PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aydine Antona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mel Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Antona might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Laid to Rest by Lamb of God. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Antona
vs
Gray

170 cm
23
159 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

170 cm
27
150 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Battalion Athletics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aydine Antona!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mel Gray!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Antona misses with the combination.
Gray takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gray just misses with a punch to the body.
Antona shoots in for a double leg but Gray sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gray swings for the body but Antona moves out of range.
Antona lands a nice looking kick to the body. Gray takes a step back to recover.
Gray shoots in looking for a takedown. Antona tries to sprawl out of it but Gray keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Antona manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Antona lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Gray fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Antona avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray misses with a straight right.
Antona misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gray shoots in for a double leg but Antona sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Aydine Antona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mel Gray.
Gray thows a left - swing and a miss!

Gray gets the takedown into side control.
Gray throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Antona sneaks out the side door and pushes Gray away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Antona throws a leg kick which misses Gray's front leg but catches the back leg as Gray tries to avoid it.
Antona connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gray ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Antona moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Antona.
Antona throws a quick inside leg kick.

Antona feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Gray is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Antona defends well.
Antona trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gray's guard.
Antona passes easily into side control. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Antona working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Antona is breathing heavily.
Gray is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray can't do much from the bottom here.

Antona decides to stand up, so the ref orders Gray to his feet.
Gray misses with a hook. Antona ducked under it nicely.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Antona!
An inside leg kick from Antona misses.
Gray on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Gray misses with a straight right.

Antona scores a takedown into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gray is looking to improve his position but Antona isn't that keen on the idea.
Gray sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Gray gets full guard.
Gray trying to strike off his back.
Gray has a closed guard, preventing Antona from standing up.

Gray looking for a guillotine here but Antona defends easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gray has a closed guard, preventing Antona from standing up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Antona gets to his feet - Gray follows without any prompting.
Gray tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Antona was well out of range. Poor timing from Gray.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aydine Antona dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Antona misses with a shot to the body
and Gray counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Antona takes a swing at Gray's ribcage but misses.
Gray scores with a sloppy right hand. Antona should have avoided that one.
Aydine Antona is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Antona bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gray will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gray ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Antona moves away.
Gray misses with a takedown attempt
and Antona counters with a body kick.
Antona swings for the body but Gray moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Antona there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Antona with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gray misses with a combination

and Antona counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gray wants to improve his position but Antona is controlling well.
Antona is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Antona stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Gray to get to his feet.
Antona shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gray counters with a nice uppercut.
Gray lands with a nice body punch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Antona.
Antona slips a straight right by Gray.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Antona as he avoids it easily.
Aydine Antona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mel Gray.
Antona swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Gray thows a body shot but no joy.
Gray shoots in for a double leg but Antona sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Antona misses with a double jab
and Gray counters with a three punch combo that has Antona backing up. Antona nods at Gray to acknowledge the strikes.
Antona throws a leg kick but Gray sees it coming and moves out of range.

Antona shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Antona trying to control from half guard but Gray is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray wants to improve his position but Antona is controlling well.
Gray moves into full guard.
Gray has a closed guard, preventing Antona from standing up.
Gray throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Antona stopping the sweep attempt from Gray.

Gray has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Antona can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Antona won't allow Gray to sweep him here.
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.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Antona looking to sit in guard and control but Gray gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Antona manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Gray throws a good cross that connects.
A punch combination from Antona misses.
Antona steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gray.
Gray moves away from the strike by Antona.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Antona throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Antona moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gray shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Antona as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Aydine Antona will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Antona walks into a left hand.

