PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kobe Gray (ranked 24347 p4p, 1747 weight class) and Slammy Neckbreaker (ranked 615 p4p, 233 weight class). Slammy Neckbreaker has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gray
vs
Neckbreaker

179 cm
22
179
3 - 0 - 0

168 cm
40
170
31 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kobe Gray!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Slammy Neckbreaker!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Neckbreaker tries to sprawl but Gray drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neckbreaker looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Gray is trying to work for a kimura but Neckbreaker is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gray seems to be looking for submissions.
Neckbreaker wants to get back to full guard.

Gray is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Neckbreaker has managed to free his arm - good work.
Neckbreaker looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Gray is trying to work for a kimura but Neckbreaker is defending well.

Gray seems to be working for a kimura but Neckbreaker defends the submission attempt.
Neckbreaker is trying to maintain the position but Gray is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gray is working for a submission of some sort.
We've been hearing good reports from Gray's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Gray seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gray is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Neckbreaker trying to hold on to Gray's head to control him but Gray postures up.

Gray 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.

Gray is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Neckbreaker is defending against the submission attempts here by Gray.

Gray is trying to work for a kimura but Neckbreaker is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Neckbreaker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Gray seems to be looking for submissions.

Gray is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Neckbreaker sees it coming and defends easily.

Gray is working for a submission of some sort.

Gray is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Neckbreaker is just riding it out for now. Gray eventually gives up the hold.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray wants to pass to mount but Neckbreaker is defending the position.

Gray is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Neckbreaker defends it well.

Gray is looking for a kimura but Neckbreaker is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gray to get the leverage.

Gray is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Neckbreaker sees it coming and defends easily.

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

Gray is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Gray is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Neckbreaker doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gray.
Neckbreaker preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neckbreaker trying to hold on to Gray's head to control him but Gray postures up.

Gray is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Neckbreaker defends it well.

Gray is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Gray is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gray is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Neckbreaker doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gray.
Gray is looking to advance position but Neckbreaker won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kobe Gray dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gray shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Neckbreaker as he avoids it easily.
Gray shoots in looking for a takedown but Neckbreaker manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gray's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gray on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gray is trying hard to land a takedown here. Neckbreaker sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kobe Gray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Gray with that takedown attempt.
Gray shoots in for a double leg but Neckbreaker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And Neckbreaker tries to counter it with a takedown but Gray pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Gray shoots for a takedown but Neckbreaker saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gray dives in and grabs Neckbreaker's left leg, looking for a takedown. Neckbreaker pushes down on Gray's head and hops out.
Neckbreaker cracks Gray with a right hand to the side of the head.
Neckbreaker connects with a nice looking jab.
Neckbreaker throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Gray fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Neckbreaker avoids it really well and circles away.
Good shot there by Neckbreaker.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Neckbreaker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gray.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Neckbreaker. Beautiful body shot.
Neckbreaker stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Neckbreaker wants it to stay on the feet.
Neckbreaker misses with a two punch combination.
Gray feinted with a counter takedown.
Neckbreaker scores with a punch to the head.
Neckbreaker scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Neckbreaker tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gray manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gray fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Neckbreaker avoids it really well and circles away.
Neckbreaker ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Gray looking to score a takedown here. Neckbreaker is defending well but Gray drives through and ends up in Neckbreaker's guard.

Gray drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gray jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gray drops back looking for a leg! Neckbreaker is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Neckbreaker manages to kick Gray off! Gray jumps back into Neckbreaker's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gray drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gray jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gray is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Neckbreaker is trying to control the position but Gray postures up.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gray tries to free his leg and advance position but Neckbreaker is retaining full guard.

Gray is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gray tries to free his leg and advance position but Neckbreaker is retaining full guard.

Gray thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Neckbreaker is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gray is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gray drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gray jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gray is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Neckbreaker has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Gray drops back looking for a leg! Neckbreaker is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Neckbreaker manages to kick Gray off! Gray jumps back into Neckbreaker's guard.

Gray thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Gray drops back looking for a leg! Neckbreaker is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Neckbreaker manages to kick Gray off! Gray jumps back into Neckbreaker's guard.
Kobe Gray overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four 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.
Gray tries to free his leg and advance position but Neckbreaker is retaining full guard.

Gray drops back looking for a leg! Neckbreaker is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Neckbreaker manages to kick Gray off! Gray jumps back into Neckbreaker's guard.
Neckbreaker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gray advances position into side control!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gray tries for a kimura but Neckbreaker is defending well.

Gray tries for a kimura but Neckbreaker is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Slammy Neckbreaker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Neckbreaker connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Gray tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Neckbreaker swivels and escapes.
Neckbreaker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gray.
Neckbreaker lands a jab to the nose.
Kobe Gray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Neckbreaker slaps away a takedown attempt from Gray, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kobe Gray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gray shoots for a takedown but Neckbreaker saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Neckbreaker scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gray.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neckbreaker works the jab nicely.
Neckbreaker connects with a crisp jab.
Neckbreaker fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gray will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gray.
Neckbreaker lands with a good body shot.
Gray shoots in and drives through. Neckbreaker sprawls well.
Gray looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Neckbreaker connects with a looping right hand.
Gray shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Neckbreaker as he avoids it easily.
Neckbreaker changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Gray has his takedown stuffed

and Neckbreaker counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Neckbreaker is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Gray is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Neckbreaker pulls his head out easily.
Neckbreaker landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gray actively working from the bottom here.

Gray looking for submissions off his back.
Neckbreaker prevents Gray from improving his position.
Neckbreaker content to control rather than advance.

Gray looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gray looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gray looking for submissions off his back.

Gray looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gray wants to get back to full guard.
Gray on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gray gets back to full guard.

Neckbreaker is sitting in close to Gray's body. Gray has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Neckbreaker is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Neckbreaker is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Gray.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Kobe Gray!
Kobe Gray retains his welterweight title!
A relieved looking Kobe Gray thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.