PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Koos Van Asch (ranked 270 p4p, 1405 weight class) and Keenwah Granes (ranked 17 p4p, 105 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Granes's choice of entrance music: 敢不敢. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Van Asch
vs
Granes

167 cm
32
143
21 - 12 - 1

167 cm
30
140
21 - 14 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction

30th Century Beer Store
NARCOS

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 21 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Koos Van Asch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Keenwah Granes!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Asch throws a head kick that misses.
Granes takes one on the button.

Granes darts in and clinches Van Asch up against the cage.
Granes missing with knees to the body.
Van Asch throws a punch but it's blocked by Granes.
Van Asch lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Granes or not.
Van Asch digs a right hand underneath Granes's ribcage. Granes let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Granes jumps guard and drags Van Asch to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Van Asch works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Van Asch content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Granes is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granes gets back to full guard.
Van Asch knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Granes on the ground.
Granes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Van Asch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Granes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Van Asch is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Van Asch trying to control the position from guard on top but Granes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Granes is trying to control the position but Van Asch postures up.
Van Asch controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Granes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Granes has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's two 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.
Granes is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Van Asch.
Granes throws a leg kick
and Van Asch connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Granes throws a leg kick which misses Van Asch's front leg but catches the back leg as Van Asch tries to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Granes.
Van Asch has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Brooklyn Mixed Martial Arts in the buildup to the fight.
Van Asch does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Van Asch misses with an uppercut. Granes saw that one coming.
A leg kick checked by Van Asch.
The crowd cheers as Van Asch lands an impressive looking overhand right. Granes doesn't seem phased though.
Van Asch throws a shot from downtown. Granes moves away and avoids it.
Van Asch defending well as Granes loads up on a big left hand.
Van Asch throws a body punch but Granes moves out of range.
Granes misses with a looping right.
Van Asch takes one to the chin there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Granes connects with a single shot there.
Van Asch takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A telegraphed right hand from Granes misses the target.
It looked like Van Asch wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Granes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Granes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Granes looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Koos Van Asch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Granes tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Van Asch counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Granes takes a swing at Van Asch's ribcage but misses.
Van Asch throws a counter high kick but Granes was just alert enough to avoid it.
Van Asch tries to land a body kick
and Granes counters with a nice leg kick.
Van Asch misses with a low kick.
Granes scores with a sloppy right hand. Van Asch should have avoided that one.
Granes cracks Van Asch with an open hand slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Asch checks a low kick from Granes.
Van Asch misses with a looping left.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An inside leg kick from Van Asch misses.
Granes throws a chopping leg kick but Van Asch manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Granes jabs Van Asch right on the nose. Van Asch blinks but takes it well.
Van Asch moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Granes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Granes works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Van Asch lands a shot to the body.
Van Asch tries to break free but Granes pushes him back against the cage.
Van Asch prevents the takedown attempt.
Van Asch lands a body punch in the clinch.
Van Asch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Granes misses with a punch on the inside.
Van Asch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Van Asch breaks from the clinch.
Granes tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Van Asch is able to avoid easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Keenwah Granes dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Granes lands a leg kick that knocks Van Asch off balance momentarily.
Granes rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Van Asch counters with a stiff right hand.
Van Asch throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Keenwah Granes has been cut.
Granes throws a leg kick which misses Van Asch's front leg but catches the back leg as Van Asch tries to avoid it.
Van Asch blocks a low kick nicely.
Granes with a hook.
Granes misses with a leg kick
and Van Asch counters with a body kick.
Granes lands an overhand right.
Granes takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Granes lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Granes takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Granes attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Granes looks to land a left hand but Van Asch moved out of range nicely.
Van Asch quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Van Asch checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granes looks to land a left hand but Van Asch moved out of range nicely.
Van Asch misses with a low kick.
Van Asch looks to land a right hand but Granes moved out of range.
Granes looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Van Asch misses with an attempted mid kick.
The crowd cheers as Granes lands an impressive looking overhand right. Van Asch doesn't seem phased though.
Van Asch takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Granes lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Granes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van Asch.
A leg kick checked by Granes.

Granes has closed the distance and engaged Van Asch in a clinch.
Van Asch blocks an uppercut.
Van Asch misses with a punch on the inside.
Van Asch lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Van Asch throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Graness head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Granes looking for a takedown.
Granes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A right handed body shot lands from Van Asch.

