PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Gregory (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Cox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Gregory
vs
Cox

166 cm
20
145 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

167 cm
20
146 lbs
6 - 0 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Gregory!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Steve Cox!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cox closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gregory to the mat! Gregory manages to get full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Gregory keeping full guard, as Cox tries to pass.
Cox with a nice head shot there.
Cox trying to control but Gregory is working from the bottom.

Gregory working for a triangle but Cox defends it easily.
Gregory looking to control.
We've been hearing good reports from Gregory's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Gregory is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cox defends well.
Cox throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gregory works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cox trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Gregory manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gregory preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregory trying to control the position from guard on top but Cox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cox wants to control but Gregory passes easily into half guard.
Cox won't allow Gregory to pass to mount.

Gregory is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cox is just riding it out for now. Gregory eventually gives up the hold.
Gregory tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cox knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cox tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Gregory has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cox wants to hold on but Gregory pushes him away.
Cox is looking to get to half guard.

Gregory moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Cox has worked his arm free - good work by Cox!

Gregory is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cox has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gregory misses with the ground and pound.
Cox can't do much from the bottom here.
Gregory is looking to take a break and control but Cox is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gregory tries for a kimura but Cox is defending well.
Cox tries to improve position but can't.
Gregory throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Cox can't do much from the bottom here.
Cox tries to buck Gregory off but Gregory is having none of it.

Gregory goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Cox has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gregory but great work by Cox.
Cox working the ground and pound from side control.
Gregory manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Cox wants to sweep but Gregory has passed to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gregory tries for a kimura but Cox is defending well.

Gregory tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gregory has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gregory tries to advance to mount but Cox denies him.
Sloppy strikes there by Gregory.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gregory misses with the ground and pound.
Cox wants to control but Gregory postures up.
Gregory in side control, throwing shots but Cox defends.
You can see the frustration on Cox's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joe Gregory will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gregory's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gregory misses the shot to the body.
Gregory keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cox misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gregory.
Cox swings for the body but Gregory moves out of range.
Gregory keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gregory ducks under a wild hook from Cox.
Gregory throws an overhand right that lands on Cox's shoulder, as Cox tries to avoid the shot.
A big right from Cox misses.
A combination from Cox does no damage.

Cox drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Gregory working for a triangle but Cox defends it easily.
Gregory keeping full guard, as Cox tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregory controls Cox momentarily but Cox frees himself.
Cox is stalling in the full guard.
Cox must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cox throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gregory works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cox throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cox content to stall in guard here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gregory is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Cox avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gregory.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregory passes to full mount!
Cox tries to lock up and control but Gregory gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gregory tries to control but Cox wriggling away.
Gregory throws a sloppy strike and Cox uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Cox has ended up in Gregory's guard.
Gregory controls Cox momentarily but Cox frees himself.
Gregory looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cox is one step ahead there.
Gregory is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox wants to control from the top but Gregory keeps moving.
Gregory is controlling Cox's posture.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Steve Cox wasn't active enough on the ground.
Cox swings for the body but Gregory moves out of range.
Gregory slaps away a takedown attempt from Cox, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Cox scores with a takedown into Gregory's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cox's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory wants to sweep here but Cox controlling him for the moment.
Cox stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gregory swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gregory keeping moving, preventing Cox from controlling successfully.

Gregory working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cox doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cox manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Joe Gregory overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cox throws a big right hand that misses.
Gregory is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cox trying to control but Gregory is working from the bottom.

Gregory is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cox defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steve Cox will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gregory throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gregory displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cox throws out the jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Cox misses the target.
Cox jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gregory ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cox scores with a jab. Gregory acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Gregory swings for the body but Cox moves out of range.
Cox throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gregory just misses with a punch to the body.
Gregory throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cox dives in and grabs Gregory's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gregory pushes down on Cox's head and hops out.
Gregory misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cox.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox fails with the takedown.
Cox throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gregory sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cox misses the shot to the body.

Cox manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gregory on his heels. He'll look to pass Gregory's guard now, I'm sure.

Gregory escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cox gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gregory avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cox wants to pass the guard but Gregory is keeping the position.
Cox 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.
Gregory looking for a sweep. Not yet Gregory, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cox wants to control from the top but Gregory keeps moving.
Cox content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Gregory looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gregory is on top in guard.
Cox has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Cox has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gregory can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gregory wants to pass the guard but Cox is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cox had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gregory defends it easily.
Gregory trying to control but Cox is working from the bottom.
Gregory controlling from the top position.

Cox is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gregory defends well.
Gregory stays in close to Cox's body and controls the position.
Our spies down at at SAVATE DE RUE du Quebec inform us that Cox has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cox working a defensive guard here.
Gregory prevents Cox from getting back to his feet.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Cox utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gregory is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gregory slips nicely into half guard.
Cox pushes Gregory off looking to stand but Gregory dives back in and keeps control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cox wants to control but Gregory is keeping busy.

Gregory is working for a submission of some sort.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Steve Cox.
I think Cox 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Steve Cox!
Steve Cox is the new bantamweight champion!
Our winner, Steve Cox, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.