PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Elwood Gross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roni Sabian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roni Sabian will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gross
vs
Sabian

159 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Elwood Gross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Roni Sabian!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sabian moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sabian throws a hook to the side of Gross's head but Gross sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sabian misses with a looping right.
Gross could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Gross closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gross keeps control of Sabian as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sabian is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sabian working hard to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gross is trying to break the clinch but Sabian has him pressed against the cage.
Sabian lands a damaging elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sabian's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gross blocks a jab.
Gross slips under a jab from Sabian.
Gross keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sabian.
As Sabian tries to get set, Gross tries to push him back and clinch up but Sabian manages to avoid the attempt.
The crowd cheers as Sabian lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gross doesn't seem phased though.
Nice defenses there by Gross.
Roni Sabian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sabian bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Gross tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sabian paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sabian changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Gross blocks a jab.
Gross moves away from the strike by Sabian.
Gross tries a head kick but it misses.
Sabian is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Jab by Sabian.
Sabian missing with a left hand there. Gross was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Sabian misses.
Sabian throws a lazy uppercut

so Gross counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sabian is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gross is controlling him.
Gross lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sabian wants to stand and escape but Gross is having none of it.
Gross postures up and lands a big shot to Sabian's brow.
Gross might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sabian wants to get back to his feet but Gross is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sabian is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Gross postures up and lands a big shot to Sabian's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gross loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gross wants to control from the top but Sabian keeps moving.
Gross trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gross working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gross is in close to Sabian's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Gross stops Sabian from standing up.
Gross in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sabian throws a right hand that misses

and Gross counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sabian avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gross connects with a couple of short punches.
Sabian is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Gross dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabian is trying to get back to his feet.
Sabian tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You get the feeling that Sabian really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Gross trying to control but Sabian is having none of it.
Gross raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elwood Gross dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gross shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A jab from Sabian misses.
Gross wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Sabian is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Sabian throws a shot from downtown. Gross moves away and avoids it.
A slow jab from Sabian misses its intended target.
Good standup being displayed there by Sabian as he connects with a hook.
Gross takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sabian lands a nice shot that snaps Gross's head back.
Sabian loads up on a big right hand but Gross slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabian throws a lazy uppercut

and Gross moves into the clinch.
Sabian blocks the elbow strike.
We've been informed that Sabian has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Gross wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabian wants to break free but Gross has control.
Sabian working hard to break the clinch.
Sabian wants to stall.

Gross escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sabian cracks Gross with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Gross moves into the clinch.
Sabian wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sabian is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sabian can't break the clinch.
Gross throws a punch but it's blocked by Sabian.
Gross can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gross has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sabian is looking to control Gross's arms but Gross gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sabian has his back to the cage.
Sabian pressing his opponent against the cage.
Sabian wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sabian is looking to break free of the clinch but Gross has double underhooks.
The referee calls for Sabian to work.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gross wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Sabian manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roni Sabian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gross's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sabian looks to land a left hand but Gross moved out of range nicely.
Sabian might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Sabian tests Gross's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sabian throws a big shot that misses.
Roni Sabian seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sabian cracks Gross with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Gross moves away from the strike by Sabian.
Gross feinted with a counter takedown.
Sabian waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gross.
Gross takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Sabian circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sabian connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabian scores with a hook.
Sabian throws a hook but Gross blocks it.
Sabian throws a hook but Gross blocks it.
Sabian misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabian thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sabian throws a lazy uppercut

and Gross counters by moving into the clinch.
Gross looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gross has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Gross keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sabian's efforts to push away.
Sabian prevents Gross from breaking the clinch.
Gross has Sabian pressed against the cage, preventing Sabian from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gross can't break the clinch.
Gross misses with a punch on the inside.
Sabian has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Sabian is trying to break the clinch but Gross is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gross keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sabian's efforts to push away.
Gross has Sabian pressed against the cage, preventing Sabian from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Gross's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sabian scores with a nice right hand.

It looks like Elwood Gross has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sabian misses with a hook.
Sabian throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Gross counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gross wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Sabian breaks the clinch.
Gross slips under a jab.
Sabian has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Donk. Sabian catches Gross right on the button with a cross.

Gross has Sabian up against the cage in a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gross with an attempt at a knee that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roni Sabian comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sabian has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roni Sabian!