PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gage Grape (ranked 4030 p4p, 3990 weight class) and Ardbeg Islay (ranked 0 p4p, 466 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Grape
vs
Islay

187 cm
24
205
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
18
200
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Sakura Style

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gage Grape!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ardbeg Islay!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grape moves away from the strike by Islay.
Grape darts in looking for a takedown but Islay gets double underhooks and turns Grape into the cage.
Islay looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
The referee calls for Islay to work.
Islay blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Grape tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Grape breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Grape tries to bum rush Islay with a series of wild strikes but Islay uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Islay unleashes a big counter combination but Grape bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grape with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Grape dives in and grabs Islay's left leg, looking for a takedown. Islay pushes down on Grape's head and hops out.
Islay throws a hook to the side of Grape's head but Grape sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Islay throws a body shot but no joy.

Grape feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grape wants to control from the top but Islay keeps moving.
Grape is really struggling to control Islay but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Islay avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Islay being controlled here, momentarily.
Grape looking to pass the guard.

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.
Islay avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Grape controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
No luck for Grape with that takedown attempt.
Islay throws out a counter right but Grape avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gage Grape. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Grape with that takedown attempt.
Grape shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Islay counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Grape's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Islay connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Grape scrambles back to his feet.
Ardbeg Islay is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Islay connects with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grape throws a series of punches but Islay moves out of range.
Grape shoots for a double leg takedown but Islay sprawls well. He's pushed Grape's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Grape is breathing heavily.
Islay scores with a three punch combo!
Islay pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Grape back to the cage. Islay follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Islay throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Grape.
Islay tries to bum rush Grape with a series of wild strikes but Grape uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Grape throws out a loose jab but Islay uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grape rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Islay moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Islay throws a series of punches but Grape moves out of range.
Grape fails with a takedown attempt.
Grape with a poor takedown
enabling Islay to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Islay throws a series of punches but Grape moves out of range.
Grape misses with a takedown attempt
and Islay counters with a nice uppercut.
Islay throws a looping overhand right but Grape ducks down to avoid it.
Grape just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Islay as Grape shoots in.
Islay connects with a body shot that sends Grape's belly button to the back.
Islay tests Grape's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Islay misses with a few strikes there.
Islay keeps the fight on the outside.
Grape lands a leg kick that knocks Islay off balance momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ardbeg Islay dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Grape is looking to clinch but Islay is avoiding it.

Grape clinches up with Islay and pushes him back against the cage.

Grape pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Grape uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Islay.
Grape ducks under a wild hook from Islay.
Grape closes this distance looking for a takedown but Islay circles away.
Grape tries to clinch up.
Grape gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Islay.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Islay rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Grape moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Grape shoots for a double leg takedown but Islay sprawls well. He's pushed Grape's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Islay rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Grape counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Islay pushes Grape off but Grape dives into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grape is staying tight to Islay's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Grape has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Islay lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Grape tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Islay manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Islay fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Grape manages to avoid it.

Grape rushes Islay and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Islay gets underhooks to prevent Grape's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gage Grape. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Grape breaks from the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Grape is defended easily by Islay.
Islay throws out a loose jab but Grape uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grape shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Islay counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Islay walks into a jab.
Left hook, right uppercut from Islay.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grape misses with a body kick.
Islay circles away from the clinch attempt.
A countering left hand to the body from Islay misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grape shoots in and drives through. Islay sprawls well.

Grape shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Grape showed some decent athleticism there.
Islay is trying to stand.
Grape passes the guard and advances to mount!
Grape connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grape looking to finish with strikes here!

Grape has hold of Islay's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Islay manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Grape controlling his opponent.
Islay blocking the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gage Grape will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Grape dives in for a single leg takedown but Islay sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Islay has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Grape breaks the clinch.
Islay misses with a series of wild punches.
Grape ducks under a wild hook from Islay.
Islay swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Grape closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Grape lands in his opponent's guard.

Grape 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.
Islay takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grape content to stall in guard here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Islay can do anything to dispel that myth.
Grape postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Grape slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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.
Grape scoring with some ground and pound.

Grape gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Grape clinches up against the cage.

Grape escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grape scores with a takedown into Islay's guard.
Grape working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Islay is working an open guard so Grape takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Grape is looking to clinch but Islay is avoiding it.
It seemed like Islay was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Grape tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Islay defends well and Grape ends up having to push Islay into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Grape is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Islay pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gage Grape. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Grape has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Islay uses from the top position.
Grape pulls Islay in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grape is looking to cinch up a triangle. Islay throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Grape's body to avoid the submission. Grape has instead reached around Islay's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Grape arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Gage Grape!