PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ride Grierson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Angus McBasher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying McBasher's choice of entrance music: Biggest & the best - Clawfinger. Ride Grierson had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Grierson
vs
McBasher

178 cm
22
155 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

168 cm
24
152 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ride Grierson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Angus McBasher!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McBasher goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Grierson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. McBasher quickly recovers to half guard.

Grierson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McBasher regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Grierson.

Grierson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! McBasher is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! McBasher has escaped and now he's on top!
Grierson trying to keep a closed guard but McBasher is proving a slippery customer.
Grierson wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and McBasher is now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McBasher not doing much here.
Grierson trying to control but McBasher postures up.
Grierson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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.
McBasher tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Grierson.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Grierson wants to control but McBasher is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Grierson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

McBasher is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Grierson regains full guard. Nicely done.

McBasher stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grierson scores with a takedown into McBasher's guard.
Grierson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Grierson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McBasher avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

McBasher has his feet on Grierson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Grierson is breathing heavily.
McBasher moves in looking to clinch but Grierson pushes him off.
McBasher looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nice takedown defense from McBasher. No joy for Grierson on that attempt.
Angus McBasher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McBasher tries a low kick but Grierson avoids it.
McBasher misses with a head kick.
McBasher with a poor takedown

and Grierson counters by moving into the clinch.
McBasher gets underhooks to prevent Grierson's takedown attempt.

McBasher's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick by McBasher misses

and Grierson counters with a single leg into guard. McBasher didn't expect that.
Grierson passes McBasher's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Grierson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
McBasher trying to control but Grierson postures up.
McBasher is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McBasher closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Grierson jumps into guard, dragging McBasher to the mat.

Grierson throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! McBasher escapes and throws Grierson's legs to the side, diving into side control!

McBasher decides to stand back up.
McBasher tries to clinch up

and Grierson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McBasher keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McBasher is looking for a sweep. Grierson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Grierson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McBasher sees it coming and defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grierson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
McBasher wants to get back to full guard.
Grierson stops McBasher from getting back to his feet.

Grierson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Grierson is trying to control the action in half guard but McBasher is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
McBasher wants to get back to his feet.

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.

Grierson is working for a kimura but McBasher is defending it quite comfortably.
McBasher moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

McBasher uses the cage to get back to his feet.
McBasher misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McBasher throws a sloppy head kick and Grierson moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from McBasher.
Grierson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McBasher fails with an attempt to clinch.
McBasher buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
McBasher throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ride Grierson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McBasher stuffs the takedown attempt from Grierson. Grierson gets slowly back to his feet.
McBasher tries a low kick but Grierson avoids it.
McBasher gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Grierson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for McBasher!

Grierson swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and McBasher is now in Grierson's guard. A big mistake from Grierson there, giving up the dominant position!
McBasher must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McBasher trying to stand up but can't free himself from Grierson's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grierson trying to control the position.
Grierson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McBasher's guard.

McBasher wriggles free and stands up.

McBasher clinches up with Grierson and pushes him back against the cage.
McBasher creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Grierson's defenses.

McBasher's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McBasher throws a left and a right that both miss

and Grierson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grierson stops McBasher from standing up.
McBasher has a closed guard, preventing Grierson from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ride Grierson dominated that second round.
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!

Grierson shoots in but McBasher avoids the takedown attempt easily.

McBasher clinches.
Grierson jumps guard but McBasher stands there with Grierson around his waist. Grierson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

McBasher breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McBasher misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McBasher throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grierson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ride Grierson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McBasher scores with a leg kick.
McBasher misses with a takedown

and Grierson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grierson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! McBasher is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Grierson, into his guard.
McBasher wants to control from the top but Grierson keeps moving.
Grierson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McBasher's guard.

Grierson drops back, looking for a kneebar! McBasher looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. McBasher looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from McBasher!

McBasher stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grierson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

McBasher scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
McBasher passes into side control, despite Grierson's attempt to control the position.
Grierson is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grierson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on McBasher's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Grierson is looking for a sweep. McBasher is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Grierson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Angus McBasher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Grierson looking to hit a scissor sweep but McBasher is one step ahead there.
McBasher wanted to stand there but Grierson had control of the position.

McBasher decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Grierson, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McBasher throws a chopping leg kick but Grierson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Grierson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Grierson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McBasher avoids it really well and circles away.
McBasher gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Grierson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Grierson is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grierson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ride Grierson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Grierson, 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ride Grierson!