PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Conner Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ellwood Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Ellwood Faber enters the cage!

Gray
vs
Faber

185 cm
19
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
206 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Merciless Gladiators

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Conner Gray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ellwood Faber!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Faber clinches.
Faber wants to break the clinch but can't.
Faber gets underhooks to prevent Gray's takedown attempt.
Faber should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Gray is trying to trip Faber. He has hold of a leg but Faber is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Gray persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Faber looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gray is one step ahead there.
Gray is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faber keeping moving, preventing Gray from controlling successfully.
Gray lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Faber is trying to control the position from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Faber avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Faber looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gray is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gray accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gray seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Gray trying to control the position from guard on top but Faber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Faber swats away the attempt to clinch by Gray.
Faber has his takedown stuffed
and Gray counters with a two punch combo.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gray.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber throws a right and a left that Gray avoids nicely.
Gray shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Faber as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conner Gray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gray tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Faber swivels and escapes.
Faber looks for a takedown but Gray sprawls well.
Faber tries to clinch up but Gray circles away and keeps his distance.
Faber wants to clinch.
Gray tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Faber defends well and Gray ends up having to push Faber into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gray is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Faber to keep the fight standing.
Gray is breathing heavily.

Gray decides to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gray wants to stand and escape but Faber is having none of it.
Gray 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.
Faber content to stall in guard here.
Faber tries to stand but Gray is controlling from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ellwood Faber was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Gray blocks the body kick.
Faber stuffs the takedown attempt from Gray. Gray gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Faber is defended easily by Gray.
Gray misses with a double jab.
Faber shoots for a takedown but Gray saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Faber gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Faber is trying to pull guard but Gray turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Faber gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gray.
Gray wants a takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Faber tries to work over Gray's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conner Gray dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gray shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Faber as he avoids it easily.
Faber tries to close the distance and clinch but Gray swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Faber stuffs the takedown attempt from Gray. Gray gets slowly back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gray.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conner Gray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Faber stuffs the takedown attempt from Gray. Gray gets slowly back to his feet.
Faber shoots in for a takedown but Gray shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gray fails with the takedown.
Horrible takedown by Faber or perhaps it was just good defense by Gray which made him look bad.
Faber scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Faber has closed the distance and engaged Gray in a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray tries for a takedown but Faber manages to get underhooks.
Faber wants to take the fight to the mat but Gray manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Faber throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Faber wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gray has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Faber after a bit of a struggle.

Faber escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Faber scores with a kick to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Faber. No joy for Gray on that attempt.

Faber shoots in and bounces Gray off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Faber tries to free his leg and advance position but Gray is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray looking to hit a scissor sweep but Faber is one step ahead there.
Gray keeping moving, preventing Faber from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ellwood Faber.
Faber shoots for a takedown but Gray saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gray throws a combination that misses
and Faber counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
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!
Gray has a takedown stuffed.
Faber throws a right hand that Gray ducks under and follows up with a left that Gray also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber shoots in but no luck this time.
Faber tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Faber throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gray closes this distance looking for a takedown but Faber circles away.
Faber tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gray sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Faber somewhat.
Faber throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice takedown defense from Faber. No joy for Gray on that attempt.
Gray shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Faber takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Faber shoots for a takedown but Gray saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gray fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Faber lands a head shot.
Faber lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gray at a distance.
Gray dives in for a single leg takedown but Faber sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Gray tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Faber just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gray changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Faber fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Faber tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gray shoots for a takedown but Faber saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Faber tries for a takedown but Gray sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ellwood Faber showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gray's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gray shoots in looking for a takedown. Faber tries to sprawl out of it but Gray keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Faber manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Faber tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gray swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Gray closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Conner Gray overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Faber tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Faber really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gray. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gray is pressing down on Faber's thigh, looking to free his foot. Faber is holding on for now.
Faber is trying to get back to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Faber can do anything to dispel that myth.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber is trying to control but can't.
Faber is looking to improve his position.
Gray is keen to just control but Faber is a slippery customer.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Gray is thwarting Faber's attempts to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gray rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Faber counters by moving into the clinch.
Gray has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Faber is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Faber wants to break the clinch but can't.
Faber is trying to push Gray away but Gray has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Faber prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conner Gray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Faber can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray wants to take the fight to the mat but Faber manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Faber jumps guard and drags Gray to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Faber working a defensive guard here.

Faber working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gray doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gray manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gray is fighting to break Faber's control of his arms but Faber is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Faber keeping moving, preventing Gray from controlling successfully.
Gray is looking to work some ground and pound but Faber has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray throws a big elbow that misses.

Faber looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gray passes into side control.
Gray throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Faber struggling a bit here.
Faber tries to improve position but can't.
Gray is looking to take a break and control but Faber is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gray is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Faber is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber struggling a bit here.
Gray passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Faber!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gray cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Faber in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Gray connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
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!
Gray avoids the attempt from Faber to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gray is landing with some decent strikes but Faber is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Gray looking to finish Faber with some ground and pound. This is bad for Faber!

And that's the end of the fight!
Conner Gray showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gray 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conner Gray!
Conner Gray seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
The defeated Ellwood Faber had this to say: 'meh....'.