PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lorne Greenebaum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Conner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Damien Conner was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Greenebaum
vs
Conner

165 cm
29
151 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

179 cm
22
157 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lorne Greenebaum!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Damien Conner!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Conner looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Conner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Greenebaum wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Greenebaum avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Greenebaum throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Conner tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Greenebaum is in Conner's guard.
Conner wants to stand up but Greenebaum is controlling him.
Greenebaum might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Greenebaum is pushing down on Conner's leg trying to pass to half guard. Conner is fighting to maintain full guard but Greenebaum has managed to sneak the leg through.
Greenebaum wants to free his trapped foot but Conner is holding on for dear life with his legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conner is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Greenebaum scores with a couple of nice shots.

Greenebaum is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Conner sees it coming and defends easily.
Greenebaum is looking to advance position but Conner won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Greenebaum looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Greenebaum looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Conner wants to get back to full 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.
Greenebaum looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Greenebaum throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Greenebaum not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Conner has his hands clasped together around Greenebaum's back. He's all about the action.
Greenebaum definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Conner wants to control but Greenebaum is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Greenebaum lands strikes from half guard.
Conner is not content to let Greenebaum control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conner blocking the ground and pound attempt from Greenebaum.
Greenebaum stops Conner from getting back to his feet.
Conner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Greenebaum.
Conner tries to roll over but Greenebaum keeps him under control.
Greenebaum works his way into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Conner is looking to regain half guard here but Greenebaum keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Conner keeps trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Greenebaum landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Conner can do anything to dispel that myth.
Greenebaum works to advance to full mount. Conner defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Greenebaum controlling the position easily from mount.
Greenebaum can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Conner is looking to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Conner working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lorne Greenebaum dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Conner lands with a shot to the body.

Greenebaum bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Conner bucks up and tries to throw Greenebaum off but instead Greenebaum has got his back!
Greenebaum lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Greenebaum is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

Greenebaum working for a choke but Conner is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Greenebaum lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Greenebaum misses with a punch to the head.
Greenebaum struggling to land strikes to the head as Conner covers up.

Greenebaum working for the choke.
Conner wants to get back to his feet.
Conner avoids the strikes from Greenebaum.

Conner is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Greenebaum is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Conner defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conner is covering up but some of the strikes from Greenebaum are getting through and doing damage.
Conner covering up well and avoiding damage.
Conner trying to get back to his feet but Greenebaum is in full control for now.
Conner is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Conner trying to control the hands but Greenebaum won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Even with his hooks in, Greenebaum manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Greenebaum struggling to land strikes to the head as Conner covers up.
Greenebaum 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.
You can see the frustration on Conner's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Conner is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Greenebaum off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Greenebaum doesn't have the hooks in and Conner manages to turn into his guard.
Greenebaum has a closed guard, preventing Conner from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Greenebaum manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Conner manages to get himself to full guard.

Greenebaum trying to control but Conner is working from the bottom.
Conner is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Greenebaum is controlling him.
Greenebaum tries to free his leg and advance position but Conner is retaining full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Conner has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Greenebaum throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lorne Greenebaum dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Conner cracks Greenebaum with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Conner avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A punch combination from Conner misses.
Conner keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Greenebaum.
Greenebaum is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Conner can do to turn this around?
Greenebaum takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Greenebaum tries to score a power double leg takedown but Conner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Greenebaum somewhat.
Conner connects with an inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Greenebaum misses with a few strikes there.
Greenebaum ducks right into an uppercut from Conner.
Conner throws a push kick but Greenebaum slaps the foot to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Greenebaum avoids a punch combination nicely.
Greenebaum misses with a low kick.
Greenebaum swings widly with a right hand
and Conner counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Conner throws a hook but Greenebaum blocks it.
Greenebaum drops down looking for a counter takedown but Conner sprawls and moves away.
Conner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Greenebaum darts in looking for a takedown but Conner gets double underhooks and turns Greenebaum into the cage.
Greenebaum just misses with a punch to the body.
Conner throws a combination. Greenebaum tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Conner tries to clinch but Greenebaum moves out of range.
Greenebaum attempts a counter takedown but Conner avoids it well and moves away.
Conner throws a hook to the side of Greenebaum's head but Greenebaum sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Conner leaves Greenebaum with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lorne Greenebaum. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conner slips a jab and a cross from Greenebaum.
Lorne Greenebaum is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Conner checks the leg kick nicely there.
Conner misses with a series of wild punches.
Greenebaum feinted with a counter takedown.
Greenebaum misses with a leg kick
and Conner counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Greenebaum throws a right hand that misses
and Conner counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Conner with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Greenebaum shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Conner pinned against the cage. Conner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Conner throws a sloppy head kick and Greenebaum moves out of range easily.
Damien Conner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The fighters circling - Greenebaum throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Greenebaum throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Conner was covering up waiting for the punch and Greenebaum finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Greenebaum cracks Conner with a solid left hand.
Conner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Greenebaum stands and throws Conner's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Greenebaum lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Greenebaum is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Conner is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Greenebaum is looking to take a break and control but Conner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Greenebaum tries to advance to mount but Conner denies him.
Conner is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Greenebaum has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Lorne Greenebaum overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Greenebaum scores with a couple of short elbows.
The strikes coming from Greenebaum are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Greenebaum scoring with punches and elbows.

