PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Calvin McGrath (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rogan Redban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McGrath
vs
Redban

175 cm
28
165 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

181 cm
28
159 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Calvin McGrath!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rogan Redban!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Taro Takaoka and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Redban instigates a clinch.
Redban swings wildly with an uppercut but McGrath uses good head movement to avoid it.

Redban has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but McGrath regains guard immediately.
McGrath 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.
Redban wants to control from the top but McGrath keeps moving.
McGrath controls Redban momentarily but Redban frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Redban trying to control the position from guard on top but McGrath is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
McGrath is trying to control the position but Redban postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Redban accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Redban trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Redban must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McGrath keeping moving, preventing Redban from controlling successfully.
Redban really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McGrath. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Redban stopping the sweep attempt from McGrath.
McGrath lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

McGrath slips nicely into half guard.
McGrath is thwarting Redban's attempts to control the position.

McGrath is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Redban makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Redban.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

McGrath managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Redban.
Redban happy to just control the position for now.
McGrath is looking to regain half guard here but Redban keeps moving and retains side control.
Redban works to advance to full mount. McGrath defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Redban lands a big elbow.
McGrath is bucking up trying to escape but Redban cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Redban trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Redban looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Redban prevents McGrath from getting the reversal.
Redban pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
McGrath holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Redban tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Redban with good strikes from the mount here!
Redban controlling from mount.
McGrath wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Redban.
Redban trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGrath tries to lock up and control but Redban gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Redban lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Redban trying to control but McGrath is having none of it.
McGrath is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Redban takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Redban throwing strikes here but McGrath is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Redban looking to control but McGrath is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogan Redban dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Redban gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Redban softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
McGrath tries to pull guard but Redban forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Redban using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McGrath has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Redban lands a takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGrath trying to control the position.
Redban working some strikes from top position.
Redban throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McGrath works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McGrath is trying to control the position but Redban postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Redban wants to pass the guard but McGrath is keeping the position.
McGrath bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Redban's guard.

Redban trying to keep a closed guard but McGrath is proving a slippery customer.
McGrath tries to free his leg and advance position but Redban is retaining full guard.
Redban keeping moving, preventing McGrath from controlling successfully.
McGrath loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McGrath wants to pass the guard but Redban is keeping the position.
Redban has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
McGrath preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGrath postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Redban has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McGrath passes Redban's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Redban moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
McGrath trying to control but Redban is working from the bottom.
Redban wants to sweep but no luck.
McGrath trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Redban wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
McGrath tries to free his leg and advance position but Redban is retaining full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Redban is looking to sweep but instead, McGrath has passed into half guard.
McGrath seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
McGrath is keen to just control but Redban is a slippery customer.
Redban is trying to get back to full guard.

McGrath is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Redban doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time McGrath.
McGrath trying to control from half guard but Redban is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGrath moves into full mount! Redban won't be happy about that!
McGrath unloads with some shots from mount but Redban bucks and avoids them well.
Redban slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

McGrath is looking for a kimura but Redban is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for McGrath to get the leverage.
Redban is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Redban trying to control but McGrath postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Redban can do anything to dispel that myth.
Redban wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Calvin McGrath will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Redban clinches up with McGrath and pushes him back against the ropes.
McGrath on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Redban lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
McGrath wants to improve his position but Redban is controlling well.
Redban seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McGrath does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
McGrath keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Redban is just content to waste time from the top position. McGrath takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGrath 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.
McGrath keeping moving, preventing Redban from controlling successfully.
McGrath is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Redban manages to get to full guard.
Redban wants to sweep here but McGrath controlling him for the moment.
McGrath wants to control from the top but Redban keeps moving.
McGrath tries to free his leg and advance position but Redban is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Redban doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Redban controls McGrath momentarily but McGrath frees himself.
McGrath trying to control the position from guard on top but Redban is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Redban 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.
McGrath wants to control from the top but Redban keeps moving.
McGrath is fighting to break Redban's control of his arms but Redban is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Redban moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGrath trying to control the position but instead, Redban has worked for underhooks and has pushed McGrath into the ropes.

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

Redban gets in close and instigates a clinch.
McGrath blocks the elbow strike.
Redban has McGrath pushed against the ropes.

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.

McGrath has hold of one of Redban's legs. Redban is fighting the takedown attempt but McGrath gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Redban tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McGrath throwing strikes from guard but Redban blocks nicely.
McGrath trying to control but Redban is working from the bottom.
McGrath throws an elbow that misses. Redban uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in McGrath's guard. Nice move by Redban!

Rogan Redban is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGrath is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Calvin McGrath has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McGrath not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rogan Redban.
Well Redban 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Rogan Redban!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Rogan Redban!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Rogan Redban!

Rogan Redban wins by unanimous decision!
Rogan Redban very nearly forgot to thank Bushido Fightwear amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.