PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Graig Albert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach Backer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Albert
vs
Backer

213 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

196 cm
25
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Graig Albert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zach Backer!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Albert moves in looking to clinch but Backer pushes him off.
Backer shoots for a double leg takedown but Albert sprawls well. He's pushed Backer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Albert closes the distance looking to clinch
and Backer counters with a nice body kick.
Albert wants to clinch
and Backer makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Backer throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Backer shoots in for a double leg but Albert sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Backer shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Albert sprawls well. Albert wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Backer gets slowly back to his feet.
Graig Albert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zach Backer.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Backer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Albert is looking to clinch but Backer is avoiding it.

Backer rushes Albert and presses him up against the cage.

Backer breaks the clinch.
Backer with a lazy takedown attempt

and Albert counters with a single leg into guard. Backer didn't expect that.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Albert stops Backer from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Albert preventing the sweep.
Albert stops Backer from standing up.
Albert trying to control but Backer is working from the bottom.
Albert has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Backer is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Backer is pulling down on Albert's head. It's preventing any offense from Albert, at least for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Graig Albert just wasn't active enough.
Backer blocks a head kick by Albert.
Graig Albert is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Backer rushes Albert and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Backer gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Albert is refusing to be controlled, as Backer sits in half guard.

Backer decides to stand and escape the position.
Backer shoots in looking for a takedown but Albert manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Backer's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backer has a takedown stuffed.

Backer clinches up against the cage.

Backer breaks the clinch.
Backer shoots in but Albert avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zach Backer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Backer wants to clinch up but Albert keeps it at a distance.

Albert closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Backer has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Albert is trying to keep an underhook but Backer manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Albert throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Backer manages to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Albert is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Backer asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Albert is breathing heavily.
Albert throws a few strikes from the bottom but Backer takes advantage and mounts!

Backer looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
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!
Albert wants to get back to his feet.
Backer with shots to the head and body - Albert looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Backer controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Backer dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Albert tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Backer counters with an outside leg kick.
Backer tries to clinch up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Backer pulls guard effortlessly.
Albert tries to stand but Backer is controlling from the bottom.
Backer is striking off his back. Albert thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Backer is doing well to control the position and prevent Albert from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Albert wants to get back to his feet.
Backer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Backer trying to control here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Backer controlling the position well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Zach Backer.
Backer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Albert fails in his attempt to clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Backer. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Albert keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Backer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Albert as he avoids it easily.
Backer misses with a head kick.
Albert leaves Backer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Graig Albert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zach Backer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Backer shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Backer is breathing heavily.
Backer prevents Albert from getting back to his feet.
Backer is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Backer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Backer content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Albert wants to get back to his feet but Backer passes into half guard.
Backer has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Albert is looking to improve his position but Backer isn't that keen on the idea.
Backer lands a big shot there that rocks Albert but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Albert is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Backer controlling the pace for now.
Backer is landing with some decent strikes but Albert is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

It looks like Graig Albert has been cut.

Backer looking to isolate an arm here. Albert doesn't see it coming and as Backer extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Backer!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Zach Backer!