PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Granger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ole NKone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Granger
vs
NKone

162 cm
24
158 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

177 cm
20
157 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Very confident

Heisenberg

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Granger!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ole NKone!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Felipe Paraventi and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Granger shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and NKone counters with a nice body shot.
Granger shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with NKone but NKone pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Granger scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
NKone tries to improve position but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
NKone regains half guard.
Granger looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
NKone is looking to control Granger's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can NKone avoid being mounted?
NKone wants to improve his position but Granger is controlling well.
Granger sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. NKone defending well though.
Granger wants to free his trapped foot but NKone is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
NKone has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Granger is working away from the top position though.
NKone blocking the ground and pound attempt from Granger.

Granger is looking for a kimura but NKone is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Granger to get the leverage.
NKone is looking to improve his position.
Granger lands with a punch from half guard.
Granger throwing shots but NKone is blocking nicely.
NKone is holding on to half guard well.
Granger thows a huge punch but NKone dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Granger wants to pass to mount but NKone is defending the position.
NKone desperately trying to maintain half guard.
NKone is trying to get back to full guard.
Granger wants to control but NKone is keeping him busy.
NKone regains full guard. Nicely done.
Granger trying to control but NKone is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Granger is really struggling to control NKone but he's trying to hold on to the position.
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!

The ref stands the fighters back up. James Granger wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Granger misses with a takedown attempt
enabling NKone to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Granger. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Granger takes a body punch but keeps moving.
NKone connects with a single shot there.
Granger shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and NKone counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Granger shoots in for a double leg but NKone sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Granger fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Granger with a lazy takedown attempt
and NKone connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Granger looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
NKone scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Granger doesn't seem bothered though.
Granger shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and NKone counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Granger is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
NKone throwing strikes from guard but Granger blocks nicely.
NKone wants to control from the top but Granger keeps moving.
NKone throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Granger works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
NKone slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
NKone advances nicely into full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
NKone trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Granger gets back to half guard.
NKone stalling away here and it's allowed Granger to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

NKone avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Granger is trying to control the position but NKone postures up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Granger wants to sweep here but NKone controlling him for the moment.
Granger manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Granger working for a guillotine from mount but NKone is in no mood to give up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ole NKone will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Granger misses with a takedown attempt
and NKone counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
NKone ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Granger doesn't succeed with the takedown

and NKone counters by moving into the clinch.
NKone lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A left hand lands to the body for NKone.
Granger tries to pull guard but NKone won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Granger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
NKone slows down the pace here.
Granger is looking to break free of the clinch but NKone has double underhooks.

Granger pulls guard effortlessly.
NKone looking to pass the guard.
NKone passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Granger is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Granger is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
NKone is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Granger will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Granger is not content to let NKone control the position.
Granger gets back to half guard.
NKone throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Granger trying to hold on to NKone's head to control him but NKone postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
NKone trying to control the action but Granger is working from the bottom.
Granger is trying to defend against the ground and pound but NKone scores with a couple of nice shots.
NKone trying to control the action but Granger is working from the bottom.
Granger wants to get back to full guard.
NKone is keen to just control but Granger is a slippery customer.
Granger might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Granger trying to hold on to NKone's head to control him but NKone postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Granger with a lazy takedown attempt
and NKone counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

NKone moves into the clinch.

NKone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
NKone keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
NKone takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
NKone ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Granger moves away.
NKone lands a jab to the nose.
NKone smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
NKone feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Grangers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Granger closes this distance looking for a takedown but NKone circles away.
NKone scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
James Granger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Granger takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ole NKone seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd cheers as NKone lands an impressive looking overhand right. Granger doesn't seem phased though.
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!
Granger walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Granger shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Granger showed some decent athleticism there.
NKone gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Granger looking to sit in guard and control but NKone gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Granger looking to hit a scissor sweep but NKone is one step ahead there.
NKone showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ole NKone has got the better of the ground game so far.
NKone looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Granger manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Granger working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ole NKone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

NKone scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
NKone scores with a jab to the body.
Granger gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and NKone connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
NKone throws a good cross that connects.
Granger dodges the punch combination from NKone.
NKone lands a glancing blow to the side of Granger's head.
Granger shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Granger doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Granger takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Granger doesn't succeed with the takedown
and NKone counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Granger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
NKone fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Granger tries for a takedown but NKone circles away easily
letting NKone counter with a right hand.

Granger is rocked!
NKone cracks Granger with an open hand slap.
Oh Granger is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice straight punches there by NKone. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of NKone.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granger on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Granger gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and NKone scores with a counter punch that sends Granger to the canvas! NKone smells blood - he's punishing Granger with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Granger has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:11 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ole NKone!
Ole NKone is the new lightweight champion!
Ole NKone decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
In defeat, James Granger stepped up to the mic, saying 'Congratulations Nkone, your time is now and soon I will be moving down to the featherweight division to fight at my original weightclass.'.