PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Wisco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Natan Grasel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Grasel's choice of entrance music: Kaney West- Champion. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Wisco
vs
Grasel

175 cm
18
163 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
173 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Wisco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Natan Grasel!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wisco swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Grasel gets a clinch.

Grasel is trying to trip Wisco. He has hold of a leg but Wisco is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Grasel persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Wisco pushes Grasel off and gets back to his feet.
Wisco throws a nice looking combination but Grasel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wisco lands a head kick. Grasel smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Wisco throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wisco throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Wisco.
Wisco pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Wisco throws a sloppy head kick and Grasel moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grasel blocks the body kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Wisco.
Grasel shoots in but Wisco avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Matt Wisco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wisco throws a sloppy head kick and Grasel moves out of range easily.
Some wild striking there from Wisco.

Grasel scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Grasel working the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Wisco's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wisco is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Grasel is looking to take a break and control but Wisco is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wisco is trying to get back to half guard.

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.

Grasel decides to stand back up. Grasel steps back and let's Wisco get back to his feet.
Wisco takes a swing at Grasel's ribcage but misses.
Wisco keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Grasel closes the distance and clinches up with Wisco, looking for a takedown. Grasel pushes Wisco against the cage but Wisco circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Matt Wisco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Natan Grasel.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Grasel shoots in and bounces Wisco off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Wisco working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Grasel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Natan Grasel dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Grasel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wisco but Wisco pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Wisco throws a series of punches but Grasel moves out of range.
Grasel takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A punch combination from Wisco misses.
Grasel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wisco.
Grasel thows a body kick. Wisco tries to catch it but that hurt him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Grasel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Grasel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Grasel prevents Wisco from getting the reversal.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grasel lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Wisco hang on?
Grasel avoids the attempt from Wisco to control.
Wisco keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wisco wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Grasel.
Wisco tries to reverse the position but Grasel maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grasel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wisco is looking to escape.
Grasel is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Wisco tries to hold on but Grasel pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Grasel is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Grasel looking to control but Wisco is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wisco is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Natan Grasel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Grasel drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Wisco struggling a bit here.
Wisco is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Grasel off and has taken his back!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wisco is trying to control but Grasel is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Grasel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Wisco is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Grasel has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Grasel!
Grasel stays in close to Wisco's body and controls the position.

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.
Wisco controls Grasel momentarily but Grasel frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grasel trying to stand up but can't free himself from Wisco's guard.

Grasel gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Wisco looks to throw a body kick

and Grasel counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Grasel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wisco trying to keep a closed guard but Grasel is proving a slippery customer.
Grasel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Grasel stands and steps away. Wisco gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

And that's the end of the fight!
Natan Grasel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Grasel winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Natan Grasel!