PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Granger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mibon Turua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Granger
vs
Turua

162 cm
23
153 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

176 cm
24
155 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, James Granger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mibon Turua!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Richard Clark and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Granger fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Turua fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Granger fails with a takedown attempt.

Granger shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Granger showed some decent athleticism there.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Turua blocking the ground and pound attempt from Granger.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Turua looks like he's trying to stand up.
Turua is looking to improve his position.
Turua is not content to let Granger control the position.

Granger is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Turua is pressing down on Granger's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Granger definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granger lands a couple of elbows.
Granger is fighting to break Turua's control of his arms but Turua is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Turua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Turua pulls Granger in close to prevent any damage.
Granger wants to control from the top but Turua keeps moving.
Turua 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.

Granger drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Granger jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Granger with a nice head shot there.
Granger postures up in Turua's guard and throws a big left but Turua blocks it.
Granger is standing up over Turua. Turua looks to escape but Granger dives into side control.
Turua is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Granger working the body and head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Granger working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Granger in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Granger 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.

Granger is trying to get an arm triangle but Turua is defending well.

Granger thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Granger throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Turua is trying to improve his position.
Turua is not content to let Granger control the position.
You can see the frustration on Turua's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turua is looking to reverse the position.
Turua wants to control but Granger postures up.
Granger scoring with punches from side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Turua can do anything to dispel that myth.
An elbow from Granger crashes against the mat.
Granger cracks Turua with a big right hand but Turua just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Granger is looking to take a break and control but Turua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Granger working the head with strikes.
Granger is working Turua over with some ground and pound from side control.
Granger trying to control the action but Turua is working from the bottom.
Granger working the body and head with strikes.
Turua felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Turua tries to escape but Granger is in control.
Turua is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Turua can't do much from the bottom here.
Turua defending against the ground and pound.
Turua wants to get back to his feet but Granger drags him back down.

Granger is working to tighten his grip on Turua's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Turua has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Granger is really squeezing tight and eventually Turua passes out! Granger breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). James Granger!
During a confident post fight interview, James Granger thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.