PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Max Grace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taj Mahal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grace comes to the cage accompanied by Doggystyle - Snoop Dogg. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Grace
vs
Mahal

182 cm
31
275 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

198 cm
28
238 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
Canadian Fighter Clothing

1337 ANZAC

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Max Grace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taj Mahal!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Grace scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mahal is trying to control but can't.
Grace knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mahal on the ground.
Mahal wants to improve his position but Grace is controlling well.
Mahal moves into full guard.
Mahal controls Grace momentarily but Grace frees himself.
Grace is fighting to break Mahal's control of his arms but Mahal is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Mahal looking for a sweep. Not yet Mahal, not yet.
Grace trying to control but Mahal is working from the bottom.
Grace postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Grace trying to control but Mahal is working from the bottom.

Max Grace has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Grace thows a body shot but no joy.

Grace feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grace would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grace trying to control the position from guard on top but Mahal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mahal working a defensive guard here.
Grace trying to control but Mahal is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Grace slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Max Grace.
Mahal looks to land a right hand but Grace moved out of range.
Grace scores with a decent looking hook.

Grace closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Grace lands in his opponent's guard.

Mahal is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Grace is aware though and is defending well.
Grace controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahal is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Grace avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grace looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Mahal is working an open guard so Grace takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mahal takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Grace is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mahal's half guard.
Grace wants to stand up but Mahal is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahal is pressing down on Grace's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Mahal working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Grace doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Grace manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mahal has a closed guard, preventing Grace from standing up.
Grace with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grace trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Grace postures up in Mahal's guard and throws a big left but Mahal blocks it.
Grace with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mahal is trying to keep Grace in close.
Grace throwing strikes but missing.
Grace is working Mahal over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grace decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mahal, up you get!
Mahal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grace connects with a good right hand that stumbles Mahal. Mahal circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Grace dodges the punch combination from Mahal.
Grace throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Mahal stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Left hook, right uppercut from Grace.
Mahal tries to clinch but Grace is having none of it.
Grace throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Grace dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mahal swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Grace digs a good hook to Mahal's body.
Mahal looks gassed!
Mahal misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mahal has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Grace finds it's way round the side to connect with Mahal's head.
Mahal throws a head kick but Grace moves out of range.

Grace shoots in and gets a takedown into Mahal's guard.

Mahal escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Grace gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Grace scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mahal doesn't seem bothered though.
Grace cracks a nice hook into Mahal's ribs.
Mahal looks for the body kick but Grace saw that one coming.
Taj Mahal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Grace drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grace with a nice head shot there.
Mahal is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mahal keeping moving, preventing Grace from controlling successfully.
Grace lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mahal keeping moving, preventing Grace from controlling successfully.
Grace controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grace looking to pass the guard.
Mahal controls Grace momentarily but Grace frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grace postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Grace might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Grace 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.

Mahal looking for a guillotine here but Grace defends easily.
Grace trying to control the position from guard on top but Mahal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grace sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Max Grace.
Mahal buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Grace shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mahal being controlled here, momentarily.
Grace seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mahal for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grace trying to control the position from guard on top but Mahal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Max Grace has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Grace punishes Mahal's body with a nice straight punch.
A head kick misses from Mahal.
Grace throws a right and a left that both miss.
That kick from Mahal tenderised Grace's leg. Grace is trying to keep his angry face on.
Grace misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahal looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A jab lands there for Grace.
Mahal throws a head kick that misses.
Grace jabs Mahal to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Grace on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mahal. Mahal obviously looking to wear him down.
Mahal takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Grace misses with a body shot.
Max Grace is winning the standup battle so far.
Grace lands a nice hook to Mahal's body. Mahal takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Grace throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Grace drives through with a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grace would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mahal keeping full guard, as Grace tries to pass.
Grace wants to control from the top but Mahal keeps moving.
Mahal looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grace looking to sit in guard and control but Mahal gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mahal sitting in guard here, content to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Grace lands with an uppercut that bounces Mahal off the cage and back into range.
Grace misses with a double jab.
Grace lands a nice looking body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Grace throws a series of punches but Mahal avoids them all with ease.

Grace decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mahal is looking to escape.
Mahal is breathing heavily.

Mahal looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Grace dominated that second round.
That's time! Grace's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Grace scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
You can see the frustration on Mahal's face as Grace controls the position.
Mahal is trying to control Grace's posture but Grace avoids it.
Grace looks up at the clock and then as Mahal takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Grace smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Grace working the body and head with strikes.
Grace taking a breather here.
Mahal manages to get back to half guard.
Mahal is looking to control Grace's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mahal avoid being mounted?
Grace wants to free his trapped foot but Mahal is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grace tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Mahal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grace slips a nice elbow through Mahal's hands, connecting with Mahal's forehead.

Mahal manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Mahal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mahal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mahal takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Grace jabs Mahal to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Grace is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mahal can do to turn this around?
Mahal displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Grace on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Grace drives through with a takedown into Mahal's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Grace loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grace chips away with some ground and pound.
Grace slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Grace in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Taj Mahal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grace tries to advance to mount but can't.
Grace landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Mahal wants to control but Grace postures up.
Grace connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Mahal some visible discomfort.
Grace controls the position.
Mahal is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Grace looks up at the clock and then as Mahal takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Grace smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Mahal taking punishment in the form of punches.

Mahal is rocked!
Mahal prevents Grace from improving position.
Mahal is still in real trouble! Can Grace finish him?

Grace stands up and beckons Mahal to his feet.
Grace scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grace scores with a jab.

Grace lands a big right hand that sends Mahal crashing to the mat! Grace stays standing though and waves Mahal back to his feet!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grace with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Grace dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Grace closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mahal to the mat! Mahal manages to get full guard.
Grace pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mahal is keeping the position for now.
Grace scoring with some ground and pound.
Grace scoring with punches to the head and body.
Grace is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Grace wants to pass the guard but Mahal is keeping the position.

Grace stands and steps away. Mahal gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Grace shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mahal is trying to defend but Grace finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Grace lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grace decides to stand up.
Grace lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Mahal misses with a series of wild punches.
Grace lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mahal at a distance.
Mahal seems to have recovered his senses.
Grace swinging wildly here.
Mahal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Max Grace seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mahal takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mahal swings for the body but Grace moves out of range.

Grace gets a double leg takedown into Mahal's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Grace looking to pass the guard.

Mahal is looking to sinch up a triangle. Grace throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Mahal's body to avoid the submission. Mahal has instead reached around Grace's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Mahal arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Taj Mahal!
Taj Mahal really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that 1337 ANZAC logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.