PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Weston Grant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob ODonnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). ODonnell has chosen From Ashes To New - I Will Show You as his entrance music. Rob ODonnell has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Grant
vs
ODonnell

160 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

225 cm
21
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Weston Grant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rob ODonnell!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

ODonnell fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Grant sprawls well initially but ODonnell persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Grant wants to control but ODonnell is keeping busy and won't allow it.
ODonnell controlling the action here.

ODonnell is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Well, if ODonnell is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grant wants to control but ODonnell is keeping busy.
Grant wants to improve his position but ODonnell is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ODonnell is controlling the pace.
Grant is controlling ODonnell's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Grant blocking the ground and pound attempt from ODonnell.
ODonnell 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.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Grant trying to hold on to ODonnell's head to control him but ODonnell postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Grant gets caught napping as ODonnell dives in and scores a takedown. Grant manages to retain guard.
Grant could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
ODonnell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
ODonnell chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant trying to strike off his back.
Grant keeping moving, preventing ODonnell from controlling successfully.
Grant has control of ODonnell's left arm, preventing ODonnell from doing any damage.
ODonnell is looking to work some ground and pound but Grant has wrist control.
ODonnell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

It looks like Weston Grant has been cut.
ODonnell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

ODonnell drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Grant dives on top into guard.

Grant might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

ODonnell working for a triangle but Grant defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
ODonnell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grant looking to sit in guard and control but ODonnell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
ODonnell content to stall in guard here.
ODonnell pushing down on Grant's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Grant is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Grant is refusing to be controlled, as ODonnell sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
ODonnell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
ODonnell lands strikes from half guard.

ODonnell is working for a kimura but Grant is defending it quite comfortably.
ODonnell wants to free his trapped foot but Grant is holding on for dear life with his legs.
ODonnell passes into side control, despite Grant's attempt to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
ODonnell misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob ODonnell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Weston Grant's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

ODonnell scores with a takedown into Grant's guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for ODonnell. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
ODonnell is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
ODonnell would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Grant trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
ODonnell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
ODonnell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Grant works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Grant striking off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
ODonnell with a flurry of punches that miss.
ODonnell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Grant swivels though and keeps the full guard.
ODonnell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Grant seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
ODonnell looking to sit in guard and control but Grant gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Grant wants to control from the top but ODonnell keeps moving.

ODonnell looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Grant passes into side control.
Grant lands an elbow.
ODonnell wants to get back to his feet but Grant drags him back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Grant working away.
ODonnell manages to get back to half guard.
ODonnell is trying to stand back up but Grant is controlling him
ODonnell flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if ODonnell can do anything to dispel that myth.
Grant is thwarting ODonnell's attempts to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
ODonnell is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

ODonnell takes the fight into the clinch.

ODonnell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
ODonnell throws a half hearted mid kick.
It looked like Grant was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

ODonnell shoots in and gets a takedown into Grant's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ODonnell being controlled here momentarily.
ODonnell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Grant trying to control the position.
ODonnell throwing strikes from guard but Grant blocks nicely.
ODonnell is in close to Grant's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Grant looking for a sweep. Not yet Grant, not yet.
ODonnell tries to stand but Grant is controlling from the bottom.
Grant avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's four 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.
Grant not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Grant dives in and grabs ODonnell's left leg, looking for a takedown. ODonnell pushes down on Grant's head and hops out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Grant misses with a takedown
and ODonnell counters with a three punch combo that has Grant backing up. Grant nods at ODonnell to acknowledge the strikes.

ODonnell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Grant, pushing him back against the cage.

ODonnell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Grant closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. ODonnell quickly recovers to half guard.
ODonnell is looking to get back to is feet but Grant passes into side control.
Rob ODonnell has got the better of the ground game so far.
ODonnell wants to control but Grant postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A control attempt from ODonnell but he's now mounted!
ODonnell tries to hold on but Grant pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob ODonnell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Weston Grant's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

ODonnell throws a nice inside leg kick.

ODonnell has Grant up against the cage in a clinch.

Grant breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grant fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
ODonnell cracks Grant with a good jab.

ODonnell clinches.

ODonnell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

ODonnell manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Grant on his heels. He'll look to pass Grant's guard now, I'm sure.
ODonnell scoring with some ground and pound.
ODonnell throwing strikes but missing.
ODonnell postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ODonnell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
ODonnell wants to pass the guard but Grant is keeping the position.
Grant is controlling ODonnell's posture.
ODonnell throws an elbow that misses. Grant uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in ODonnell's guard. Nice move by Grant!

ODonnell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
ODonnell managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

ODonnell had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Grant defends it easily.
Grant has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of ODonnell is proving hard to escape from.
ODonnell wants to sweep here but Grant controlling him for the moment.
ODonnell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Grant. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ODonnell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Grant manages to get himself to full guard.

Grant has momentary wrist control but ODonnell slips an elbow through the middle.
Grant lands a decent shot there.
ODonnell works over Grant with some ground and pound from guard.
Grant avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
ODonnell in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Grant trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Grant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from ODonnell.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grant keeping moving, preventing ODonnell from controlling successfully.
ODonnell cracks Grant with a solid left hand.
Grant working a defensive guard here.
ODonnell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
ODonnell wants to control from the top but Grant keeps moving.
ODonnell wants to get up but he can't break Grant's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
ODonnell stands and throws Grant's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Weston Grant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rob ODonnell is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Grant prevents ODonnell from moving into mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob ODonnell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well ODonnell has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob ODonnell!
A less than humble Rob ODonnell misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.