PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John McNamara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Grice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grice is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: GZA - Shadowboxin'. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

McNamara
vs
Grice

180 cm
34
200 lbs
20 - 21 - 1

184 cm
27
195 lbs
8 - 0 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Project Mayhem

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, John McNamara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Gary Grice!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Francis DeMontford and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grice throws a leg kick but McNamara sees it coming and checks it nicely.
McNamara scores with a punch to the head.
Grice blocks a jab.
McNamara scores with a jab to the body.
McNamara misses with a hook.
Grice gets cracked there but stands up to it.
McNamara misses with a body shot

and Grice decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McNamara's guard.
Grice looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Grice wants to control from the top but McNamara keeps moving.
Grice is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grice postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McNamara looking to hit a scissor sweep but Grice is one step ahead there.
Grice tries to free his leg and advance position but McNamara is retaining full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
McNamara swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Donk. McNamara catches Grice right on the button with a cross.
McNamara looks to score with a jab to the body but Grice is just out of range.
Grice misses with a right hand
and McNamara counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McNamara throws a hook but Grice avoids it easily.
Grice is looking to score with low kicks.
McNamara uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Grice has time to react.
McNamara tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Grice was well out of range. Poor timing from McNamara.
McNamara ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grice moves away.
McNamara throws an off balance right hand

and Grice decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McNamara's guard.
Grice sitting in guard here, content to control.
McNamara looking to hit a scissor sweep but Grice is one step ahead there.
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.
Grice wants to pass the guard but McNamara is keeping the position.
Grice postures up and lands a big shot to McNamara's brow.
Grice sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Grice stands and throws McNamara's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Grice wants to control but McNamara is keeping him busy.
The ground and pound from Grice seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McNamara misses with a body shot.
McNamara jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Good leg kick by Grice there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
McNamara misses with a straight left.
McNamara moves out of range as Grice throws a body kick.
McNamara looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
McNamara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McNamara comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
McNamara throws a left and a right that both miss

and Grice counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Grice looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McNamara keeping moving, preventing Grice from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNamara keeping full guard, as Grice tries to pass.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Grice is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Grice takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Grice avoids the body shot from McNamara.
McNamara throws a jab when Grice was well out of range.
McNamara lands with a straight right. Grice didn't see that one coming.
John McNamara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Decent striking displayed by McNamara there.
Grice misses with a leg kick.
Grice throws a front kick aimed at McNamara's knee but McNamara avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grice slips a jab from McNamara.
Grice turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
McNamara takes a swing at Grice's ribcage but misses.
Grice bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McNamara throws a body punch but Grice moves out of range.
Grice uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McNamara.
McNamara throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McNamara misses with a wild body shot.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Grice - that will leave a mark!
Grice looks for the body kick but McNamara saw that one coming.
McNamara's jab looks to have found its range, popping Grice under the eye.
McNamara scores with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNamara throws a predictable looking body shot

and Grice counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grice stalling.
Grice trying to control the action but McNamara is working from the bottom.
Grice is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grice wants to pass the guard but McNamara is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gary Grice will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McNamara moves forwards but Grice connects with a nice, crisp jab.
McNamara throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Grice sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McNamara looks to score with a jab to the body but Grice is just out of range.
John McNamara is winning the standup battle so far.
McNamara looks to throw the jab but Grice is out of range.
McNamara misses with a lunging right hand

so Grice counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Grice wants to pass the guard but McNamara is keeping the position.
Grice content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNamara working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Grice.
McNamara is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Grice looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Grice loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Grice drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
McNamara misses with a looping left.
Decent striking displayed by Grice there.
McNamara connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
McNamara throws a jab when Grice was well out of range.
McNamara throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Grice counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for McNamara!
Grice wants to control but McNamara is keeping him busy.
Grice tries to score with some ground and pound. McNamara controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grice is looking to take a break and control but McNamara is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A lull in the action here as Grice stalls from top position.

Grice tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
McNamara tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
McNamara gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grice not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Grice is keen to just control but McNamara is a slippery customer.
McNamara blocking the ground and pound attempt from Grice.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Grice prevents McNamara from improving his position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
John McNamara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gary Grice is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McNamara loads up on a big right hand but Grice slips the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gary Grice comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Grice winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Gary Grice!
In his post fight interview, Gary Grice started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.