PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Umberto Grena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kei Noguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Grena
vs
Noguchi

165 cm
24
169 lbs
5 - 10 - 0

180 cm
25
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

LA's Cheapest Clothing and Laundry

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 5 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Umberto Grena!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kei Noguchi!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Noguchi clinches with his opponent.
Noguchi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Grena is defending well.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Noguchi.

Grena breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Noguchi has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Grena is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Grena throws a head kick that Noguchi semi-blocks.

It looks like Kei Noguchi has been cut.
Noguchi dives in for a single leg takedown but Grena sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Grena fails to land the takedown.
Noguchi misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Noguchi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Noguchi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Grena knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Noguchi on the ground.
Noguchi trying to control but Grena is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grena trying to control the position.
Noguchi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Grena not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Grena is really struggling to control Noguchi but he's trying to hold on to the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Noguchi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Noguchi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Grena swivels and escapes.
We've been hearing reports that Grena has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Umberto Grena has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kei Noguchi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Noguchi throws a combination that misses

and Grena counters with a single leg into guard. Noguchi didn't expect that.
Noguchi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Grena.
Grena trying to control the position from guard on top but Noguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Noguchi trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grena postures up in Noguchi's guard and throws a big left but Noguchi blocks it.
Grena wants to control from the top but Noguchi keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Grena gets to his feet - Noguchi follows without any prompting.
Noguchi doesn't manage to clinch there - Grena circles away.
Grena is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noguchi misses with a takedown
and Grena counters with a stiff right hand.
Noguchi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Grena defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Noguchi.

Grena rushes Noguchi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Grena is trying to drag Noguchi to the mat but Noguchi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Grena breaks from the clinch.
The fighters circling - Noguchi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Grena half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Grena misses with a head kick.
Grena throws a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noguchi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Grena connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Grena pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Noguchi back to the cage. Grena follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grena leaves Noguchi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Noguchi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Noguchi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Grena manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Grena throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Umberto Grena dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kei Noguchi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Noguchi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Grena but Grena pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Noguchi tries to keep at a distance but Grena has taken the fight into the clinch.

Grena manages to pull guard.
Noguchi won't allow Grena to get back to his feet.
Grena wants to improve his position but instead Noguchi has moved into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noguchi scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Noguchi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Noguchi stops Grena from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grena is not content to let Noguchi control the position.
Grena tries to kick Noguchi off but Noguchi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Grena is trying to maintain the position but Noguchi is very close to passing his half guard.
Grena is trying to control but Noguchi passes into side control!

Noguchi swings around for an armbar but Grena sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Noguchi's guard.
Grena lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grena stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Noguchi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Grena wants to control from the top but Noguchi keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Noguchi is on top in guard.

Noguchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Grena is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Noguchi prevents Grena from getting back to his feet.
Noguchi sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noguchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Grena is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grena is looking to sweep but instead, Noguchi has passed into half guard.
Grena tries to kick Noguchi off in order to stand up. Noguchi Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Grena prevents Noguchi from improving position.
Noguchi taking a breather here.

Noguchi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Noguchi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Grena wants to control but Noguchi postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Grena is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kei Noguchi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kei Noguchi's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Grena looks to score with a jab to the body but Noguchi is just out of range.
Noguchi shoots in for a takedown but Grena shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kei Noguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grena is looking to clinch.
Grena misses with a takedown attempt - Noguchi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Noguchi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Grena defends it well.

Noguchi feints and as Grena raises his hands in defense, Noguchi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Noguchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Grena is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noguchi lands a couple of digs.
Noguchi trying to control but Grena is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Noguchi drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Grena manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Noguchi has Grena in his guard.

Grena postures up.
Noguchi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Grena's guard.

Noguchi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Grena works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Noguchi stopping the sweep attempt from Grena.
Noguchi wants to control from the top but Grena keeps moving.
Noguchi content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grena keeping moving, preventing Noguchi from controlling successfully.
Grena keeping full guard, as Noguchi tries to pass.

Grena has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Noguchi is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Grena breaks from the clinch.
Grena misses with a wild body shot.
Grena is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Noguchi can do to turn this around?
Grena falls off balance throwing a combination

and Noguchi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Grena obliges.

Grena breaks the clinch.
Umberto Grena is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Noguchi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Grena is fending him off so far but Noguchi persists. Nope, Grena circles away and we're back to standing.
Noguchi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Noguchi blocks a head kick by Grena.

Grena clinches up with Noguchi and pushes him back against the cage.
Grena scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Grena escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Grena throws a series of punches but Noguchi avoids them all with ease.
Noguchi tries to counter with a clinch but Grena shakes him off and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Noguchi.
As Noguchi looks to move away, Grena throws a big counter combo but Noguchi just gets out of the way.
Umberto Grena has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kei Noguchi.
Noguchi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Grena counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noguchi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Grena counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Noguchi is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Noguchi avoids the head kick by Grena.
A nice combination there by Grena.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Noguchi blocks a head kick by Grena.

Grena fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Noguchi, pushing him back against the cage.

Grena manages to break the clinch.
Noguchi fails in his attempt to clinch.
A quick step to the side and Grena tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Grena gets a takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Umberto Grena showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Grena has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Umberto Grena!