PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Saiquin Raven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Al Grind (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Grind is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Raven
vs
Grind

170 cm
20
141 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

152 cm
23
130 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Acton Nutritional Company

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Saiquin Raven!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Al Grind!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, John Mangel and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grind shoots in looking for a takedown. Raven tries to sprawl out of it but Grind keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Raven manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Raven changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Grind looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Grind is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Raven's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Raven escapes and gets back to his feet.
Grind wants to clinch.

Raven shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Raven slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Grind wants to sweep here but Raven controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grind keeping full guard, as Raven tries to pass.
Grind will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Grind is looking for a triangle but Raven pushes his legs off easily.
Raven slips nicely into half guard.
Raven uses his free foot to push down on Grind's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Grind.
Raven controlling his opponent.
Grind working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grind is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Grind is trying to escape the mount.
Raven controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raven stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Raven shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Raven slips nicely into half guard.
Still in half guard, Raven seems content to control.
Raven's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Raven passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Grind!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grind working to try and regain half guard.
Raven fails to take his opponent's back.
Raven looking to control and managing it successfully.
Grind tries to buck Raven off but he can't manage it.
Grind looks gassed!
Raven looking to control and managing it successfully.
Grind is desperately trying to improve his position but Raven has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saiquin Raven dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Grind tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Raven bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Grind is looking for a sweep.
Raven controls the position.
Grind is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Raven asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Grind tries to buck Raven off but Raven is having none of it.
A lull in the action here as Raven stalls from top position.
Raven has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Saiquin Raven just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Raven blocks a head kick by Grind.
Grind is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grind throws a jab but it's blocked by Raven.

Raven looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Grind being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grind wants to sweep but no luck.
Raven 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.

Grind working for a triangle but Raven defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raven is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Raven will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Saiquin Raven just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Raven drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Raven is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Raven wants to pass the guard but Grind is keeping the position.
Raven 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grind looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Raven is stalling in the full guard.
Raven looking to pass the guard.
Raven slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Grind is looking to stand up but Raven isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saiquin Raven dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Grind shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Raven decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Grind's guard.

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

Raven darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Raven keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Raven seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Grind for as long as he can get away with.
Grind is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raven frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Raven controlling the position easily from mount.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Saiquin Raven just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Raven takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Grind fails with the takedown

and Raven decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Grind's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raven looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Grind had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Raven is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Grind Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Raven's back instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raven rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Raven keeping control of the position.

Grind is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Raven defends it well.
Raven keeping control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Saiquin Raven just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
A big left from Raven misses.

Raven closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Raven lands in his opponent's guard.
Raven 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.
Raven won't allow Grind to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saiquin Raven clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Grind with a lazy takedown attempt

and Raven counters with a nice double leg into side control. Grind won't be happy with that.
Raven in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Grind is looking for a sweep.
Grind sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Raven is taking a breather. Grind says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
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.
Grind is trying to get back to full guard.
Raven is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Grind can do to turn this around?
Raven keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Saiquin Raven just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Grind tries for a takedown but Raven circles away easily

and Raven counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Grind's guard now.
Saiquin Raven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Raven is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Grind is looking for a triangle but Raven pushes his legs off easily.
Raven content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Saiquin Raven just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Grind gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Raven counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Saiquin Raven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Al Grind.
Well, if Raven is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grind wants to get back to full guard.
Raven trying to control the pace.
Raven prevents Grind from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saiquin Raven had his way with Al Grind in that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Raven shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Raven pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Grind is keeping the position for now.
Raven controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Grind looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Raven is defending well. Grind quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Raven has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Grind celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:46 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Al Grind!
Al Grind is the new bantamweight champion!