PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clifton Owens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Paul Gregory (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Owens
vs
Paul Gregory

163 cm
19
214 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Clifton Owens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jean Paul Gregory!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Trevor Gratis and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Gregory looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Owens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gregory doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Gregory shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Owens defends it nicely.
Gregory moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Owens slaps away a takedown attempt from Gregory, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Owens really is a fat lump.
Owens works Gregory's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregory looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Owens was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Clifton Owens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Paul Gregory.
Owens slaps away a takedown attempt from Gregory, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Owens is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Gregory.
Gregory moves out of range of the body kick.
Owens circles away from the clinch attempt
and Owens counters with a straight right hand.
Owens keeps the fight on the outside.
Owens throws a counter high kick but Gregory was just alert enough to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregory throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Clifton Owens has been cut.
Gregory looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Owens is fending him off so far but Gregory persists. Nope, Owens circles away and we're back to standing.
Owens throws a big counter combination but Gregory scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Owens throws a body shot but no joy.

Gregory closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Owens to the mat! Owens manages to get full guard.
Owens seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gregory wants to get up but he can't break Owens's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Gregory loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Owens pulls Gregory in to control the position.
Gregory must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gregory wants to pass the guard but Owens is keeping the position.
Gregory throws a strike but Owens rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Owens throwing strikes but missing.
Owens stays in close to Gregory's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gregory is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gregory wants to sweep but no luck.
Owens controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Owens decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Owens swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
No luck for Gregory with that takedown attempt.
Gregory looks winded!

Owens shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Owens connects with a nice short shot to Gregory's temple.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Owens takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clifton Owens dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Clifton Owens's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gregory has a takedown stuffed.
Owens keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Gregory shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Owens's guard.

Owens has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gregory can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gregory throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens trying to control the position.
Gregory throwing strikes from guard but Owens blocks nicely.
Gregory is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Gregory gets to his feet. Owens looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gregory with a lazy takedown attempt
and Owens counters with a nice uppercut.
Clifton Owens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Paul Gregory.
Owens leaves Gregory with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gregory misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Owens throws a right hand that Gregory ducks under and follows up with a left that Gregory also avoids with ease.

Owens fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Gregory to the ground. Owens is now in Gregory's guard.
Owens's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Owens distracts Gregory with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Owens stays in close to Gregory's body and controls the position.

Owens stands up from Gregory's guard - Owens perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gregory shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gregory perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gregory seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Owens does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Owens is trying to stand.
Owens works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory slips nicely into half guard.
Gregory wants to control but Owens is keeping him busy.
Owens trying to control from the bottom.
Gregory is trying to control. Owens wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Jean Paul Gregory has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gregory sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Owens defending well though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gregory wants to control but Owens is keeping him busy.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Gregory tightens his grip and picks Owens up, before dumping him to the ground. Owens manages to land in guard.

Owens has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Gregory is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
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 Clifton Owens will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Clifton Owens's cut.
That's time! Owens's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gregory instigates a clinch.

Gregory has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Owens uses from the top position.
Gregory preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Owens is looking to stand up but Gregory won't let him.
Owens postures up.
Owens 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.
Owens has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Owens seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gregory for as long as he can get away with.
Owens's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregory dives in for a single leg takedown but Owens sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Owens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gregory shoots in looking for a takedown. Owens tries to sprawl out of it but Gregory keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Owens manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
An attempted straight right counter from Owens misses the target.
Gregory takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Owens swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Owens shoots in looking for a takedown. Gregory tries to sprawl out of it but Owens keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gregory manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gregory has his takedown stuffed

and Owens counters by moving into the clinch.
Clifton Owens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean Paul Gregory.
Gregory tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gregory works on Owens's body with a couple of short punches.
Gregory throws a knee to the head but misses.
Owens drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gregory gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Owens has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gregory is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Gregory breaks from the clinch.
Clifton Owens is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gregory goes for a double leg but Owens avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Owens continues to drive forward.
Gregory has a takedown stuffed.
Owens is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Gregory misses the shot to the body.
Owens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Owens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Owens misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gregory.
A looping hook to the body misses from Owens. Gregory does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gregory tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Owens counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gregory looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A quick step to the side and Owens tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Owens misses with a few strikes there.
Gregory scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Gregory shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Owens's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gregory trying to control the position from guard on top but Owens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jean Paul Gregory has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clifton Owens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gregory throws a big right hand that misses.

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 Clifton Owens.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Owens, 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Clifton Owens!