PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zhang Jun (ranked 997 p4p, 603 weight class) and Robert Grandis (ranked 61 p4p, 35 weight class). Zhang Jun had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Jun
vs
Grandis

150 cm
27
130
13 - 9 - 0

168 cm
28
144
16 - 6 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
SynCity Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zhang Jun!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Robert Grandis!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grandis throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jun misses with a takedown attempt
and Grandis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jun takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Grandis lands a really nice looking cross but Jun seems unphased.
Jun moves away from the strike by Grandis.
Jun takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Jun fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grandis throws a jab when Jun was well out of range.
Jun wants to clinch but Grandis slips to the side
and Grandis counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grandis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jun.
Jun looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Grandis swats away the attempt to clinch by Jun.

Jun darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Jun is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Grandis reverses the position - he's now on top in Jun's guard.
Grandis stopping the sweep attempt from Jun.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jun trying to control the position.

Jun is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Grandis defends well.

Grandis got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jun has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Grandis has managed to get both his arms back between Jun's legs - danger averted.
Grandis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jun has his foot on Grandis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Grandis works his way back into a safe position though.
Jun looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Jun working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Grandis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Grandis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Jun looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jun is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Jun looking for a guillotine here but Grandis defends easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Jun looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jun misses with a takedown attempt
and Grandis makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Jun throws a poor cross that misses
and Grandis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Grandis tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jun was well out of range. Poor timing from Grandis.
Jun darts in trying to clinch
enabling Grandis to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Grandis gets tackled into the cage by Jun. Jun maintains the clinch.
Grandis blocking some punches.
Grandis lands an uppercut.
Grandis working aggressively here.
Jun throws a punch but it's blocked by Grandis.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Jun.
Grandis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jun's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jun swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jun jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Grandis walks away with a smile on his face. Jun gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Grandis throws a leg kick but Jun moved away.
Jun wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Grandis throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jun darts in trying to clinch
and Grandis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Grandis has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Grandis throws a body punch but Jun moves out of range.
Robert Grandis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Horrible takedown attempt by Jun or perhaps it was just good defense by Grandis, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhang Jun. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jun tries for a takedown but Grandis circles away easily
and Grandis counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice sprawl there from Grandis as Jun shoots in.
Grandis pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zhang Jun seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jun tries to clinch up
and Grandis counters with a stiff right hand.
Grandis moves into range and connects with a jab.
Jun blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Grandis.
Grandis lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Jun fails with an attempt to clinch.
Grandis connects with the punch.
Grandis misses with a left hand

and Jun counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Jun working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grandis wants to improve his position but Jun is controlling well.

Jun is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Grandis doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jun.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jun is just content to waste time from the top position. Grandis takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Jun postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jun seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Jun wants to control from the top but Grandis keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Grandis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jun wants to clinch.
A nice side step and Grandis releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Jun cracks Grandis with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jun moves out of range of the strikes.
Jun closes the distance looking to clinch
and Grandis counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jun wants to clinch.
Grandis misses with a body shot.
Jun defending well as Grandis loads up on a big left hand.
Jun darts in looking for a takedown but Grandis gets double underhooks and turns Jun into the cage.
Grandis looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Grandis lands a left hand.
Jun takes a shot to the head.
Jun wants a takedown but no success here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jun.
Still in the clinch, Grandis scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jun.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grandis tries to throw a body punch but Jun avoids it by throwing Grandis back against the cage.
Grandis softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Grandis lands a right hand that snaps the head of Jun backwards.
A short right from Jun on the inside.
Nice body punch from Grandis.
Grandis misses with a short punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grandis swings wildly with an uppercut but Jun uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grandis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Grandis.
Robert Grandis seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Grandis lands a hook that snaps the head of Jun backwards.
Grandis blocks an uppercut.
Jun misses with the head strike.
Jun tries a body shot but Grandis blocks it.
Grandis blocks an uppercut.
Grandis lands a body shot in the clinch.
Grandis is leaning against Jun and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Grandis throws a head punch that misses.
Grandis working some nice short punches in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jun.
Grandis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Grandis makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jun fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Grandis misses with a hook from the clinch.
Grandis misses with a punch to the body.
Grandis is looking to break free of the clinch but Jun has double underhooks.

Grandis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Grandis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Grandis is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Jun darts in trying to clinch
letting Grandis counter with a right hand.
Robert Grandis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Grandis scores with a shot to the body.
Jun tries to clinch up but Grandis circles away and keeps his distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grandis. Jun does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jun seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jun misses with a takedown attempt - Grandis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A nice side step and Grandis releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Zhang Jun has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhang Jun. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grandis takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Jun closes the distance but Grandis moves to the side
and Grandis counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jun with a poor takedown
and Grandis counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Grandis with a nice calf kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Grandis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Grandis 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Grandis!
After winning the bout, Robert Grandis thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.