PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yong Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Gram (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gram is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Jim Johnston . Next Big Thing. Gram has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Alexander Gram has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Yong Bender's chin.

Bender
vs
Gram

213 cm
19
214 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

206 cm
25
255 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yong Bender!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alexander Gram!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paulsen Ambrosius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bender forces Gram back against the cage and clinches.
Gram looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Bender is pushing Gram up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Gram breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bender clinches up against the cage.
Bender has had enough of the clinch but Gram keeps him there for the moment.

Bender gets control of Gram's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bender will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Bender is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gram is aware though and is defending well.
Gram looking to sit in guard and control but Bender gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gram is looking to stand back up but Bender counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Gram.

Bender decides to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender tries to clinch up.
Bender tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bender lands a head kick!

Bender rushes Gram and presses him up against the cage.
Gram has Bender pressed against the cage, preventing Bender from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bender is trying to push Gram away but Gram has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Bender fails to pull guard.
Gram is trying to break free.

Bender manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bender trying to control the position.
Bender looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gram trying to control but Bender is working from the bottom.
Gram not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bender is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bender is trying to keep Gram in close.
Gram postures up in Bender's guard and throws a big left but Bender blocks it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Gram throws an elbow that misses. Bender uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gram's guard. Nice move by Bender!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gram is looking to stand up but Bender isn't so interested in that idea.

Bender stands up from Gram's guard - Bender perhaps looking for a knockout.
Bender tries to clinch up but Gram circles away and keeps his distance.
Bender throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gram.
Bender uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gram.
Gram throws a nice looking combination but Bender bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bender throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bender tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gram swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gram looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gram has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Bender.
Bender tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gram is looking for the big counter here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bender connects with the punch.
Bender tries to clinch but Gram moves out of range.
Bender tries to bum rush Gram with a series of wild strikes but Gram uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Bender darts in and clinches Gram up against the cage.
Bender wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gram has him pressed against the cage.
Bender trying to land knees to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Bender jumps guard but Gram turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Gram manages to break the clinch.
Bender tries to clinch up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gram circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bender fails in his attempt to clinch.

Gram takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yong Bender dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bender explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Bender wants to clinch up but Gram keeps it at a distance.
Yong Bender is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bender fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bender throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gram keeps the fight on the outside.
Bender wants to clinch.
Gram lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bender tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gram manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bender really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gram is breathing heavily.
Bender doesn't manage to clinch there - Gram circles away.
Gram throws out a counter right but Bender avoids it with no problem.
Gram looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bender fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bender tries to close the distance and clinch but Gram swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Gram swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A good leg kick by Bender.
Bender fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bender throws a combination. Gram tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Bender has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gram is trying to push Bender away but Bender has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gram is trying to break the clinch but Bender has him pressed against the cage.
Bender is trying to pull guard but Gram has him pressed against the cage.
Bender tries to break free but Gram pushes him back against the cage.
Bender can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Bender is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gram to keep the fight standing.
Bender tries to pull guard but Gram holds him up against the cage and eventually Bender drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yong Bender. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gram prevents Bender from breaking the clinch.

Gram breaks from the clinch.
Bender tries to clinch but Gram is having none of it.
Bender throws a series of strikes that have Gram backpedaling.
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!
Bender tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gram paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bender tries to clinch there but Gram circles away.
Gram misses with the combination.
Bender tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gram swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gram throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gram keeps the fight on the outside.
Yong Bender is winning the standup battle so far.
Bender tries to clinch up.

Bender gets a clinch.

Bender jumps guard.
Gram tries to free his leg and advance position but Bender is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gram postures up in Bender's guard and throws a big left but Bender blocks it.
Gram throwing strikes from guard but Bender blocks nicely.
Bender utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Gram gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Gram lands a head kick!
Bender fails to land with a series of punches.
Gram throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bender counters with a left and a right that stings Gram.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bender tries to clinch but Gram is having none of it.
Gram connects with a nice looking jab.
Alexander Gram seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bender is looking to clinch.
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 Yong Bender will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gram swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Bender counters by clinching up.
Bender looking for a takedown.
Bender is trying to pull guard but Gram has him pressed against the cage.
Bender is trying to pull guard but Gram has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yong Bender. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bender tries to pull guard but Gram holds him up against the cage and eventually Bender drops back down to his feet.
Gram has Bender pressed against the cage, preventing Bender from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bender has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bender tries to pull guard but Gram holds him up against the cage and eventually Bender drops back down to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gram wants to get back to striking at distance but Bender won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gram walks away with a smile on his face. Bender gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gram throws a chopping leg kick but Bender manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Bender tries to counter by clinching up but Gram breaks away and moves out of range.
Gram misses with a hook
and Bender counters with a one-two to the body.
Gram throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bender counters with a series of strikes. Gram will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gram misses with a series of wild punches.
Bender throws a big counter combination but Gram scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Gram's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Gram duly obliges.
Bender is looking to clinch but Gram is avoiding it.
Bender misses with a few strikes there.
Gram rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bender moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gram swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gram lands a jab to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bender tries to clinch there but Gram circles away.
Gram avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bender throws a right hand that Gram ducks under and follows up with a left that Gram also avoids with ease.
Gram misses with a combination
and Bender counters with a two punch combo.

Gram rushes Bender and presses him up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Gram's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gram tries a body shot but Bender blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gram to keep the fight standing.

Gram breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gram misses with a combination
and Bender counters with a two punch combo.
Gram looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Gram closes the distance and clinches.

Gram breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bender is looking to clinch but Gram is avoiding it.
Gram rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bender moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bender fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bender misses with a double jab
and Gram counters with a good low kick that Bender was not able to check.
Alexander Gram has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gram misses with a double jab.
Gram has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Gram misses with a hook
and Bender counters with a two punch combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice combination there by Gram.
Bender staying out of range there.
Bender throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Gram goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Bender showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gram.
Bender wants to clinch but Gram slips to the side
and Gram counters with a three punch combo that has Bender backing up. Bender nods at Gram to acknowledge the strikes.
Bender is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Despite the aggression on Gram's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Gram comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bender has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Yong Bender!