Van Asch pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A slow jab from Granes misses its intended target.
Van Asch fires out a quick counter leg kick but Granes just manages to avoid it.
Van Asch blocks a leg kick.
Van Asch gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Granes.
Granes's jab looks to have found its range, popping Van Asch under the eye.
Granes takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Van Asch slips a straight right by Granes.
Van Asch feints and then cracks Granes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Granes down.
Van Asch slips under a jab from Granes.
Granes dips to his left and cracks Van Asch with an uppercut!
Van Asch thumps Granes with a low kick.
Granes misses with an uppercut
and Van Asch counters with a good low kick that Granes was not able to check.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from Granes, right into the meat of the thigh.
Jab by Van Asch.
Van Asch takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Granes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Asch ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Keenwah Granes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Van Asch ducks under a wild hook from Granes.
Van Asch moves out of range as Granes strikes.
Granes misses with a head kick.
Granes on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Van Asch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Granes moves away.
Granes takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The fighters circling - Granes throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Van Asch listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Asch scores with a decent looking hook.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Van Asch throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Granes counters with a nice uppercut.
A punch combination from Granes misses.
Granes moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Granes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Van Asch bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Granes lands a jab to the nose.
Van Asch scores with a head kick.
Van Asch throws a wild body kick that Granes sees coming a mile off.
Van Asch takes a swing at Granes's ribcage but misses.
Van Asch throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Granes throws an overhand right that lands on Van Asch's shoulder, as Van Asch tries to avoid the shot.
Van Asch half committed to a counter leg kick.
Granes tries a low kick but Van Asch avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Keenwah Granes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Keenwah Granes's cut.
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!

Granes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Van Asch tries to avoid it but Granes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Van Asch to the ground. Van Asch escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Van Asch looks for the body kick but Granes saw that one coming.
Granes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Van Asch moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Van Asch uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Granes.
A slapping leg kick lands for Van Asch.
Granes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Asch.
Jab, jab by Granes - just one landing.
That kick from Granes tenderised Van Asch's leg. Van Asch is trying to keep his angry face on.
Keenwah Granes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Asch takes one to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Asch defending well as Granes loads up on a big left hand.
Granes misses with a left hand
enabling Van Asch to counter with a crisp jab.
Granes scores with a jab to the jaw.
Granes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Van Asch. Van Asch obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Granes tries to clinch but Van Asch moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Van Asch.
Granes takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Van Asch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Granes misses with a series of wild punches.
Van Asch throws a big shot that misses.
A big left from Van Asch misses.
Granes tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Van Asch is able to avoid easily.
Van Asch feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Granes throws a leg kick but Van Asch moved away.
Granes finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Van Asch pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Granes feints the counter takedown.
Granes lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Asch moves out of range as Granes strikes.
Nice jab there from Van Asch.
Granes misses with a low kick as Van Asch jumps back.
Van Asch tries to move into range but Granes moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Van Asch tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Granes missing with a left hand there. Van Asch was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Asch scores with a jab. Granes acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Koos Van Asch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Van Asch throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Van Asch takes a swing at Granes's ribcage but misses.
Van Asch just misses with a punch to the body.
Granes misses with a leg kick
and Van Asch counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Granes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Granes feints and then cracks Van Asch's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Van Asch down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Asch throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Granes lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Granes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Van Asch avoids the body shot from Granes.
Van Asch keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Van Asch takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Keenwah Granes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Van Asch throws a head kick that misses
and Granes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Granes connects with a crisp jab.
Granes with a nice cross.
Granes shoots in but no luck this time.
A counter left hand to the body from Van Asch misses its target.
Koos Van Asch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keenwah Granes.
Granes misses with a body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Granes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Granes throws a sloppy body shot
and Van Asch counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Asch throws a hook but Granes blocks it.
Granes lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Good shot there by Granes.
That kick from Van Asch tenderised Granes's leg. Granes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Van Asch throws a poor cross that misses
and Granes counters with a one-two to the body.
Granes fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Van Asch is out of range.
Van Asch fails to land with a series of punches.
Granes is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Granes scores with a jab.
Granes scoring well with a low kick there.
Van Asch misses with a lunging right hand

and Granes counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Granes sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Van Asch's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keenwah Granes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Granes 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keenwah Granes!
Keenwah Granes decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.