PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Novel Corona (ranked 5420 p4p, 4214 weight class) and Jinski Grang (ranked 565 p4p, 500 weight class). Jinski Grang acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Corona
vs
Grang

180 cm
19
207
2 - 1 - 0

186 cm
25
215
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Novel Corona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jinski Grang!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Grang, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Corona is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Grang has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Corona is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Grang takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Grang is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Corona throws a body shot but no joy.
Jinski Grang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grang keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Grang cracks a nice hook into Corona's ribs.
Corona lands a slapping body shot.
Grang misses with a combination
and Corona counters with a nice uppercut.
Corona jabs Grang to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Grang throws a right and a left that both miss.
Corona throws a big counter combination but Grang scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Grang closes the distance and clinches.

Grang gets control of Corona's arms and successfully pulls guard. Grang will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Corona wants to stand and escape but instead Grang has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grang scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grang scoring with punches to the head and body.
Grang throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Corona works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Grang connects with a couple of short punches.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Grang's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Grang stops Corona from standing up.
Grang has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Corona trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Corona looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Grang cracks Corona with a solid left hand.
Grang prevents Corona from getting back to his feet.
Grang keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Corona's head.
Corona has momentary wrist control but Grang slips an elbow through the middle.
Corona wants to stand but Grang is controlling the position.
Grang landing some decent shots from guard.
Grang lands a couple of digs.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Grang's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Grang working some strikes from top position.
Grang throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Corona works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Grang missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Grang chips away with some ground and pound.
Grang postures up and lands a big shot to Corona's brow.
Corona is looking to stand up but Grang isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grang landing with the ground and pound.
Grang working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Corona's head.
Corona is looking to stand up but Grang isn't so interested in that idea.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Grang accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Grang with a nice head shot there.
Corona is looking to stand up but Grang isn't so interested in that idea.
Corona has momentary wrist control but Grang slips an elbow through the middle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grang keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Corona's head.
Grang postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Grang lands a couple of digs.
Grang throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Corona works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Corona utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grang with a nice head shot there.
Corona is looking to stand up but Grang isn't so interested in that idea.
Grang distracts Corona with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Corona wants to stand and escape but Grang is having none of it.
Grang with a flurry of punches that miss.
Corona is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Grang makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Corona has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Grang is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Corona looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Grang misses with some punches.
Grang has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Corona is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Grang is struggling to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jinski Grang dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Grang looks to land a right hand but Corona moved out of range.
Grang throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Corona. Grang does a little dance to reset his feet.
Corona looks to land a combination but Grang avoids it well.
Despite the aggression on Grang's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Corona scores with a nice head shot.
Grang misses with a takedown attempt
and Corona counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Novel Corona is winning the standup battle so far.
Corona lands a slapping body shot.
Corona scores with a jab to the head.
Corona is looking to wear down Grang with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Sloppy strikes from Corona. Those never looked like landing.
Grang tries to bum rush Corona with a series of wild strikes but Corona uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Grang ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Corona moves away.
Grang cracks Corona with a right hand to the side of the head.
Grang doesn't manage to clinch there - Corona circles away.
Corona throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Corona.
Grang throws an off balance right hand
and Corona counters with a right hand to the body.
Grang is breathing heavily.
A combination from Grang does no damage.
Grang is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Corona just misses with a punch to the body.
Grang throws a left and a right that both miss
and Corona counters with a three punch combo that has Grang backing up. Grang nods at Corona to acknowledge the strikes.
Grang throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Corona throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Corona connects with a body shot that sends Grang's belly button to the back.
Grang tries to bum rush Corona with a series of wild strikes but Corona uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Grang takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Corona lands a jab-cross combination.
Corona lands with a nice body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Corona takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Corona lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Grang fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Corona throws a series of strikes that have Grang backpedaling.

Grang is rocked!
Corona cracks Grang with a big right hand that sees him stumbling back against the cage! Grang falls to his knees and Corona doesn't need a second invitatation - he rushes in and fires off several unanswered shots that force the referee to stop the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Novel Corona!
In his post fight interview, Novel Corona started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.