PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Gram (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Axl Jean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Gram
vs
Jean

182 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

179 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ryan Gram!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Axl Jean!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Steve Erwin and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gram tries to clinch but Jean is having none of it.
A head kick by Jean misses
and Gram counters with a body kick.
Gram tries to clinch but Jean moves out of range.

Gram rushes Jean and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gram on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gram using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jean has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jean takes a knee to the side of the body.
Gram misses with a knee strike.
Gram with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Jean gets control of Gram's arms and successfully pulls guard. Jean will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Gram avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gram wants to stand but Jean has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Jean tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jean is trying to control the position but Gram postures up.
Gram is looking to stand up but Jean won't let him.
Jean tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jean has control of Gram's left arm, preventing Gram from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Axl Jean was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Jean fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gram wants to clinch but Jean slips to the side
and Jean counters with a big head kick but Gram shrugs it off.
Gram tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jean paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Jean.
Gram misses with a combination

and Jean decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gram's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Jean stops Gram from standing up.
Jean working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Jean gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gram throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jean throws a head kick that misses.
Jean lands a nice hook to Gram's body. Gram takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jean scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Jean tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gram paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jean fails with a takedown attempt.
Jean looks gassed!
Jean swats away the attempt to clinch by Gram.
Jean shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gram pinned against the cage. Gram gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gram moves to clinch but Jean breaks away
and Jean counters with a left and a right that stings Gram.
Gram tries to close the distance and clinch but Jean swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gram tries to clinch there but Jean circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gram tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jean paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gram tries to close the distance and clinch but Jean swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Gram closes the distance and pushes Jean back into the cage.
Gram using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jean has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gram tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jean drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ryan Gram has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Axl Jean.
Gram misses with a knee strike.
Gram misses with a knee to the head.
Gram landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gram misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jean.
Gram misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jean.
Jean tries to break the clinch but Gram is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jean drags the fight down to the ground.

Jean had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gram defends it easily.
Gram wants to get up but he can't break Jean's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Jean controlling Gram's posture.
Gram wants to stand but Jean is controlling his posture from full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jean can do anything to dispel that myth.
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 round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Axl Jean will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gram tries to clinch but Jean is having none of it.
Jean blocks a head kick by Gram.
Gram tries to clinch there but Jean circles away.
Gram tries to clinch up
and Jean counters with a head kick.
Gram tries to clinch up.
Gram tries to clinch but Jean moves away
and Jean counters with a head kick.
Axl Jean seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gram looks to clinch

so Jean counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gram wants to stand but Jean is controlling the position.
Gram keeping moving, preventing Jean from controlling successfully.
Jean stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gram swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gram wants to stand and escape but Jean is having none of it.

Jean stands and steps away. Gram gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gram wants to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Gram. No joy for Jean on that attempt.
Gram moves away from the strike by Jean.
A head kick misses from Gram.
Gram tries to clinch there but Jean circles away.
Gram wants to clinch up but Jean keeps it at a distance.
Jean shoots in and drives through. Gram sprawls well.
Gram tries to clinch up but Jean circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jean is defended easily by Gram.
Ryan Gram has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Axl Jean.
Jean is breathing heavily.
Gram tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Jean manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Gram moves into the clinch.
Gram tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gram lands a knee to the head.
Jean avoiding damage as Gram throws knees to the body.
Jean goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gram prevents it.
Gram unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gram looking to throw knees to the head but Jean is blocking nicely.
Gram tries a knee to the head but Jean blocks it.
Jean tries to circle away but Gram has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gram tries a knee to the head but Jean blocks it.
Gram looking to throw knees to the head but Jean is blocking nicely.
Jean just leaning against Gram, taking a breather.
Gram keeps control of Jean as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gram misses with a knee to the head.

Jean jumps guard and drags Gram to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Gram postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Axl Jean wasn't active enough on the ground.

Gram rushes Jean and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gram tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Jean ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Jean no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Jean is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gram defends well.
Jean bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gram's guard.
Jean landing with the ground and pound.
Axl Jean has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jean engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Jean trying to control but Gram is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Axl Jean showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gram clinches up with Jean and pushes him back against the cage.
Gram with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jean tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gram tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jean wants to take the fight to the mat but Gram manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Jean content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Gram tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jean avoids it.
Gram throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gram looking to throw knees to the head but Jean is blocking nicely.
Gram lands a knee to the head.
Gram using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jean has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Good body shot from Jean.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jean slows down the pace here.

Jean pulls Gram into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gram stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Jean shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gram pinned against the cage. Gram gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ryan Gram has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Axl Jean.
Jean lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ryan Gram seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gram tries to clinch but Jean moves out of range.
Gram tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jean paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gram tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Jean manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gram tries to clinch up.
Gram tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jean shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gram as he avoids it easily.
Gram tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Jean manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jean is looking to clinch.
Jean misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Gram gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gram with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gram tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jean avoids it.
Gram landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gram tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gram lands a knee to the head.
Gram misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jean.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Jean pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gram tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Jean counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jean.
Jean is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gram to keep the fight standing.
Ryan Gram has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gram tries a knee to the head but Jean blocks it.
Gram throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Jean - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Gram tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gram is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Gram using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jean has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jean drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gram pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gram tries to clinch but Jean moves out of range.
Jean circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gram tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Jean manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ryan Gram is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jean has a takedown stuffed.
Gram tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jean paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gram doesn't manage to clinch there - Jean circles away.

Gram gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Jean jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gram walks away with a smile on his face. Jean gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Gram closes the distance and pushes Jean back into the cage.
Gram tries a knee to the head but Jean blocks it.
Gram looking to throw knees to the head but Jean is blocking nicely.

Jean breaks from the clinch.
Jean looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gram tries to clinch but Jean moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gram closes the distance looking to clinch

and Jean moves into the clinch.
Ryan Gram has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Axl Jean is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gram prevents the takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Gram showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Jean has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Axl Jean!