PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bob McGrady (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Enzo Soprano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McGrady comes to the cage accompanied by Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Child. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

McGrady
vs
Soprano

188 cm
31
275 lbs
24 - 9 - 0

195 cm
27
279 lbs
17 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Project Mayhem

$300

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bob McGrady!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Enzo Soprano!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soprano slips under a jab from McGrady.
McGrady throws a leg kick

and Soprano counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Soprano throwing strikes but missing.
Soprano wants to control from the top but McGrady keeps moving.
Soprano stands up over McGrady, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Soprano lands a couple of digs.
Soprano looking to pass the guard.
Soprano in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soprano trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Soprano postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Soprano throws a big right hand that misses.
Soprano wants to pass the guard but McGrady is keeping the position.
McGrady pulls Soprano in close to his closed guard and prevents Soprano from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soprano is looking to work some ground and pound but McGrady has wrist control.
Soprano missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McGrady working a defensive guard here.
McGrady lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Soprano!
Soprano tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McGrady throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
McGrady with shots to the head and body - Soprano looks very uncomfortable down there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Soprano taking shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!
McGrady prevents Soprano from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGrady throws some wild stikes that Soprano manages to avoid easily.
Soprano tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McGrady has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Soprano's face.
McGrady tries to control but Soprano wriggling away.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Soprano is trying to escape the mount.
McGrady avoids the attempt from Soprano to control.
McGrady lands a couple of good shots and Soprano has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
McGrady is looking to stand but he's in a difficult position to do so.
I really don't envy Soprano right now.
McGrady somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
McGrady missing with strikes from the back.
McGrady has Soprano flattened out and is raining down punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGrady trying to control.
McGrady not allowing Soprano to control his hands.
McGrady scores with punches to the body.
Soprano trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Soprano covering up well and avoiding damage.
McGrady doesn't have the hooks in and Soprano manages to turn into his guard.
McGrady has control of Soprano's left arm, preventing Soprano from doing any damage.
McGrady 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.
Soprano postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McGrady looking to hit a scissor sweep but Soprano is one step ahead there.
Soprano is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McGrady utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Soprano scoring with some ground and pound.
Soprano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McGrady is pulling down on Soprano's head. It's preventing any offense from Soprano, at least for the moment.
Soprano won't allow McGrady to sweep him here.
Soprano's corner is telling him to maintain position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McGrady is on top in guard.
Soprano working a defensive guard here.
Soprano managing to control the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McGrady trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Soprano utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bob McGrady will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

McGrady throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McGrady throws a hook but Soprano avoids it easily.
McGrady takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
McGrady uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Soprano.
McGrady waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Soprano.
Bob McGrady seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soprano scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. McGrady doesn't seem bothered though.
McGrady shoots in looking for a takedown but Soprano manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McGrady's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Soprano misses with a body shot.
McGrady throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McGrady moves away from the strike by Soprano.
McGrady takes a swing at Soprano's ribcage but misses.
McGrady loads up on a big right hand but Soprano slips the punch.
Soprano pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by McGrady.
McGrady throws a low kick but Soprano avoids it.
McGrady misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
McGrady moves out of range as Soprano strikes.
Soprano misses with a straight right.
A looping hook to the body misses from McGrady. Soprano does a little dance to reset his feet.
McGrady tries for a takedown but Soprano sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bob McGrady. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soprano swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McGrady.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Soprano, as that shot connected.

It looks like Bob McGrady has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Soprano waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McGrady.
A swing and a miss from Soprano.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McGrady is defended easily by Soprano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soprano misses the shot to the body.
Soprano thows a body shot but no joy.
Soprano checks a leg kick nicely.
Soprano scores with a nice right hand.
McGrady slips a straight right by Soprano.
McGrady missing with a left hand there. Soprano was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McGrady shoots in and drives through. Soprano sprawls well.
McGrady avoids the body shot from Soprano.
McGrady takes one on the button.
McGrady avoids the body shot from Soprano.
McGrady connects with a nice looking jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGrady shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. McGrady showed some decent athleticism there.
Soprano is looking to improve his position.
Bob McGrady overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Soprano controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Soprano manages to get to full guard.
McGrady distracts Soprano with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Soprano manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McGrady manages to get himself to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McGrady wants to sweep here but Soprano controlling him for the moment.
McGrady keeping moving, preventing Soprano from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGrady has momentary wrist control but Soprano slips an elbow through the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soprano throws a big right hand that misses.
Soprano trying to control but McGrady is working from the bottom.
Soprano must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Soprano looking to sit in guard and control but McGrady gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells McGrady's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Soprano tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Soprano is adopting a defensive guard.
Soprano looking to hit a scissor sweep but McGrady is one step ahead there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enzo Soprano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bob McGrady's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Soprano scores with the left hand. McGrady knows he should have avoided that one.
McGrady moves away from the strike by Soprano.
McGrady is trying hard to land a takedown here. Soprano sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Good shot there by Soprano.

Soprano closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Soprano lands in his opponent's guard.
McGrady preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McGrady looking for a sweep. Not yet McGrady, not yet.
McGrady keeping full guard, as Soprano tries to pass.
McGrady has momentary wrist control but Soprano slips an elbow through the middle.
McGrady has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Soprano with a flurry of punches that miss.
Soprano throwing strikes from guard but McGrady blocks nicely.
McGrady controlling Soprano's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soprano trying to control but McGrady is working from the bottom.
McGrady working a defensive guard here.
McGrady is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bob McGrady wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Soprano lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
McGrady shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Soprano defends it nicely.
McGrady takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soprano throws the left hand but McGrady avoids the punch easily.
Soprano fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Soprano throws the left hand but McGrady avoids the punch easily.
Soprano lands the left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McGrady scores with a crisp jab that stopped Soprano in his tracks.
Soprano swinging wildly here.
McGrady misses with an uppercut.
Soprano throws a lazy uppercut

and McGrady counters with a nice double leg into guard.
McGrady loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Soprano trying to control the position here.
McGrady won't allow Soprano to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGrady is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
McGrady postures up in Soprano's guard and throws a big left but Soprano blocks it.
Soprano working a defensive guard here.
Soprano looking for a sweep. Not yet Soprano, not yet.
McGrady is fighting to break Soprano's control of his arms but Soprano is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Enzo Soprano.
McGrady closes this distance looking for a takedown but Soprano circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bob McGrady. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soprano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Soprano slips under a jab.
Enzo Soprano seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Soprano stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Soprano wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soprano 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.
Soprano postures up in McGrady's guard and throws a big left but McGrady blocks it.
McGrady looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
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!
Soprano postures up in McGrady's guard and throws a big left but McGrady blocks it.
Soprano trying to control the position from guard on top but McGrady is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soprano postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Soprano trying to control but McGrady is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Enzo Soprano.
Soprano cracks McGrady with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Enzo Soprano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Soprano has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Enzo Soprano!
Our winner, Enzo Soprano, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.