PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jt Austin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Gray
vs
Austin

179 cm
22
179 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

JOKER FIGHTGEAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Gray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jt Austin!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Kavanagh and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Austin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gray is fending him off so far but Austin persists. Nope, Gray circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Gray. No joy for Austin on that attempt.

Gray gets caught flat footed, as Austin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gray doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gray controls Austin momentarily but Austin frees himself.
Gray looking for a sweep. Not yet Gray, not yet.
Gray wants to stand and escape but Austin is having none of it.
Austin postures up.
Gray pulls Austin in close to prevent any damage.
Gray trying to control the position.

Austin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Gray is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Austin, into his guard.
Austin looks gassed!
Austin keeping moving, preventing Gray from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gray in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gray sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Austin's guard.
Gray not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Austin is looking for a sweep. Gray is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Austin is trying to stand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gray fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gray swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gray throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Austin's waist but Austin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gray off to one side.
Sam Gray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gray digs a good body shot into Austin's ribs.
Gray dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Austin. That did some damage!
Austin takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gray throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gray looks for a takedown but Austin sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Gray. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Austin tries to keep at a distance but Gray has taken the fight into the clinch.
Austin wants a takedown but no success here.
Austin gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gray.
Gray fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gray is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Austin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Austin has Gray pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Austin pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Gray tumbling to the mat - Austin dives into Gray's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Austin is working Gray over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gray wants to sweep but no luck.
Austin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gray trying to control the position.
Austin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Austin trying to control but Gray is working from the bottom.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gray ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Austin moves away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gray, as that shot connected.
Austin shoots in looking for a takedown. Gray tries to sprawl out of it but Austin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gray manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gray looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Austin is fending him off so far but Gray persists. Nope, Austin circles away and we're back to standing.
Austin looks for a takedown but Gray sprawls well.
Gray connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Austin momentarily.
Gray shoots for a double leg takedown but Austin sprawls well. He's pushed Gray's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Austin fails with a takedown attempt.

Austin clinches with his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jt Austin will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gray finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Gray misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Austin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gray is trying to control the position but Austin postures up.
Austin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Austin controlling from the top position.
Gray has a closed guard, preventing Austin from standing up.
Gray controls Austin momentarily but Austin frees himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gray wants to stand up but Austin is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Austin tries to free his leg and advance position but Gray is retaining full guard.
Gray bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Austin's guard.

Austin has his foot on Gray's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gray works his way back into a safe position though.
Gray trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Austin looking for a guillotine here but Gray defends easily.
Gray postures up in Austin's guard and throws a big left but Austin blocks it.

That's two 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.

Austin is looking for a triangle but Gray pushes his legs off easily.
Austin looking to control.
Gray is looking to work some ground and pound but Austin has wrist control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gray tries for a takedown but Austin circles away easily

and Austin counters with a shoot takedown. Gray fights it but they end up in guard.
Gray is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Austin is controlling him.
Gray keeping moving, preventing Austin from controlling successfully.
Gray tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Austin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gray is keeping the position for now.
Austin postures up and lands a big shot to Gray's brow.
Gray keeping moving, preventing Austin from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Gray stalks Austin and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Austin's face. Austin staggers backwards, shaken.

Austin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gray takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Gray tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Austin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Austin working the head and body with strikes.
Gray is trying to improve his position.

Austin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gray knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Austin lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Gray tries to bench press Austin off him but Austin keeps the position.
Gray sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Well, if Austin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Gray wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gray lands an overhand right.
Austin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gray tries to close the distance and clinch but Austin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gray avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A good leg kick by Gray.
Gray throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gray lands a two punch combo.
Nice sprawl there from Gray as Austin shoots in.
Gray stalks Austin and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Austin's face. Austin staggers backwards, shaken.
Gray pushes Austin away with a front kick.
Gray looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gray shoots in looking for a takedown. Austin tries to sprawl out of it but Gray keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Austin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Austin tries for a takedown but Gray sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A right-left combo lands from Gray.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Austin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gray makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gray.
Gray knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Austin on the ground.

Austin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Austin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Austin thows a big elbow that misses.
Austin scoring with punches to the head and body.
Austin tries to stand but Gray is controlling from the bottom.
Gray looking for a sweep. Not yet Gray, not yet.
Gray wants to stand up but Austin is controlling him.
Austin throwing strikes from guard but Gray blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gray misses with a body shot.
A combination from Gray does no damage.

Austin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gray's guard.
Austin trying to control the position from guard on top but Gray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jt Austin has got the better of the ground game so far.

Austin 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 striking from his own guard.
Gray looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gray has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Austin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gray wants to stand and escape but Austin is having none of it.
Sam Gray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Austin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Austin won't allow Gray to sweep him here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Austin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gray tries to avoid it but Austin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gray to the ground. Gray escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sam Gray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jt Austin.
Gray tries to close the distance and clinch but Austin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Austin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gray swivels and escapes.
Austin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gray but Gray pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gray stuffs the takedown attempt from Austin. Austin gets slowly back to his feet.

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.
Gray moves in looking to clinch but Austin pushes him off.
Jt Austin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gray throws a shot from downtown. Austin moves away and avoids it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Austin.
Gray wants to get back to his feet but Austin drags him back down.

Austin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Austin working the head and body with strikes.

Austin tries for a kimura but Gray is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sam Gray.
I think Austin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!