PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Gray (ranked 5344 p4p, 24233 weight class) and Higanti Libat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brandon Gray has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gray
vs
Libat

188 cm
24
155
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
19
160
4 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brandon Gray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Higanti Libat!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Viktor Lagutenko and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gray bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Libat's head backwards.
Gray rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Libat moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Libat drives through with a takedown into Gray's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Gray is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Libat controlling from the top position.
Libat stopping the sweep attempt from Gray.

Gray is looking for a triangle but Libat pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Libat stays in close to Gray's body and controls the position.

Gray escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Libat gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Libat controls the pace.
Libat is working Gray over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gray looking to hit a scissor sweep but Libat is one step ahead there.
Gray trying to keep a closed guard but Libat is proving a slippery customer.
Gray wants to control the position but Libat says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Libat is controlling the pace.
Gray is looking to control Libat's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gray avoid being mounted?
Libat controlling the action here.
Gray is looking for a sweep. Libat is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gray slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Libat tries to free his leg and advance position but Gray is retaining full guard.
Gray wants to stand but Libat is controlling the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gray looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Brandon Gray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Gray. Those never looked like landing.
Libat takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Gray gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Gray is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Libat defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gray isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Libat stacks Gray on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Libat!
Libat staying calm.
Gray sneaks back into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Libat is figuring out what he wants to do next.
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 Brandon Gray will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gray's jab looks to have found its range, popping Libat under the eye.

Gray clinches up against the cage.
Libat drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gray pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gray throws a combination that misses

and Libat counters with a takedown into side control.
Gray is being controlled here.
Gray tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Libat wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Libat working away.
Gray tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Libat wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gray manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Gray is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray thows a huge punch but Libat dodges it nicely.
Libat regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Gray.
Gray pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Libat is keeping the position for now.
Libat really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gray. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Libat controlling the position.
Gray looking to sit in guard and control but Libat gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gray looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Libat is defending well. Gray quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Libat has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Gray celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Brandon Gray!