PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gerry Mcconnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JJ Grams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Grams's choice of entrance music: Worlds Apart. JJ Grams will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Mcconnell
vs
Grams

153 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 4 - 1

192 cm
18
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Gerry Mcconnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, JJ Grams!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Grams shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Grams showed some decent athleticism there.

Mcconnell kicks Grams off and gets back to his feet.

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

Mcconnell is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mcconnell gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Grams regains guard.

Grams pushes Mcconnell off and gets back to his feet.

Mcconnell scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mcconnell tries to score with some ground and pound. Grams controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Mcconnell could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Grams avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Mcconnell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grams manages to get back to half guard.
Grams is trying to maintain the position but Mcconnell is very close to passing his half guard.
Grams tries to get to full guard but Mcconnell has control of the leg.
Mcconnell working Grams over with strikes.
Grams wants to improve his position but Mcconnell is controlling well.
Grams avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mcconnell.
Grams is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mcconnell's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mcconnell's back!
Mcconnell is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Mcconnell rolls, trying to escape but Grams keeps control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mcconnell is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Grams off. It looks like it's working - Grams slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Mcconnell displaying calm under pressure there.
Grams looks winded!
Grams lands with a slapping head kick.

Mcconnell closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Grams did well to prevent Mcconnell getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mcconnell seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Mcconnell throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are battling for position here. Grams manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Grams being controlled here, momentarily.
Grams working a defensive guard here.
Mcconnell trying to control but Grams is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcconnell with a flurry of punches that miss.

Grams looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mcconnell prevents Grams from getting back to his feet.
Mcconnell landing some decent shots from guard.
Mcconnell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mcconnell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mcconnell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mcconnell is in close to Grams's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mcconnell has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mcconnell is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mcconnell wants to control from the top but Grams keeps moving.

Grams is working an open guard so Mcconnell takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mcconnell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mcconnell with a hook.
Grams looks to clinch
and Mcconnell counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Grams looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mcconnell!
Mcconnell can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerry Mcconnell dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Grams shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mcconnell manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Grams showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Mcconnell is working an open guard so Grams takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Grams drives through with a takedown into guard.

Mcconnell manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Grams successfully pulls guard.
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!
Grams not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mcconnell trying to control but Grams is working from the bottom.
Mcconnell passes Grams's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcconnell working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Mcconnell takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mcconnell trying to control from half guard but Grams is working away.
Mcconnell drops an elbow to the side of Grams's head.
Mcconnell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Grams defending well though.
Grams is staying active underneath Mcconnell, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mcconnell throwing shots but Grams is blocking nicely.
Mcconnell is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcconnell is thwarting Grams's attempts to control the position.

Mcconnell stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Mcconnell throws a head kick that half lands.
Mcconnell fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Grams wants to clinch up but Mcconnell keeps it at a distance.
Grams fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Grams looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Grams avoids a kick to the body.
Grams wants to counter with a clinch but Mcconnell pushes him away.
A head kick misses from Grams.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grams looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Mcconnell kicks Grams off and gets back to his feet.

Grams scores with a takedown into Mcconnell's guard.

Mcconnell pushes Grams off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mcconnell looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Grams is fending him off so far but Mcconnell persists. Nope, Grams circles away and we're back to standing.

Grams shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Grams was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Grams is chipping away with strikes.

Mcconnell bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Mcconnell looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Grams is fending him off so far but Mcconnell persists. Nope, Grams circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerry Mcconnell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grams stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Grams wants it to stay on the feet.
Grams bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Mcconnell shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Grams napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Mcconnell working away.
Mcconnell scores with a couple of short elbows.
Grams is looking for a sweep.
Mcconnell misses with the ground and pound.
Grams is trying to control Mcconnell's posture but Mcconnell avoids it.
Grams tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerry Mcconnell dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Grams gets a takedown into half guard.
Mcconnell misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Mcconnell is trying to stand.
Mcconnell is not content to let Grams control the position.
Mcconnell is trying to stand back up but Grams is controlling him
Grams is trying to control. Mcconnell wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mcconnell moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mcconnell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grams trying to control but Mcconnell is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Grams prevents Mcconnell from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grams trying to control but Mcconnell is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Grams looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Mcconnell pushes Grams off and gets back to his feet.

Mcconnell shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Grams is trying to defend but Mcconnell finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Grams has hold of Mcconnell's hands but Mcconnell slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Grams has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Mcconnell is on him like a limpet, forcing Grams back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mcconnell turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Mcconnell manages to end up in side control.
Grams is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Grams's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Grams is looking for a sweep.

Mcconnell decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Mcconnell closes the distance and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Grams's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Mcconnell has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Grams clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcconnell missing with strikes from the back.
Grams trying to get back to his feet but Mcconnell is in full control for now.

Mcconnell has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Grams has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Mcconnell looking for the choke from the back.
Mcconnell has the hooks in. Grams is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Grams trying to control but not successfully.
Mcconnell is landing with strikes from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcconnell scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Mcconnell cracks Grams with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Grams from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Mcconnell is looking to control Grams but Grams is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Mcconnell controlling well, preventing Grams from escaping the position.
Mcconnell doesn't have the hooks in and Grams manages to turn into his guard.
Mcconnell might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Grams trying to control but Mcconnell is working from the bottom.
Mcconnell trying to keep a closed guard but Grams is proving a slippery customer.
JJ Grams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gerry Mcconnell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Grams works over Mcconnell with some ground and pound from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gerry Mcconnell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mcconnell has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gerry Mcconnell!