Greenebaum is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Conner is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Conner really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

That kick from Conner tenderised Greenebaum's leg. Greenebaum is trying to keep his angry face on.
Greenebaum throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Conner has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Greenebaum misses with a two punch combination.
Conner moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Greenebaum keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Conner connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Conner wants to clinch up but Greenebaum keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Greenebaum showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Conner.
Greenebaum half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Greenebaum will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conner looks to land a left hand but Greenebaum moved out of range nicely.
Greenebaum half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Conner throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Greenebaum stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Greenebaum throws a combination that misses
letting Conner counter with a right hand.
Conner misses the shot to the body.
Greenebaum swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A punch combination from Conner misses.
Greenebaum half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Conner darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Conner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Greenebaum attempts a counter takedown but Conner avoids it well and moves away.
Damien Conner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big right from Conner misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Conner. Greenebaum does a little dance to reset his feet.

Greenebaum throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Conner was covering up waiting for the punch and Greenebaum finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Conner working for a triangle but Greenebaum defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conner can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Greenebaum controls the pace.
Greenebaum tries to free his leg and advance position but Conner is retaining full guard.
Greenebaum throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Conner works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Greenebaum passes Conner's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Conner is trying to stand up here but Greenebaum is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Greenebaum works his way into side control.
Greenebaum lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Conner down.
Greenebaum lands a decent elbow from side control.
Conner struggling a bit here.
Greenebaum trying to control the action but Conner is working from the bottom.
Greenebaum lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Conner down.
Conner is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conner tries to escape but Greenebaum is in control.
Greenebaum scoring with punches and elbows.
Greenebaum trying to control the action but Conner is working from the bottom.
Conner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Greenebaum. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Check out the look on Greenebaum's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Conner is not content to let Greenebaum control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Greenebaum fails to land a wild elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Lorne Greenebaum will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Greenebaum on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Greenebaum misses with a jab, cross combination.
Conner throws a jab when Greenebaum was well out of range.
Greenebaum half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Conner takes the fight into the clinch.
Conner tries to work over Greenebaum's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Greenebaum fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Conner tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Greenebaum's elbow.
Conner lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Conner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Greenebaum misses with a takedown attempt - Conner sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Conner tries to clinch but Greenebaum moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Greenebaum has a takedown stuffed.
A little jabbing left from Conner on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lorne Greenebaum. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Conner dodges the punch combination from Greenebaum.
Conner moves in looking to clinch but Greenebaum pushes him off.
Jab by Greenebaum.
Nice sprawl there from Conner as Greenebaum shoots in.
Conner tries to clinch up

and Greenebaum counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Greenebaum stays in close to Conner's body and controls the position.
Greenebaum with a flurry of punches that miss.
Damien Conner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lorne Greenebaum is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Greenebaum trying to control but Conner is working from the bottom.
Greenebaum 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.
Conner keeping moving, preventing Greenebaum from controlling successfully.
Conner being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conner takes a swing at Greenebaum's ribcage but misses.
Greenebaum looks for a takedown but Conner sprawls well.
Conner throws a counter combo.
Conner steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Greenebaum.
Despite the aggression on Conner's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Conner tries to clinch up but Greenebaum circles away and keeps his distance.
Greenebaum shoots in looking for a takedown. Conner tries to sprawl out of it but Greenebaum keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Conner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Conner works Greenebaum's body with a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conner tries to clinch but Greenebaum moves out of range.
Greenebaum misses with a wild body shot.
Greenebaum misses with a two punch combination.
Conner misses the shot to the body.
Greenebaum shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Conner sprawls well. Conner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Greenebaum gets slowly back to his feet.
Conner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Greenebaum manages to avoid it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Conner tries to clinch up but Greenebaum circles away and keeps his distance.
Greenebaum drops down looking for a counter takedown but Conner sprawls and moves away.
Conner moves in looking to clinch but Greenebaum pushes him off.
Conner keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damien Conner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Greenebaum 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 48:47
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 47:48
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 48:48

The fight is ruled a draw!
Lorne Greenebaum retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!