PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Manus Grant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyrion Lannister (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grant's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Thunderstruck - AC/DC. Lannister has chosen Justin by Korn as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Grant
vs
Lannister

170 cm
37
140 lbs
23 - 16 - 0

166 cm
37
135 lbs
27 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manus Grant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyrion Lannister!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Chad Campbell and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Lannister or perhaps it was just good defense by Grant, which made it look bad.
We've been informed that Lannister has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Lannister gets a takedown into half guard.
Grant trying to control but Lannister postures up.
Lannister thows a huge punch but Grant dodges it nicely.
Grant makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Grant.
Lannister wants to pass the guard but Grant is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lannister won't allow Grant to sweep him here.
Lannister prevents Grant from getting back to his feet.
Lannister is looking to work some ground and pound but Grant has wrist control.
Grant manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lannister manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant trying to control the position from guard on top but Lannister is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grant content to stall in guard here.
Grant wants to control from the top but Lannister keeps moving.
Grant pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lannister is keeping the position for now.
Lannister wants to sweep but no luck.
Lannister is pulling down on Grant's head. It's preventing any offense from Grant, at least for the moment.

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.
Grant stays in close to Lannister's body and controls the position.
Lannister lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Grant trying to keep a closed guard but Lannister is proving a slippery customer.
Grant looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Grant wants to stand but Lannister is controlling the position.
Grant controls Lannister momentarily but Lannister frees himself.
Lannister working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Grant's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grant is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lannister wants to improve his position but Grant is controlling well.
Grant performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Lannister trying to control but Grant postures up.
Well, if Grant 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.
It looks like Grant is going to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grant is thwarting Lannister's attempts to control the position.
Grant stalling away here and it's allowed Lannister to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Grant wants to control from the top but Lannister keeps moving.
Grant stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lannister swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Grant missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grant wants to pass the guard but Lannister is keeping 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 Manus Grant will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A swing and a miss from Grant.
Grant tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lannister was well out of range. Poor timing from Grant.
Lannister takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Grant throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lannister shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Grant sprawls well. Grant wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lannister gets slowly back to his feet.
Grant scores with a crisp jab that stopped Lannister in his tracks.
Lannister throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Grant on the side of the head.
Grant tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Grant misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lannister drives through with a takedown into Grant's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Lannister throwing strikes from guard but Grant blocks nicely.
Grant lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grant is looking to stand up but Lannister won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lannister is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Grant postures up.
Lannister is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Grant passes Lannister's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Lannister wants to get back to full guard.
Grant is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grant trying to pass the guard but Lannister defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lannister wants to control but Grant is keeping busy.
Lannister keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Grant tries to pass the half guard into mount. Lannister knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lannister tries to get to full guard but Grant has control of the leg.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Grant is looking for a kimura but Lannister is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Grant to get the leverage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lannister shoots in but no luck this time.
Lannister throws a leg kick but Grant sees it coming and moves out of range.
Lannister looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Grant swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lannister tries to clinch but Grant is having none of it.
Nice defenses there by Grant.
Grant is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lannister can do to turn this around?
Grant throws a head kick that Lannister semi-blocks.
Grant throws a head kick that misses
letting Lannister counter with a right hand.
Grant throws a leg kick
and Lannister cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lannister thumps Grant with a low kick.

Lannister closes the distance and clinches.

Lannister breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lannister throws a right and a left that Grant avoids nicely.
Lannister lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lannister will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grant stuns Lannister with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Grant cracks the inside of Lannister's front leg.
Grant swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Lannister to counter with a crisp jab.
A cross from Lannister lands.
Tyrion Lannister is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Grant throws a head kick but Lannister moves out of range.
Grant is looking to wear down Lannister with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Grant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lannister manages to avoid it.
Lannister doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
No joy there for Lannister, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Grant lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lannister at a distance.
Grant takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Grant avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lannister looks to throw a body kick
and Grant connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Grant lands with a slapping head kick.
Grant tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lannister was well out of range. Poor timing from Grant.
Lannister uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Grant.
Grant misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Manus Grant will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lannister closes the distance looking to clinch
and Grant counters with a series of strikes. Lannister will be more careful next time no doubt.
Lannister shoots in for a double leg but Grant sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Manus Grant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grant throws a poor cross that misses
and Lannister counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Grant swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lannister takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Lannister is looking to clinch.
Grant throws a body punch but Lannister moves out of range.
Lannister moves into range and connects with a jab.
Grant throws a head kick but Lannister moves out of range.
Grant throws a body punch but Lannister moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lannister tries to clinch up.
Lannister scoring well with a low kick there.
Grant misses with a body kick.
Lannister lands a head kick. Grant smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lannister tries to clinch but Grant moves out of range.
Grant is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lannister.
Lannister moves in looking to clinch but Grant pushes him off.
Grant misses with a wild combination.
Lannister throws a nice outside leg kick.
Grant misses with a body shot.
Lannister is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Lannister gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lannister managing to block the knees to the body from Grant.

Grant escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Grant fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lannister looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lannister moves in looking to clinch but Grant pushes him off.

Lannister moves into the clinch.
Grant trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant prevents a body shot from Lannister.
Grant taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Grant breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Grant thows a left - swing and a miss!
Manus Grant is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Lannister closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Grant to the mat! Grant manages to get full guard.

Grant manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grant leaning against his opponent.

Grant breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grant looks for the body kick but Lannister saw that one coming.
A punch combination from Lannister misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grant. Lannister does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lannister fails with a takedown attempt.
Lannister lands with a shot to the body.
Lannister fails with a takedown attempt.
Manus Grant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyrion Lannister.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grant circles away from the clinch attempt.
A head kick misses from Grant.
Grant misses with a combination
and Lannister counters with a good low kick that Grant was not able to check.
Grant jabs Lannister to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Grant scores with a shot to the body.
Grant misses with a looping left.
Lannister on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Lannister fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Grant, pushing him back against the cage.

Grant breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lannister throws a series of punches but Grant moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lannister looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick from Grant lands but Lannister takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Lannister checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
As Grant backs off Lannister throws a huge counter combo but Grant manages to avoid it all.
Lannister misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lannister throws out a loose jab but Grant uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tyrion Lannister has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lannister manages to avoid it.
Lannister fails in his attempt to clinch.
Grant pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lannister let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Grant misses with a series of wild punches.
Lannister on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Grant misses with a kick to the body.
Lannister lunges at Grant with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Grant's hand.
Grant takes a swing at Lannister's ribcage but misses.
Grant takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Grant keeps the fight on the outside.

Nice combo by Lannister! Oh, that's hurt him - Grant falls to the canvas and Lannister follows him into side control.

Grant is rocked!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Manus Grant.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Grant, 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manus Grant!
Manus Grant decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.