PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Al Grind (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neck Cranka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Neck Cranka will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Grind
vs
Cranka

152 cm
23
130 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

165 cm
22
140 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Acton Nutritional Company

ZSTAR

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Al Grind!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Neck Cranka!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Hugh Johnson and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cranka throws a quick inside leg kick.
Grind shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cranka pinned against the cage. Cranka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Neck Cranka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cranka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Grind manages to avoid it.
Cranka throws a head kick but Grind moves out of range.
Grind throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cranka's waist but Cranka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Grind off to one side.
Cranka throws a leg kick that misses.
A jab from Cranka misses.
Cranka stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Al Grind. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cranka lands a nice leg kick that just misses Grind's sensitive parts.
Cranka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Grind looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cranka is fending him off so far but Grind persists. Nope, Cranka circles away and we're back to standing.
Cranka fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Grind checks it well.
Cranka throws a head kick that Grind semi-blocks.
Cranka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Grind misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Grind avoids the body shot from Cranka.
Cranka throws a leg kick but Grind sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Cranka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grind moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grind keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cranka.
Cranka misses with an attempted mid kick.
Cranka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck for Grind with that takedown attempt.

Cranka looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Grind looking for a guillotine here but Cranka defends easily.

Grind is working an open guard so Cranka takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Cranka moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Cranka.
Grind could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Grind is breathing heavily.
Cranka throws a head kick but Grind moves out of range.
Cranka throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cranka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cranka chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cranka misses with a head kick.
Cranka throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Cranka throws a head kick but Grind moves out of range.

Cranka changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Grind looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Cranka in side control lands a decent elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grind is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Cranka cracks Grind with a big elbow.
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!
Cranka working the head and body with strikes.
Cranka working the ground and pound.
Grind tries to buck Cranka off but Cranka is having none of it.
Cranka connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Grind some visible discomfort.
Cranka cracks Grind with a big right hand but Grind just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Cranka creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Cranka scores with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cranka has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Grind is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Cranka yanks on the arm and Grind is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Cranka.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Neck Cranka!
Neck Cranka is the new bantamweight champion!