PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hager Meister (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raymond Granger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Meister's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Amazing. Hager Meister has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Meister
vs
Granger

175 cm
20
140 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

158 cm
23
135 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Poison Apparel

Fighters Edge
Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hager Meister!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raymond Granger!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Meister looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Meister stands up and waves to Granger to follow him.

Meister bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Meister wants to control but Granger is keeping him busy.

Meister wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Granger, who protects the arm well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Meister tries to score with some ground and pound. Granger controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Meister will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Meister is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Granger is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Granger trying to remain calm as Meister controls from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meister throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Meister working the head with strikes.
Meister tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Meister postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Meister is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Granger has escaped the position, nice work there.
Meister is breathing heavily.
Granger prevents Meister from moving into mount.
Meister sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Granger is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Meister looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Meister is trying to ground and pound but Granger uses the momentary lack of control by Meister to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Granger wants to improve his position but Meister is controlling well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Meister.

Granger darts in and clinches Meister up against the cage.
Granger is trying to stall.
Granger is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Meister pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Granger has Meister pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Meister manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Granger landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Meister drops down looking for an ankle pick but Granger pulls his leg out and moves away.
Meister shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Granger as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hager Meister. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Meister avoids the head kick by Granger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Granger misses with a takedown
and Meister counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice shot lands for Meister.

Meister fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Granger sprawls well initially but Meister persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Granger looking for submissions off his back.

Meister gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Meister shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Granger's guard.
Granger manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Meister manages to get himself to full guard.

Meister throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Granger avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Meister uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Granger is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Meister looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Granger!

Meister jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Granger is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Granger and Meister has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hager Meister dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Granger tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Meister paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Meister shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Granger gets caught flat footed, as Meister shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Meister pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Granger is keeping the position for now.

Granger working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Meister doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Meister manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Meister pushes down on Granger's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Granger keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Meister has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Granger works to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meister stopping the sweep attempt from Granger.
Meister slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Granger is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Meister seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Granger does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Meister throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Meister thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Granger to regain full guard.
Hager Meister overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Meister stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Granger throws a head kick but Meister moves out of range.

Meister shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Meister showed some decent athleticism there.
Meister is keen to just control but Granger is a slippery customer.
Meister missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Granger blocking the ground and pound attempt from Meister.
Meister stalling away here and it's allowed Granger to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Meister pushing down on Granger's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Meister tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Granger.
Granger avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Meister.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meister thows a huge punch but Granger dodges it nicely.
Granger regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Meister.
Granger looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Meister drops back, looking for a kneebar! Granger looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Granger looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Granger!
Meister is trying to improve his position.

Granger is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Meister is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Granger trying to control the position but Meister is working away.
Meister gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Meister gets full guard.
Granger postures up.
Meister wants to sweep here but Granger controlling him for the moment.
Granger throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Meister works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hager Meister dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Meister shoots in and bounces Granger off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Meister has gone for a leg lock! Granger slips out almost immediately though and dives into Meister's guard.

Granger 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.
Meister manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Granger manages to get himself to full guard.
Meister wants to pass the guard but Granger is keeping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Granger looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Granger working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Meister.
Meister pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Granger is keeping the position for now.
Meister with a flurry of punches that miss.
Meister postures up in Granger's guard and throws a big left but Granger blocks it.
Meister stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Granger swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Meister drops back looking for a leg! Granger is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Granger manages to kick Meister off! Meister jumps back into Granger's guard.
Meister has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Meister looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Granger is fending him off so far but Meister persists. Nope, Granger circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Granger fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Meister decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Granger trying to hold on to Meister's head to control him but Meister postures up.

Meister stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Granger darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Granger tries to pass the half guard into mount. Meister knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meister trying to control from the bottom.
Meister is trying to get back to full guard.
Granger tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Meister.

Meister looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Meister is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Granger's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Granger's back!
Granger can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Meister working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Granger trying to control the hands but Meister breaks the grip.

Granger showing good submission defense here.
Granger breaks Meister's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Meister escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Granger gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Meister looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Granger passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hager Meister clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Granger shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Meister counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Granger's guard now.
Granger trying to keep a closed guard but Meister is proving a slippery customer.
Meister looking to pass the guard.
Meister trying to control the position from guard on top but Granger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Meister trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Meister throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Granger works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Meister looking to pass the guard.
Granger 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meister working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Meister rushes Granger and presses him up against the cage.
Granger prevents the takedown attempt.
Meister tries to score a body lock takedown but Granger shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Granger tries for a takedown but Meister manages to get underhooks.
Meister drops down looking for an ankle pick but Granger pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hager Meister. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Meister decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Meister sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Granger defending well though.
Meister wants to free his trapped foot but Granger is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Meister is looking to stall here but Granger recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meister trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Granger manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Granger wants to control from the top but Meister keeps moving.
Meister manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Meister landing strikes from the mount and Granger is in trouble!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Granger takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Granger takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Meister raining down shots from the mount!
Granger manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Granger, under a barage of strikes from Meister.
Meister is stalling here. Granger is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Meister seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Granger has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Meister manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Meister is working for a kimura but Granger is defending it quite comfortably.
Meister thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Granger's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meister missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Meister is pressing down on Granger's thigh, looking to free his foot. Granger is holding on for now.
Granger regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Meister.
Meister throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Raymond Granger! Raymond Granger retains his bantamweight title!