PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Grant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Matrix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as John Matrix enters the cage!

Grant
vs
Matrix

184 cm
31
195 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

180 cm
27
195 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
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 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brandon Grant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Matrix!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matrix thows a body shot but no joy.
Matrix throws a sloppy body shot

and Grant counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Matrix misses with a hook to the ribs.

Grant gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Grant is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grant lands with a punch from half guard.
Matrix blocking the ground and pound attempt from Grant.
Matrix is looking to get back to full guard here but Grant has managed to pass to side control instead.
Grant works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grant landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Grant looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Matrix is avoiding damage well.

Grant goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Matrix has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Grant but great work by Matrix.
A lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant trying to control but Matrix flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Grant is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Grant has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Matrix tries to get the hooks in deep but Grant pushed the leg off.

Matrix looking for the choke from the back.
Matrix missing with punches from the back.
A lull in the action here.

Matrix is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Grant defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Grant tries to roll but Matrix sticks to his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Grant wants to hold on but Matrix pushes him away.
Grant regains half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Matrix wants to pass to mount but Grant is defending the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matrix is trying to control the action in half guard but Grant is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Matrix throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Grant is refusing to be controlled, as Matrix sits in half guard.
Grant tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Grant actively working from the bottom here.
Grant works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grant trying to control the position.
Grant looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matrix is one step ahead there.

Grant looking for a guillotine here but Matrix defends easily.
Grant working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matrix.
Matrix postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Matrix is stalling in the full guard.
Matrix trying to control the position from guard on top but Grant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grant controls Matrix momentarily but Matrix frees himself.
Matrix passes Grant's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Matrix content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Grant makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Grant.
Grant looking for a sweep. Not yet Grant, not yet.
Grant is trying to keep Matrix in close.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Grant is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Grant not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Grant dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Matrix swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Matrix misses with an uppercut. Grant saw that one coming.
Matrix fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Grant has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Matrix throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Grant sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Grant darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Matrix is looking to escape.
Matrix on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Grant lands strikes from half guard.

Grant is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Matrix defends it well.
Grant lands with a punch from half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grant thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Matrix is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Matrix trying to hold on to Grant's head to control him but Grant postures up.
Grant not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Grant seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grant looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Grant seems to be working for a kimura but Matrix defends the submission attempt.

Grant is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Matrix has managed to free his arm - good work.
Brandon Grant overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant prevents Matrix from improving his position.
Grant sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matrix defending well though.
Grant sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matrix defending well though.
Matrix wants to get back to full guard.
Grant working over Matrix with some ground and pound. Matrix looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Grant lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
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!
Matrix wants to get back to full guard.
Grant not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matrix trying to control but Grant postures up.
Grant landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Grant is looking to take a break and control but Matrix is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Grant not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Matrix is looking to improve his position.
Grant working Matrix over with strikes.
Grant throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Matrix is refusing to be controlled, as Grant sits in half guard.

Grant is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Matrix defends it well.
Grant takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matrix is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Grant is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Grant is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Matrix is just riding it out for now. Grant eventually gives up the hold.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grant is looking to advance position but Matrix won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Grant dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Grant stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Matrix.
Grant throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matrix sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Grant misses with a double jab.
Matrix with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Matrix ducks under a wild hook from Grant.
Matrix slaps away a takedown attempt from Grant, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Grant takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Grant tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matrix paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grant fails to land with a series of punches.
A decent looking cross lands there for Grant.
Grant misses with a body shot
and Matrix counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Grant connects with a right hand. Matrix shakes it off.
Matrix misses with a body shot.
Grant is looking to clinch but Matrix is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matrix throws a lazy right hand but Grant sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Grant checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Grant misses with a straight left.
Matrix works the jab nicely.
Grant scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
John Matrix is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matrix jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Matrix tests Grant's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Grant lands a jab.
Matrix throws out a leg kick but Grant moves out of range and Matrix only half commits.
Matrix throws a low kick but Grant moves out of range easily.
Grant takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Matrix throws a leg kick but Grant sees it coming and checks it nicely.
John Matrix has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Grant throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Grant misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matrix dodges the punch combination from Grant.
Matrix throws a leg kick but Grant sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A swing and a miss from Matrix.
Matrix throws a jab when Grant was well out of range.
Matrix throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grant scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Grant misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matrix stuns Grant with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Matrix lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Matrix scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Matrix swings for the body but Grant moves out of range.
Matrix scores with a nice head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grant looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Matrix 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.
Matrix cracks a nice hook into Grant's ribs.
Matrix throws an overhand right that lands on Grant's shoulder, as Grant tries to avoid the shot.
Matrix's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Grant connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Matrix scrambles back to his feet.
Matrix misses with an uppercut. Grant saw that one coming.
Matrix looks to throw the jab but Grant is out of range.
Grant checks the leg kick.
Matrix cracks the inside of Grant's front leg.
Grant on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Matrix with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Grant to score with a decent uppercut.
Grant moves out of range as Matrix strikes.
Grant throws a series of punches but Matrix avoids them all with ease.
Matrix throws out a leg kick but Grant moves out of range and Matrix only half commits.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grant uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matrix.
Matrix fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Matrix takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Matrix feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Grant's calf.
Brandon Grant is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grant stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Brandon Grant is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Grant fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Grant keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matrix.
Grant moves into range and connects with a jab.
Matrix misses with a wild body shot.
Matrix misses with an uppercut
and Grant counters with a nice uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big left from Matrix misses.
Grant throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A good leg kick by Matrix.
Grant lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

And that's the end of the fight!
John Matrix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Grant has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Grant!