PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sal Branch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roland McGruze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Branch
vs
McGruze

191 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

195 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sal Branch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Roland McGruze!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGruze moves in looking to clinch but Branch pushes him off.

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

Branch has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but McGruze is on him like a limpet, forcing Branch back against the cage.
McGruze has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
McGruze prevents the takedown attempt.
Branch tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McGruze smiles and moves away.

McGruze is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Branch's half guard.
McGruze prevents Branch from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGruze seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

McGruze looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

McGruze is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Branch is doing well to control the position and prevent McGruze from advancing to side control.
McGruze wants to lay and pray for a moment but Branch keeps working.
Branch is trying to stand.

McGruze decides to stand and escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

McGruze is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Branch is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Branch has escaped and now he's on top!

McGruze wants to sweep here but Branch controlling him for the moment.
McGruze will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Branch is in close to McGruze's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Branch with a flurry of punches that miss.
McGruze is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
McGruze working a defensive guard here.
McGruze preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Branch thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
McGruze trying to strike off his back.
Branch throws a strike but McGruze rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

McGruze prevents Branch from getting back to his feet.
McGruze 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.
McGruze pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Branch is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McGruze controlling from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roland McGruze will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

McGruze tries to close the distance and clinch but Branch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

McGruze shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Branch's guard.
Branch will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
McGruze trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Branch manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

McGruze is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

The fighters are working up against the cage. McGruze manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

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

McGruze throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McGruze looking for a sweep. Not yet McGruze, not yet.
Branch is looking to work some ground and pound but McGruze has wrist control.
Branch wants to stand and escape but instead McGruze has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Branch can't keep his opponent in guard - McGruze advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGruze is trying to control. Branch wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
McGruze trying to control from Branch's half guard. Branch has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
McGruze won't allow Branch to get back to his feet.
McGruze stays in close to Branch's body and controls the position.
Branch is trying to keep McGruze in close.

That's two 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.
McGruze is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
McGruze loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McGruze 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.
McGruze prevents Branch from getting back to his feet.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
McGruze trying to control but Branch is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGruze drives through with a takedown into Branch's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Branch wants to stand and escape but McGruze is having none of it.
McGruze trying to control but Branch is working from the bottom.
McGruze 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.
McGruze stands and throws Branch's legs to the side, diving into side control.

McGruze is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Branch knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGruze throwing strikes but Branch manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
McGruze manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Branch stops McGruze from getting back to his feet.
McGruze blocking the ground and pound attempt from Branch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

McGruze turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and McGruze manages to end up in side control.
McGruze has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McGruze trying to control the action but Branch is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roland McGruze showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Branch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McGruze moves away.
Branch misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Branch will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
McGruze lands a right hook to the body.
McGruze tries to close the distance and clinch up but Branch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Roland McGruze seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Branch fails to land the takedown.
McGruze tries a quick counter leg kick but Branch is wise to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sal Branch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McGruze shoots in and bounces Branch off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
McGruze passes into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGruze is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Branch is just riding it out for now. McGruze eventually gives up the hold.
McGruze is taking a breather. Branch says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two 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.
McGruze is looking to advance position but Branch won't allow it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with McGruze in particular looking to stall.
McGruze is trying to control the action in half guard but Branch is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
McGruze trying to control the pace.

McGruze is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Roland McGruze has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGruze moves into full mount! Branch won't be happy about that!
Branch suckers McGruze into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Branch is now in McGruze's guard!
McGruze preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Branch gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
McGruze misses with a two punch combination.
McGruze tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McGruze feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

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

McGruze manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Branch on his heels. He'll look to pass Branch's guard now, I'm sure.

Branch manages to escape and get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Roland McGruze is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McGruze lands with a shot to the body.

McGruze dives in and scores a takedown into Branch's guard.
Branch can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McGruze controls the pace.
Sal Branch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roland McGruze is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McGruze pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Branch is keeping the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roland McGruze comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McGruze has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roland McGruze!