PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Gregory (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evan Tannur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gregory might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Chumbawamba - English Rebel Songs. Tannur has chosen Desert Rose as his entrance music. Evan Tannur has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Gregory
vs
Tannur

192 cm
28
205 lbs
11 - 12 - 0

185 cm
28
215 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

TWGC Champion
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Steel Penn's All 160

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 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Gregory!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Evan Tannur!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tannur misses with an uppercut

and Gregory counters by clinching up.
Gregory gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Tannur pulls guard effortlessly.
Gregory wants to get up but he can't break Tannur's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Tannur wants to improve his position but instead Gregory has moved into half guard.
Tannur is trying to get back to full guard.
Gregory wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tannur wants to get back to full guard.
Gregory wants to stand up but Tannur is controlling the position.
Tannur wants to control but Gregory is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tannur looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gregory decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregory wants to clinch up but Tannur keeps it at a distance.
Gregory tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tannur paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gregory is looking to clinch.
Tannur throws a right and a left that Gregory avoids nicely.

Gregory dives in and scores a takedown into Tannur's guard.
Gregory has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gregory has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tannur is proving hard to escape from.
Gregory trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Tannur manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gregory manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tannur postures up in Gregory's guard and throws a big left but Gregory blocks it.
Tannur chips away with some ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gregory is on top in guard.
Gregory wants to stand but Tannur is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gregory preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tannur has his foot on Gregory's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gregory works his way back into a safe position though.
Gregory wants to stand and escape but instead Tannur has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Tannur working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gregory's head.
Tannur trying to control the position from guard on top but Gregory is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tannur drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gregory manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tannur has Gregory in his guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gregory wants to stand but Tannur has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paul Gregory will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gregory's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tannur throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gregory misses with a takedown

and Tannur counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tannur.
Evan Tannur has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tannur postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tannur trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Gregory manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Gregory stands and steps away. Tannur gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Tannur looks to land a combination but Gregory avoids it well.
Gregory tries to close the distance and clinch but Tannur swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Tannur throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tannur misses with an uppercut. Gregory saw that one coming.
Tannur swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Gregory fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tannur, pushing him back against the cage.
Gregory lands a damaging elbow.

Gregory breaks the clinch.
Gregory wants to clinch.
A jab from Tannur misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tannur cracks Gregory with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Gregory throws a hook but Tannur blocks it.
Gregory tries to clinch but Tannur is having none of it.
Tannur misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tannur lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gregory backs up against the cage.
Tannur lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Paul Gregory seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gregory drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tannur tries to bench press Gregory off him but Gregory keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gregory decides to stand up, so the ref orders Tannur to his feet.
Tannur lands with an uppercut that bounces Gregory off the cage and back into range.

Gregory rushes Tannur and presses him up against the cage.
Tannur wants to take the fight to the mat but Gregory manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Tannur looking for a takedown.
Tannur takes an elbow to the forehead.

Tannur pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tannur swings for the body but Gregory moves out of range.
Tannur misses with a wild body shot.
Gregory tries to clinch up.
Tannur misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory misses with a few strikes there.
Tannur avoids a punch combination nicely.

Gregory has Tannur up against the cage in a clinch.
Tannur lands a left hand.
Tannur has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gregory is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Paul Gregory has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evan Tannur.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gregory tries to stall but Tannur uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
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!
Gregory lands an elbow just above Tannur 's eye.
Tannur is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gregory to keep the fight standing.
Gregory prevents a body shot from Tannur.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Evan Tannur will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Gregory drives through and clinches with Tannur against the cage.
Gregory is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gregory tries to land knees in the clinch but Tannur avoids the damage to the body.
Tannur jumps guard but Gregory stands there with Tannur around his waist. Tannur gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tannur misses with a punch to the body.
Tannur tries to score a body lock takedown but Gregory shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tannur misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gregory misses with a punch to the body.
Tannur misses with a body punch.
Nice elbow from Gregory.
Tannur tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gregory just stands there and leans against the cage.
Paul Gregory has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evan Tannur.
Tannur takes an elbow to the forehead.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Gregory tries to stall but Tannur uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tannur jumps guard but Gregory stands there with Tannur around his waist. Tannur gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tannur misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gregory unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tannur lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gregory stalling in the clinch.
Gregory with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gregory pushes Tannur back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tannur managing to block the knees to the body from Gregory.
Tannur tries to break the clinch but Gregory is controlling the position.
Tannur wants a takedown.
Gregory struggles to land a body shot inside as Tannur controls his hands.
Gregory slows down the pace here.
Gregory gets underhooks to prevent Tannur's takedown attempt.
Gregory lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tannur has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gregory after a bit of a struggle.
Tannur swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tannur jumps guard but Gregory turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Tannur as Gregory tries to tie him up.
Paul Gregory has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Tannur is looking for a takedown.
Tannur doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tannur jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gregory walks away with a smile on his face. Tannur gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tannur throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Gregory moves into the clinch successfully.
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!
Gregory just leaning against Tannur, taking a breather.
Tannur is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Tannur is looking for a takedown.
Gregory has Tannur pressed against the cage, preventing Tannur from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gregory prevents a body shot from Tannur.

Gregory manages to break the clinch.
Gregory tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tannur swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gregory fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gregory darts in and clinches Tannur up against the cage.
Tannur wants to take the fight to the mat but Gregory manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tannur takes an elbow to the forehead.
Gregory has Tannur pressed against the cage.
Gregory looking to stall.
Tannur has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gregory avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tannur is trying to pull guard but Gregory turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Tannur working hard to break the clinch.
Gregory keeps control of Tannur as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gregory trying to land knees to the body.
Tannur is looking for a takedown.
Tannur tries to pull guard but Gregory forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Tannur takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tannur takes an elbow to the temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tannur's defenses.
Tannur tries to pull guard but Gregory forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Tannur tries to circle away but Gregory has him pinned against the cage.

Tannur breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gregory doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tannur counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tannur connects with a couple of short punches.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gregory is on top in guard.
Gregory preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gregory wanted to stand there but Tannur had control of the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Gregory showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gregory 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Paul Gregory!
Paul Gregory was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.