PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between AW Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toran Grape (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevens comes to the cage accompanied by The Root Beer Song by Joeshmauer. Grape has chosen Mr. E's Beautiful Blues by Eels as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Stevens
vs
Grape

185 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

185 cm
23
179 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, AW Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Toran Grape!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens doesn't manage to clinch there - Grape circles away.
Grape tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grape is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Grape is looking to clinch.

Grape closes the distance and clinches.
Stevens trying to control the position but instead, Grape has worked for underhooks and has pushed Stevens into the cage.
Stevens can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Stevens is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Grape creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by AW Stevens.
Stevens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens circles away from the clinch attempt.

Grape closes the distance and clinches.

Grape pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grape 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.
Grape has a closed guard, preventing Stevens from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevens stops Grape from standing up.
Grape wants to sweep here but Stevens controlling him for the moment.
Grape has a closed guard, preventing Stevens from standing up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Grape has taken the fight to the clinch.

Grape manages to break the clinch.
Grape is looking to clinch but Stevens is avoiding it.
Stevens tries to clinch but Grape is having none of it.
Grape tries to clinch but Stevens moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Grape has closed the distance and engaged Stevens in a clinch.
Stevens is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Grape gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Stevens wants to stand and escape but Grape is having none of it.
Grape trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stevens pushes Grape off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Grape is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stevens looks to clinch

and Grape counters by moving into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Grape scores with a nice short uppercut.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Stevens tries to stall but Grape uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Still in the clinch, Grape scores with a nice short uppercut.
Stevens is trying to maintain a safe position but Grape gets an underhook and turns Stevens into the cage.
Stevens blocks the elbow strike.

Grape breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Grape tries to clinch there but Stevens circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens blocks a jab.
Grape tries to close the distance and clinch but Stevens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Grape is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Grape is looking to clinch.
Grape throws a big shot that misses.
Grape moves in looking to clinch but Stevens pushes him off.

Grape gets a clinch.
Stevens missing with knees to the body.
Stevens is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Grape manages to break the clinch.
Stevens swats away the attempt to clinch by Grape.
Grape tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Grape moves into range and clinches up with Stevens.
Grape lands with a light punch inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by AW Stevens.
Stevens tries to clinch but Grape is having none of it.
Toran Grape seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grape doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevens circles away.
Grape wants to clinch up but Stevens keeps it at a distance.
Grape fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Grape takes the fight into the clinch.
Grape lands with a left to the head.
Grape lands with a light punch inside.
Grape pushes Stevens back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Grape lands an uppercut.
Grape lands a left hand that snaps the head of Stevens backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toran Grape dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

The fight stays on the outside here - Grape looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Grape swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Grape looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Grape moves in looking to clinch but Stevens pushes him off.
Grape is looking to clinch.
Grape doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevens circles away.
Grape tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stevens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grape is looking to clinch but Stevens is avoiding it.
Stevens wants to clinch.
Grape jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grape clinches but Stevens breaks the clinch

and Stevens counters by moving into the clinch.

Grape gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Stevens regains guard.
Grape trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Grape trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.
Grape won't allow Stevens to get back to his feet.
Grape must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Grape trying to stand up but can't free himself from Stevens's guard.
Grape really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stevens. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Grape missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Grape stops Stevens from standing up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Grape tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grape is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Grape throws a looping overhand right but Stevens ducks down to avoid it.
Stevens tries to close the distance and clinch but Grape swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Grape tries to clinch but Stevens moves out of range.
Stevens keeps the fight on the outside.
A swing and a miss from Grape.
Stevens swats away the attempt to clinch by Grape.
Stevens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stevens fails in his attempt to clinch.
Grape is looking to clinch but Stevens is avoiding it.

Grape takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Grape breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grape tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grape throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Grape looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Grape tries to clinch up but Stevens circles away and keeps his distance.

Grape closes the distance and pushes Stevens back into the cage.
Stevens trying to stall but Grape improves his position.
Grape lands an uppercut.
Grape lands a nice uppercut.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.
Stevens trying to land knees to the body.
Stevens is looking to control Grape's arms but Grape gets an underhook and turns him. Now Stevens has his back to the cage.
Grape lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Grape lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Grape breaks from the clinch.
Grape tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Grape fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stevens, pushing him back against the cage.
Stevens looking to stall.
A right handed body shot lands from Grape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Grape has Stevens pressed against the cage.

Grape ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Grape no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Stevens stands up and waves to Grape to follow him.
Grape wants to clinch up but Stevens keeps it at a distance.
Stevens swats away the attempt to clinch by Grape.
Grape wants to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Grape clinches up with Stevens and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toran Grape showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Stevens's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Stevens keeps the fight on the outside.
AW Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stevens fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stevens keeps the fight on the outside.
Grape wants to clinch up but Stevens keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Grape looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stevens slips under a jab.
Grape fails with an attempt to clinch.
Grape wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grape is looking to clinch but Stevens is avoiding it.
Grape tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grape takes the fight into the clinch.
Stevens looking to stall.
Grape lands an uppercut.
Grape tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stevens is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Grape breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Grape fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stevens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Grape has closed the distance and engaged Stevens in a clinch.

Grape breaks from the clinch.
Grape tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stevens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Grape tries to clinch up.

Grape closes the distance and clinches.
Stevens avoids the elbow strike from Grape, against the cage.
Stevens tries to stall but Grape uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Grape breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Grape is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grape tries to close the distance and clinch but Stevens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stevens circles away from the clinch attempt.
Grape tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stevens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grape tries to clinch but Stevens is having none of it.
Grape throws the left hand but Stevens avoids the punch easily.
Grape circles away from the clinch attempt.
Grape tries to clinch up.
Stevens wants to clinch.
Stevens slips under a jab.
Stevens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grape wants to clinch up but Stevens keeps it at a distance.
Grape is looking to clinch but Stevens is avoiding it.
Stevens uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Grape.
Grape tries to clinch up but Stevens circles away and keeps his distance.
Grape fails in his attempt to clinch.
Grape tries to close the distance and clinch but Stevens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Grape tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Grape fails in his attempt to clinch.
Grape doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevens circles away.
Stevens uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Grape.
Grape is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Grape fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stevens swats away the attempt to clinch by Grape.
Grape tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stevens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Grape tries to clinch there but Stevens circles away.
Grape tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Grape tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Stevens makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Grape really felt that one!
Grape takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stevens wants to clinch.
Grape is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Toran Grape is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stevens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Toran Grape.
I've got Grape 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toran Grape!