PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between josh graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Rendler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). graham comes to the cage accompanied by fight music. Jack Rendler has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with josh graham's chin.

graham
vs
Rendler

170 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

169 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, josh graham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jack Rendler!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
graham moves in looking to clinch but Rendler pushes him off.
graham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rendler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
graham lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rendler's sensitive parts.
graham comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
graham chopping away at his opponent's legs.
graham scores with a leg kick.
graham lands a high kick!
graham wants to clinch up but Rendler keeps it at a distance.
graham throws a nice outside leg kick.
graham throws a low kick but Rendler avoids it.
graham throws a head kick that half lands.
graham shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
graham tries a head kick but it misses.
graham throws a head kick that half lands.
graham is looking to clinch but Rendler is avoiding it.
Rendler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
graham jabs Rendler right on the nose. Rendler blinks but takes it well.
Rendler circles away from the clinch attempt.
graham throws a sloppy head kick and Rendler moves out of range easily.
Rendler avoids the head kick by graham.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rendler chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before graham can pounce on him.
graham fails to land the takedown.
graham attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rendler looks to score with a jab to the body but graham is just out of range.
Rendler avoids the head kick by graham.
graham throws a head kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - graham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rendler has managed to clinch.

graham is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rendler is just too persistent for him and manages to trip graham to the mat. graham regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Rendler keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of graham's head.
Rendler postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rendler working some strikes from top position.
Rendler wants to control from the top but graham keeps moving.
graham is breathing heavily.
Rendler looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
graham wants to stand but Rendler is controlling the position.
graham looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rendler moves out of range of the leg kick from graham.

Rendler clinches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, graham just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rendler's brow.
A right hook to the body lands for Rendler.
graham landing knees to the body.
graham throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
graham wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rendler has him pressed against the cage.
Rendler lands a body shot in the clinch.

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

Rendler drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
graham looking to control.

graham throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rendler stands up over graham, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rendler is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
graham controls Rendler momentarily but Rendler frees himself.
graham is looking to stand up but Rendler isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rendler slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
graham misses with a low kick as Rendler jumps back.
graham thuds his shin into the meat of Rendler's side.
graham fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rendler.
graham tries to clinch

and Rendler counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
graham looks to throw an elbow but misses.
graham lands an elbow that stopped Rendler in his tracks for a moment.
graham wants to break free but Rendler has control.

Rendler breaks the clinch.
Rendler blocks a jab.

Rendler has graham up against the cage in a clinch.

Rendler turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Rendler manages to end up in side control.
graham can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rendler works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Rendler working the ground and pound.
graham is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rendler is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rendler creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Rendler has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
graham takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
graham is looking for a sweep.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
graham throws a head kick that half lands.
graham lands a body shot.
graham scores with a leg kick.
graham scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
graham connects with a solid leg kick.
graham with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rendler counters with a single leg into guard. graham didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
graham is looking to stand up but Rendler isn't so interested in that idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rendler trying to control but graham is working from the bottom.
graham lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Rendler is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jack Rendler will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rendler steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from graham. That one must have hurt.
graham tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Rendler gets in close and instigates a clinch.
graham pushes off an throws an elbow but Rendler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
graham fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Rendler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
graham throws a head kick but Rendler moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Rendler as graham shoots in.
graham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rendler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Rendler shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in graham's guard.
Rendler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rendler lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rendler trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
graham is looking to stand up but Rendler isn't so interested in that idea.
Rendler is in close to graham's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rendler lands a couple of elbows.
Rendler is working graham over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rendler stays in close to graham's body and controls the position.
Rendler trying to control the position from guard on top but graham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rendler is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rendler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
graham 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.

graham throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rendler not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rendler postures up in graham's guard and throws a big left but graham blocks it.
Rendler throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rendler takes a kick to the side of the head.
Good leg kick by graham there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rendler shoots in for a double leg but graham sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A nice leg kick lands there from graham.
graham has his takedown stuffed
and Rendler counters with a nice body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for josh graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
graham throws a leg kick which misses Rendler's front leg but catches the back leg as Rendler tries to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
graham tries to clinch but Rendler moves away

and Rendler counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rendler.
graham wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by graham.
graham with an attempt at a knee that misses.
graham is trying to break free.
graham landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
graham tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rendler misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from graham.
A left hand lands to the body for graham.
Rendler blocks an elbow strike from graham.
Rendler fails to pull guard.
graham lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Jack Rendler has been cut.
graham lands a nice elbow.
Rendler fails to pull the fight into his guard.
graham creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
graham landing knees to the head.
A short body shot lands from Rendler as the two fighters clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rendler managing to block the knees to the body from graham.
graham throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rendler throws an elbow but misses.

Rendler works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
graham wants to get back to his feet but Rendler is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rendler is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rendler connects with a couple of short punches.
graham wants to stand but Rendler is controlling the position.
Rendler lands a couple of digs.
Rendler advances position into side control!
Rendler working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Rendler is putting a hurting on graham here, landing some big shots from side control.
graham is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rendler connects with a decent elbow.
graham is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rendler has just dragged him back down to the mat.
graham gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
graham is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rendler missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
graham wants to get back to full guard.

graham looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rendler looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

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

and Rendler counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rendler connects with a nice short shot to graham's temple.
Rendler lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rendler is nestled in close to graham, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
graham is trying to stand up here but Rendler is controlling him well.
Rendler is tying to control. graham wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
graham is trying to stand.
Rendler throwing shots but graham is blocking nicely.
Rendler thows a huge punch but graham dodges it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
graham cracks Rendler with a right hand to the side of the head.
graham throws a leg kick

and Rendler counters by moving into the clinch.
graham lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
graham throws an elbow that misses.
Rendler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. graham just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Rendler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jack Rendler's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rendler bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
graham taking punishment in the form of punches.
graham is looking to reverse the position.
Rendler has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for graham!
Rendler lands a nice shot to the head.
Rendler controlling from the full mount.
Rendler working the ground and pound effectively.
graham is bucking up trying to escape but Rendler cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rendler with shots to the head and body - graham looks very uncomfortable down there.
graham really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rendler controlling the pace for now.
Rendler scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish graham?

graham is rocked!
Rendler landing shots from mount.
Oh graham is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
BOOM! Rendler connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rendler lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rendler scoring with strikes but graham is staying in there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rendler putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Rendler working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. graham turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Rendler off and cradles graham's limp body as Rendler celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Jack Rendler!