PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Granger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and PePe Hapitchou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Granger comes into the arena with Jiu-Jitsu blaring out of the sound system. Hapitchou is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Blackalicious - Sky is falling. PePe Hapitchou will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Granger
vs
Hapitchou

173 cm
20
142 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
146 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Granger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, PePe Hapitchou!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Nard Betker and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Granger misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Hapitchou to counter with a crisp jab.

Granger shoots in and bounces Hapitchou off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Granger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hapitchou swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Granger controlling from the top position.
Hapitchou keeping moving, preventing Granger from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hapitchou controls Granger momentarily but Granger frees himself.
Granger slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hapitchou swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Granger with a poor takedown
and Hapitchou counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Granger fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Granger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Granger with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hapitchou counters with a nice body shot.

Granger shoots in and gets a takedown into Hapitchou's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Granger thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Granger trying to control but Hapitchou is working from the bottom.
Hapitchou trying to keep a closed guard but Granger is proving a slippery customer.

Hapitchou looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Granger seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hapitchou keeping full guard, as Granger tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Granger engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Granger trying to control but Hapitchou is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Granger on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Granger shoots in and drives through. Hapitchou sprawls well.
Hapitchou ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Granger looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Granger tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hapitchou swivels and escapes.
Hapitchou looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Granger uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hapitchou.
Granger will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hapitchou sizes up Granger with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Granger dives in and scores a takedown into Hapitchou's guard.
Granger is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hapitchou not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Granger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hapitchou swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Granger slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Granger trying to control the position but Hapitchou is working away.
Hapitchou wants to control but Granger postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Granger lands a few punches from side control.
Hapitchou is not content to let Granger control the position.
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 John Granger will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A big right from Hapitchou misses.

Granger bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Granger is looking to take a break and control but Hapitchou is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Granger connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hapitchou some visible discomfort.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Granger wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hapitchou keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hapitchou seems a little lost for a moment, as Granger dominates the positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granger trying to control the position but Hapitchou is working away.
John Granger overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hapitchou is trying to control Granger's posture but Granger avoids it.

Granger goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Hapitchou rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Granger's guard! Nice work there by Hapitchou!

Granger had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hapitchou defends it easily.
Hapitchou 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Hapitchou looking to pass the guard.

Granger looking for a guillotine here but Hapitchou defends easily.
Hapitchou wants to control from the top but Granger keeps moving.
Granger manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hapitchou manages to get himself to full guard.

Granger stands and throws Hapitchou's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Granger looking to control but instead Hapitchou has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Hapitchou tries to get to full guard but Granger has control of the leg.
Granger is thwarting Hapitchou's attempts to control the position.
Hapitchou felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Granger moves nicely into side control.
Hapitchou struggling a bit here.
Granger trying to control the action but Hapitchou is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Hapitchou prevents Granger from moving into mount.

That's four 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.
Granger trying to control the action but Hapitchou is working from the bottom.
Hapitchou tries to improve position but can't.

Granger tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hapitchou wants to control but Granger postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Granger dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hapitchou cracks Granger with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Granger gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hapitchou counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Granger shoots in and bounces Hapitchou off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Hapitchou looking to control.
Granger throwing strikes from guard but Hapitchou blocks nicely.
Granger forces his way into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Granger is looking to advance position but Hapitchou won't allow it.
Hapitchou controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hapitchou wants to control but Granger is keeping busy.
Granger passes the guard and advances to mount!
Granger controlling the pace for now.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Granger cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Granger is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hapitchou can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Granger controlling from mount.
Granger wants to take Hapitchou's back here but Hapitchou is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Hapitchou tries to lock up and control but Granger gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Granger wants to control the pace but Hapitchou is squirming around nicely.
Granger with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Granger wants to control but instead Hapitchou manages to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Granger 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.
Hapitchou is not content to let Granger control the position.
Granger with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hapitchou is trying to get back to full guard.
Granger is thwarting Hapitchou's attempts to control the position.
John Granger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
PePe Hapitchou has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Granger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hapitchou lands with a right hand.
Hapitchou connects with a single shot there.
Granger misses with a takedown
and Granger takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
PePe Hapitchou is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hapitchou looks to land a left hand but Granger moved out of range nicely.
Granger fails with a takedown attempt.
Hapitchou swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Granger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hapitchou gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Granger showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Granger, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Granger!
A very excited looking John Granger made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.