Antona is rocked!
A big right from Gray misses.
Oh Antona is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gray looks to land a right hand but Antona moved out of range.
Gray throws a hook to the side of Antona's head but Antona sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A punch combination from Gray misses.
Gray is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Antona.
A swing and a miss from Gray.
Gray missing with a left hand there. Antona was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A big left from Gray misses.
A head kick misses from Antona.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray blocks a head kick by Antona.
Gray lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Antona circles away quickly and effectively.
Gray misses with a double jab.
Gray throws a jab but it's blocked by Antona.
Antona seems to have got his legs back now.
Antona blocks a jab.
Gray tries for a takedown but Antona circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Gray takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Antona cracks a nice hook into Gray's ribs.
Antona feints and then cracks Gray's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gray down.
Antona is looking to slow Gray down with leg kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Antona chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gray fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Antona bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Antona lands with a slapping head kick.
Antona throws a head kick that Gray semi-blocks.
Gray throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gray walks into a stiff left hand from Antona.
Gray takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Antona throws a head kick that Gray semi-blocks.
Gray's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray scores with a decent looking hook.
Antona uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gray.
Antona takes a swing at Gray's ribcage but misses.
Antona moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Antona throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Gray gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Aydine Antona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mel Gray.
Gray misses with a straight right.
Antona looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Antona steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gray.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antona displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gray throws out the jab.
Gray pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Antona misses the shot to the body.
Good leg kick by Antona there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Aydine Antona is winning the standup battle so far.
Antona scores with a head kick.
Gray defending well as Antona loads up on a big left hand.
Gray gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Antona counters with a nice leg kick.
Gray throws a predictable looking body shot
and Antona makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Gray really felt that one!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aydine Antona clearly takes that round.
That's time! Antona's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Antona throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Antona moves out of range of the strikes.
Gray falls off balance throwing a combination
and Antona counters with a good low kick that Gray was not able to check.
Antona lands a head kick. Gray smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Antona throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gray.
Gray throws a sloppy body shot
and Antona counters with a nice kick to the body.
Gray throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gray is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Antona turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Antona tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray misses with a takedown attempt
and Antona counters with a leg kick.
Gray throws a combination that misses
and Antona counters with a good, hard body kick but Gray shrugs it off.
Antona explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Nice body kick there by Antona.
Antona plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Antona throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gray's head.
Gray has his takedown stuffed
and Antona counters with a nice body kick.

Antona shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray tries to roll over but Antona keeps him under control.

Antona decides to return to a standing position.
Antona throws a series of punches but Gray moves out of range.
Antona defending well as Gray loads up on a big left hand.
Nice cross by Antona.
Horrible takedown by Antona or perhaps it was just good defense by Gray which made him look bad.
Antona is looking to wear down Gray with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gray tests Antona's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antona tries a low kick but Gray avoids it.
Gray swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Antona counters with an outside leg kick.
Gray gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Antona counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Aydine Antona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mel Gray.
Gray throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gray is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Antona.
Gray swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Antona.

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.
Antona throws a sloppy head kick and Gray moves out of range easily.
Antona looks to land a combination. Gray sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A chopping leg kick lands by Antona.
Antona tries a head kick but it misses.
Gray closes this distance looking for a takedown but Antona circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - Antona scores with a four punch combination!
Gray throws the left hand but Antona avoids the punch easily.
Antona ducks under a wild hook from Gray.
Gray takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gray misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aydine Antona had his way with Mel Gray in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gray digs a good hook to Antona's body.
Antona throws an overhand right that lands on Gray's shoulder, as Gray tries to avoid the shot.
Antona throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Gray to counter with a crisp jab.
Antona keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gray pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Antona thuds his shin into the meat of Gray's side.
Gray misses with an uppercut. Antona saw that one coming.
Antona throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gray missing with a left hand there. Antona was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gray stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Antona.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antona scores with a hook to the body. Gray takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Gray is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Gray misses with a straight left.
Antona throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Antona throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gray.
Gray fails with the takedown
and Antona counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
The fighters circling - Antona throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Antona keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gray.
Gray takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gray has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Antona.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray blocks a head kick by Antona.
Gray has his takedown stuffed
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Antona ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gray moves away.
Gray on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Antona. Antona obviously looking to wear him down.
Antona ducks under a wild hook from Gray.
Antona throws a one two combo.
Gray misses with a hook. Antona ducked under it nicely.
Antona lands a glancing blow to the side of Gray's head.
Gray lands a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Antona.
Gray throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Antona.
Gray missing with a left hand there. Antona was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Antona slips a jab from Gray.
Antona throws a head kick that half lands.
Antona uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gray.
Antona throws a wild body kick that Gray sees coming a mile off.
Antona misses with a head kick.
Aydine Antona is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Good exchange - Antona coming out on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gray closes the distance and clinches up with Antona, looking for a takedown. Gray pushes Antona against the cage but Antona circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Aydine Antona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mel Gray.
Gray throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Antona sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Antona with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Antona defending well as Gray loads up on a big left hand.
No joy there for Gray, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Gray gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Antona controls from within his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aydine Antona showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Antona has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 50:45
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 50:45
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aydine Antona!
Aydine Antona retains his featherweight title!