PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Carl Gregson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Rizal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gregson's entrance music is Let The Bodies Hit The Floor by Drowning Pool . A fine choice. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Gregson
vs
Rizal

174 cm
29
147 lbs
6 - 12 - 0

175 cm
27
145 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Carl Gregson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jose Rizal!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gregson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rizal wants to get back to full guard.
Gregson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gregson throws a strike but Rizal avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rizal working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gregson throwing strikes but missing.
Gregson stops Rizal from standing up.
Gregson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Rizal looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gregson trying to control but Rizal is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gregson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rizal shoots in looking for a takedown. Gregson tries to sprawl out of it but Rizal keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gregson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rizal misses with a takedown attempt - Gregson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gregson is looking to clinch.

Rizal rushes Gregson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Rizal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gregson misses with a takedown
and Rizal counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gregson is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rizal.
Carl Gregson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Rizal.
Rizal fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gregson fails with the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rizal.
Gregson misses with a combination

and Rizal counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gregson!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gregson looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Gregson tries to escape but Rizal has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rizal has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Gregson wants to escape the position.
Rizal looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

Rizal tightening his grip on Gregson, looking for the choke.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rizal is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Gregson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Gregson for a finish.

Rizal looking for the choke but no joy.
Gregson prevents Rizal from getting a body triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rizal throwing strikes here but Gregson is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Gregson tries to lock up and control but Rizal gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rizal controlling from mount.
Rizal trying to control but he's not successful this time.
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.

Jose Rizal dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rizal fails with a takedown attempt.
Carl Gregson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gregson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rizal counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gregson is refusing to be controlled, as Rizal sits in half guard.
Gregson is looking for a sweep. Rizal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gregson is refusing to be controlled, as Rizal sits in half guard.

Rizal is trying to work for a kimura but Gregson is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gregson won't allow Rizal to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizal missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Gregson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rizal pulls his head out easily.

Rizal wants to work for an arm triangle but Gregson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rizal throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jose Rizal has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rizal tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Gregson.
Rizal content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Gregson tries to roll over but Rizal keeps him under control.

Rizal is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gregson is just riding it out for now. Rizal eventually gives up the hold.
Gregson is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregson is pressing down on Rizal's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rizal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gregson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rizal trying to control the position from guard on top but Gregson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rizal is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Gregson wants to sweep but no luck.
Rizal advances position into side control!
Rizal scores with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizal tries to score with some ground and pound. Gregson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Gregson is trying to get back to half guard.

Rizal thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rizal controlling the position from side mount.
Gregson is looking for a sweep.
Rizal works to advance to full mount. Gregson defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Rizal is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Gregson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Gregson shrugs it off.

Rizal is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gregson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregson tries to lock up and control but Rizal gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rizal looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Gregson is working to get back to half guard.
Gregson is squirming around, avoiding Rizal's attempts to control the action.
Rizal throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Gregson because Rizal loaded up on that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gregson is squirming around, avoiding Rizal's attempts to control the action.

Rizal is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Gregson has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gregson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Rizal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rizal throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gregson's waist but Gregson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rizal off to one side.

Rizal rushes Gregson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rizal has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gregson uses from the top position.
Gregson wants to stand but Rizal has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Rizal looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Rizal working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gregson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gregson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rizal is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizal trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Gregson trying to control but Rizal is working from the bottom.
Gregson wants to stand but Rizal is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gregson trying to control but Rizal is working from the bottom.
Rizal bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gregson's guard.

Gregson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rizal doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rizal manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gregson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizal throwing strikes from guard but Gregson blocks nicely.

Rizal drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rizal jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rizal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Gregson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rizal wants to get up but he can't break Gregson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rizal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gregson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rizal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Gregson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rizal passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizal moves into full mount!
Rizal looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rizal cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Gregson tries to reverse the position but Rizal maintains control.

Rizal wants to finish this one by submission but Gregson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rizal.
Rizal tries to control but Gregson wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregson is bucking up trying to escape but Rizal cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Gregson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Rizal moves to the back.

Rizal is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Gregson is defending well though. Rizal let's go of the attempt for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gregson trying to control the position but Rizal manages to sink in the hooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gregson showing good submission defense here.

Gregson showing good submission defense here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No luck for Gregson with that takedown attempt.
Rizal scores with a head kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gregson.
Rizal shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gregson as he avoids it easily.
Gregson closes the distance and clinches up with Rizal, looking for a takedown. Gregson pushes Rizal against the cage but Rizal circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carl Gregson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gregson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rizal has a takedown stuffed.
Gregson shoots in and drives through. Rizal sprawls well.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rizal moves into the clinch.

Rizal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rizal swats away the attempt to clinch by Gregson.
Rizal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gregson swivels and escapes.

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

Rizal in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Gregson tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Rizal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jose Rizal!