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Magnaye rushes Grace and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Magnaye pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Magnaye changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Grace tries to avoid it but Magnaye manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Grace to the ground. Grace escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Magnaye has a takedown stuffed.
Magnaye bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Magnaye scores with a head kick.

Magnaye has closed the distance and engaged Grace in a clinch.

Magnaye turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Magnaye wants to control but Grace is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magnaye controlling the position.
Grace regains half guard there - taking advantage of Magnaye's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Magnaye stops Grace from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grace flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Ground and pound from Magnaye.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Magnaye in particular looking to stall.
Grace avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Magnaye.
Grace is not content to let Magnaye control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by AJ Magnaye.
Grace throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Magnaye tries for a takedown but Grace sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Magnaye has a takedown stuffed.
Magnaye is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Magnaye lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Grace circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Magnaye fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Grace avoids it really well and circles away.

Magnaye scores a takedown into full mount!
Magnaye trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Grace tries to reverse the position but Magnaye maintains control.
Magnaye controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Magnaye showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Grace's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Grace keeps the fight on the outside.

Magnaye scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Magnaye wants to pass the guard but Grace is defending well.
Magnaye lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Grace is trying to get back to full guard.
Grace pushes Magnaye off looking to stand but Magnaye dives back in and keeps control.
Magnaye moves nicely into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Magnaye tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Magnaye has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grace sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magnaye controlling the pace.
Ground and pound from Magnaye.
Magnaye landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Magnaye takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Magnaye trying to pass the guard but Grace defending well.
Magnaye works his foot free and advances to mount.

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.
Magnaye controlling his opponent.
Magnaye wants to control but instead Grace manages to regain half guard.
Grace is looking to escape.
Nice strikes from Magnaye there.
Magnaye looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grace is staying active underneath Magnaye, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
AJ Magnaye has got the better of the ground game so far.
Magnaye is just content to waste time from the top position. Grace takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by AJ Magnaye.

Magnaye looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Grace!
Grace is working to get back to half guard.
Magnaye wants to take Grace's back but he can't do it this time.
Magnaye trying to control but Grace is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magnaye looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Magnaye trying to control but Grace is having none of it.

Magnaye goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Grace turns into him and now he's in Magnaye's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Grace decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

And that's the end of the fight!
AJ Magnaye comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Magnaye winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... AJ Magnaye!