PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Julian Bashir (ranked 2282 p4p, 3550 weight class) and Peter Gretel (ranked 138 p4p, 203 weight class). Bashir comes to the cage accompanied by Exodus - The Toxic Waltz. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bashir
vs
Gretel

170 cm
20
140
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
130
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julian Bashir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Peter Gretel!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gretel is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bashir's half guard.
Gretel prevents Bashir from improving his position.
Bashir on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bashir tries to get out of the position.

Bashir actively working from the bottom here.
Bashir is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at The House Of Pain, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Bashir throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Bashir regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Gretel.
Bashir manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gretel manages to get himself to full guard.

Gretel has his foot on Bashir's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bashir works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bashir missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gretel pulls Bashir in close to prevent any damage.
Bashir scoring with some ground and pound.

Gretel is looking for a triangle but Bashir pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bashir forces his way into half guard.
Gretel wants to control but Bashir is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Gretel looking for a kimura from the bottom but Bashir passes into side control!
Bashir tries to move into full mount but can't pass Gretel's legs.
Bashir in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Gretel is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Check out the look on Bashir's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Gretel is trying to get back to half guard.
Gretel taking punishment in the form of punches.
Gretel on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bashir is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gretel has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bashir in side control, throwing shots but Gretel defends.
Gretel can't do much from the bottom here.
Bashir trying to control the action but Gretel is working from the bottom.
Gretel is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gretel regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashir is looking to take a break and control but Gretel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bashir lands with a punch from half guard.
Gretel preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Gretel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Bashir is working for a submission of some sort.
Bashir is keen to just control but Gretel is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bashir lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gretel on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Gretel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gretel tries to get to full guard but Bashir has control of the leg.
Gretel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bashir is working away from the top position though.
Bashir passes to side control.
Gretel sneaks back into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gretel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Bashir dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bashir cracks Gretel with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Bashir throws an off balance right hand
and Gretel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice body punch from Bashir.
Gretel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gretel throws a combination. Bashir tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gretel fails to land with a series of punches.
Bashir looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gretel fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bashir looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Bashir keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gretel.
Bashir looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gretel is fending him off so far but Bashir persists. Nope, Gretel circles away and we're back to standing.
Gretel throws out a counter right but Bashir avoids it with no problem.
Gretel shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Bashir eats them both and turns towards Gretel to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bashir darts in and clinches Gretel up against the cage.
Bashir misses with a punch to the body.
Gretel misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gretel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gretel throws a series of punches but Bashir moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Gretel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gretel throws a right hand that Bashir ducks under and follows up with a left that Bashir also avoids with ease.
Bashir was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Gretel looks to throw the jab but Bashir is out of range.
Gretel misses with a looping right.

Bashir moves into range and clinches up with Gretel.
Bashir working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Gretel's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bashir drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gretel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian Bashir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bashir misses with some punches.
Gretel lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bashir looking for a takedown.
Bashir doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashir misses with a punch on the inside.
Gretel misses with a punch on the inside.
Gretel is working Bashir over against the cage.
Bashir misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bashir drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gretel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gretel lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Bashir throws a head punch that misses.
Bashir tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gretel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Bashir drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gretel lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Gretel scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashir wants a takedown but no success here.
Bashir has a couple of punches blocked by Gretel.
Gretel lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bashir.

Bashir is trying to trip Gretel. He has hold of a leg but Gretel is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Bashir persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Bashir throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gretel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gretel is trying to control the position but Bashir postures up.
Bashir pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gretel is keeping the position for now.
Bashir trying to control the position from guard on top but Gretel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bashir has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gretel wants to stand and escape but Bashir is having none of it.
Bashir in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bashir trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gretel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bashir stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gretel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bashir is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gretel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bashir wants to control from the top but Gretel keeps moving.
Gretel wants to stand but Bashir is controlling the position.

Gretel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bashir defends well.
Bashir working some strikes from top position.
Bashir is working Gretel over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gretel is trying to keep Bashir in close.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Gretel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Gretel avoids the body shot from Bashir.
Gretel thuds his right hand into Bashir's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Bashir gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bashir creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gretel scores with a shoulder strike.
Gretel scores with a shoulder strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gretel.
Bashir is looking for a takedown.
Bashir lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Gretel breaks the clinch.
Gretel slaps away a takedown attempt from Bashir, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bashir misses with an uppercut
and Gretel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bashir throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gretel's waist but Gretel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bashir off to one side.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Gretel! But no joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian Bashir. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bashir fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Gretel to the ground. Bashir is now in Gretel's guard.
Gretel wants to sweep here but Bashir controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gretel keeping moving, preventing Bashir from controlling successfully.
Bashir lands a couple of digs.

Gretel is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bashir trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gretel keeping moving, preventing Bashir from controlling successfully.

Bashir avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gretel working for a triangle but Bashir defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bashir passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gretel takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Gretel manages to get back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gretel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Bashir postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bashir won't allow Gretel to sweep him here.
Bashir landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashir tries to free his leg and advance position but Gretel is retaining full guard.
Bashir trying to control but Gretel is working from the bottom.
Gretel has his hands on Bashir's head, controlling the position.
Julian Bashir overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bashir trying to control the position from guard on top but Gretel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bashir postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bashir wants to control from the top but Gretel keeps moving.
Gretel is pulling down on Bashir's head. It's preventing any offense from Bashir, at least for the moment.
Bashir postures up and lands a big shot to Gretel's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bashir throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bashir stopping the sweep attempt from Gretel.
Bashir distracts Gretel with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bashir scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bashir trying to control but Gretel is working from the bottom.
Bashir working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bashir trying to control but Gretel is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bashir lands a couple of digs.
Bashir distracts Gretel with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julian Bashir showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bashir 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julian Bashir!
Julian Bashir was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.