PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sloat Gresham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sparring Partner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gresham comes to the cage accompanied by Three Days Grace - Animal I Have Become. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gresham
vs
Partner

173 cm
29
145 lbs
16 - 19 - 1

169 cm
30
145 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire
Bloodsport Nutrition

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 19 - 1, fighting out of London, Sloat Gresham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of London, Sparring Partner!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gresham wants to clinch up but Partner keeps it at a distance.
Gresham darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Partner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gresham was well out of range. Poor timing from Partner.
Partner scores with a shot to the body.
Partner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Partner swings for the body but Gresham moves out of range.
Partner misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Gresham to counter with a crisp jab.
Partner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gresham moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Partner shoots in and drives through. Gresham sprawls well.
Partner shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gresham eats them both and turns towards Partner to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Gresham takes the fight into the clinch.
Gresham lands an elbow just above Partner 's eye.

It looks like Sparring Partner has been cut.
Gresham tries a body shot but Partner blocks it.
Gresham has Partner pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Partner manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gresham wants to take the fight to the mat but Partner manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gresham using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gresham is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Partner is defending well for now.
Gresham looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sloat Gresham. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gresham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A right-left combo lands from Partner.
Partner looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Partner closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gresham circles away.
Gresham misses with an uppercut.
Gresham scores with a jab. Partner acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Gresham tries to clinch up.
Gresham throws a good cross that connects.
Gresham takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gresham darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Partner swings for the body but Gresham moves out of range.
Gresham fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Partner has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gresham blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gresham tries to clinch up.
Gresham wants to clinch.
Partner moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Partner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gresham.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Partner lands a nice looking body shot.

Partner closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Partner working the ground and pound.

Partner tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gresham is pushing Partner's head away, looking to escape. Partner manages to hold on to the position though.
Partner controlling the position.
Gresham is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Partner politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Partner prefers to stall for the moment though.
Partner looks up at the clock and then as Gresham takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Partner smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
You can see the frustration on Gresham's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gresham is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Partner has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Gresham is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gresham is trying to stand back up but Partner is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Partner looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gresham with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Partner looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Partner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Partner is trying to control the action in half guard but Gresham is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Partner working the head and body with strikes.
Partner passes to full mount!
Partner breaks from Gresham's wrist control and lands an elbow.

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!
Partner landing strikes from the mount.
Gresham is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
A nice elbow there by Partner.
Partner lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gresham is in all sorts of trouble here.
Partner lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Partner controlling from the full mount.
Gresham is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sparring Partner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sparring Partner's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Partner connects with a crisp jab.
Partner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Partner looks to land a combination but Gresham avoids it well.
Partner will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Partner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Partner works Gresham's body with a nice hook.
Partner is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gresham rather than just go for the knockout.
Partner dives in and grabs Gresham's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gresham pushes down on Partner's head and hops out.
Gresham stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gresham wants it to stay on the feet.
Sloat Gresham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sparring Partner.
Partner misses with a takedown attempt - Gresham sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gresham misses the shot to the body.
Gresham throws a right and a left that Partner avoids nicely.
Partner misses the body punch
and Gresham counters with a left to the body.
Partner throws out a loose jab but Gresham uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gresham scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Partner connects with a body shot that sends Gresham's belly button to the back.
Partner fails with the takedown.
Gresham bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Partner's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gresham with a nice cross.
Partner shoots in for a double leg but Gresham sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gresham stalks Partner and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Partner's face. Partner staggers backwards, shaken.
Gresham delivers a nice body kick.
Gresham keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Gresham gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Partner to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Partner is breathing heavily.

Gresham had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Partner defends it easily.
Partner trying to control but Gresham is working from the bottom.
Partner is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Partner prevents Gresham from getting back to his feet.
Gresham is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Gresham is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Partner wants to pass the guard but Gresham is keeping the position.
Partner wants to control from the top but Gresham keeps moving.

Gresham had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Partner defends it easily.
Partner prevents Gresham from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Partner wants to control from the top but Gresham keeps moving.
Partner might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gresham kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Gresham is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Partner thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gresham wants to stand up but Partner is controlling him.
Gresham keeping moving, preventing Partner from controlling successfully.
Partner stops Gresham from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gresham is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Partner is aware though and is defending well.
Partner trying to control the position from guard on top but Gresham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Partner not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sparring Partner was stalling too much, according to the referee.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Partner.
Partner misses with a wild body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Partner. Gresham does a little dance to reset his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gresham doesn't manage to clinch there - Partner circles away.
Partner tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gresham sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Partner somewhat.
A punch combination from Partner misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sparring Partner will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sparring Partner's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gresham throws a series of punches but Partner moves out of range.
Partner lands a slapping body shot.
Gresham moves out of range as Partner strikes.
Gresham tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Partner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Partner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gresham manages to avoid it.
Partner keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gresham has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gresham there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gresham lands with a slapping head kick.
Gresham shoots in but Partner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Partner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gresham manages to avoid it.
Partner ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gresham moves away.
Partner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Partner throws a series of punches but Gresham moves out of range.
Gresham fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Partner on the side of the head.
Partner shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gresham as he avoids it easily.
Gresham throws a nice looking combination but Partner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Partner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Partner ducks under a wild hook from Gresham.
Partner fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gresham looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gresham cracks Partner with a right hand to the side of the head.

Gresham fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Partner to the ground. Gresham is now in Partner's guard.
Partner is pulling down on Gresham's head. It's preventing any offense from Gresham, at least for the moment.
Partner 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.
Partner managing to control the position.
Gresham wants to control from the top but Partner keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Partner has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gresham can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gresham would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Gresham pushing down on Partner's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Partner is staying active underneath Gresham, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Partner tries to get to full guard but Gresham has control of the leg.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Partner has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gresham is working away from the top position though.
Partner is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gresham wants to get back to his feet.

Gresham escapes and gets back to his feet.
Gresham misses with a wild combination.
Partner throws a right hand that Gresham ducks under and follows up with a left that Gresham also avoids with ease.
Partner looks to score with a jab to the body but Gresham is just out of range.
Partner scores with a three punch combo!
Nice takedown defense from Partner. No joy for Gresham on that attempt.
Gresham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Partner shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gresham napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Partner is looking to take a break and control but Gresham is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Partner's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Gresham is pushing Partner's head away, looking to escape. Partner manages to hold on to the position though.
Partner is chipping away with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gresham is looking for a sweep.
Partner is looking to take a break and control but Gresham is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gresham is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Partner is controlling him well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sparring Partner.
I've got Partner 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 Paul Tew scores the fight for Sparring Partner!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Sparring Partner!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Sparring Partner!

Sparring Partner wins by unanimous decision!