PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bernhard River (ranked 1295 p4p, 238 weight class) and Robert Grandis (ranked 73 p4p, 14 weight class). River's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Metallica: Enter Sandman. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

River
vs
Grandis

170 cm
28
135
13 - 7 - 0

168 cm
31
144
22 - 8 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bernhard River!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Robert Grandis!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
River misses with a low kick.
River thumps Grandis with a low kick.
River takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
River swings for the body but Grandis moves out of range.
River slips under a jab from Grandis.
Grandis defending well as River loads up on a big left hand.
Grandis scores with a nice strike.
River throws a head kick that misses
and Grandis counters with a nice low kick that buckles River's knee momentarily.
Grandis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
River tries for a takedown but Grandis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Grandis takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grandis blocks the body kick.
Grandis flicks out a counter leg kick but River steps away.
River misses with a low kick.
Grandis throws a leg kick
and River finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
River throws the kick towards the body but Grandis avoids it.
Grandis moves out of range of the strikes.
River displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Grandis throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River lands a slapping body shot.
An inside leg kick from River misses.
River throws a body kick that misses
and Grandis counters with a straight right hand.
River with a nice cross.
River lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Grandis takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
River gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Grandis makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
River is looking to score with low kicks.
Grandis was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
River lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Grandis tries to keep at a distance but River has taken the fight into the clinch.
River prevents a body shot from Grandis.
A head punch on the inside from Grandis fails to land.
A short body shot lands from River as the two fighters clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by River.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grandis misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River tries to throw a body punch but Grandis avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
River tries to throw a body punch but Grandis avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
River tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Grandis's elbow.
Grandis struggles to land a body shot inside as River controls his hands.
River blocks an uppercut.
Grandis tries a body shot but River blocks it.
River lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
River lands with a right to the head.
River lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
River has Grandis pressed against the cage.
Grandis presses River against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Grandis can't find room to land a body shot as River controls the action.
Grandis doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
River lands a left hand.
Grandis lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of River backwards.
Grandis lands a body shot.
Grandis swings wildly with an uppercut but River uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grandis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Grandis.
Grandis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Grandis blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Grandis prevents a body shot from River.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Grandis creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
River tries to throw a body punch but Grandis avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
Grandis working aggressively here.
Grandis lands a nice uppercut.
River tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Grandis's elbow.
Grandis working aggressively here.
Grandis lands a body shot.
River swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A shot in the inside from Grandis.
River misses with a hook from the clinch.
River lands with a short shot to the head.
River presses Grandis against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
River stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
River goes for a takedown in the clinch but Grandis prevents it.
The referee is keeping an eye on River - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
River tries for a takedown but Grandis manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bernhard River. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grandis has a couple of punches blocked by River.
River doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
River throws a head punch that misses.
River throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
River blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Grandis tries to throw a body punch but River avoids it by throwing Grandis back against the cage.
Grandis tries to throw a body punch but River avoids it by throwing Grandis back against the cage.
Grandis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Grandis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
River gets through Grandis's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Grandis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with River's elbow.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Grandis misses with a punch on the inside.
Grandis misses with a hook to the ribs.
River lands on the inside with an uppercut.
River prevents a body shot from Grandis.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bernhard River will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

River fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Grandis checks it well.
Bernhard River is winning the standup battle so far.
River thumps Grandis with a low kick.
River darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
River connects with a good right hand that stumbles Grandis. Grandis circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
River checks the leg kick nicely there.

River gets a takedown into half guard.
Grandis gets back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grandis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

River is trying to maintain the position but Grandis is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grandis prevents River from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

River looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

River is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Grandis pulls his head out easily.
River wants to control but Grandis is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
River wants to improve his position but Grandis is controlling well.
River wants to get back to full guard but Grandis has mounted him!
Grandis looking to control and managing it successfully.
River is just holding on here. Grandis manages to take his back.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Grandis's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River is trying to break free.
River just trying to survive but Grandis is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Grandis doesn't have the hooks in and River manages to turn into his guard.
River stopping the sweep attempt from Grandis.
Robert Grandis has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grandis is trying to keep River in close.
River throws an elbow that misses. Grandis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in River's guard. Nice move by Grandis!

Grandis controls from within his opponent's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Grandis got a little sloppy there for a moment and River has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Grandis has managed to get both his arms back between River's legs - danger averted.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bernhard River will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Grandis with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A jab from River misses.

River shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Grandis's guard.
River throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Grandis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
River controlling from the top position.
Grandis wants to hit a sweep here but River passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Grandis there!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grandis is bucking up trying to escape but River cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River landing strikes from the mount.
Grandis slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
River is thwarting Grandis's attempts to control the position.
Grandis tries to roll over but River keeps him under control.
Grandis keeps trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grandis wants to get back to full guard but River has mounted him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grandis wants to hold on but River pushes him away.
BOOM! River connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Grandis is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Grandis gets back to half guard.
River throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
River looks to land a strike but Grandis avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
River makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
River working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Grandis's head.
Robert Grandis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grandis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
River looking to sit in guard and control but Grandis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

River is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Grandis is aware though and is defending well.
River 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.

River working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Grandis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Grandis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

River had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Grandis defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

River throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

River is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Grandis can do to turn this around?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
River looking to sit in guard and control but Grandis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernhard River showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for River, 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 Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernhard River!
A relieved looking Bernhard River thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.