PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gael Grappler (ranked 5035 p4p, 5169 weight class) and Will Poower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Grappler
vs
Poower

185 cm
25
189
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
202
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gael Grappler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Will Poower!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Daniel Franklin and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Grappler fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Poower, pushing him back against the cage.
Poower drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Grappler gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Poower is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Grappler can't fight it off and eventually Poower manages to take the fight to the floor. Grappler looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Poower stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Grappler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Grappler is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grappler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Poower is one step ahead there.
Grappler pulls Poower in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grappler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Grappler on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Grappler tries to get out of the position.
Poower trying to control but Grappler is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Grappler tries to clinch there but Poower circles away.
Poower avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Poower pushes Grappler up against the cage in a clinch.
Grappler misses with a punch to the body.

That's two 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.
Poower fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Grappler throws an elbow that misses.
Grappler goes for a takedown attempt but Poower pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Poower.
Gael Grappler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Poower.
Grappler swings for the body but Poower moves out of range.
Poower slips a jab and a cross from Grappler.

Grappler closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Grappler is trying to drag Poower to the mat but Poower just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Poower avoids a wild elbow strike from Grappler.
Grappler creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Grappler prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poower gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Poower sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Grappler defending well though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grappler is refusing to be controlled, as Poower sits in half guard.
Grappler tries to get to full guard but Poower has control of the leg.
Grappler trying to hold on to Poower's head to control him but Poower postures up.
Poower tries to stand but can't do so whilst Grappler controls his leg.
Grappler trying to hold on to Poower's head to control him but Poower postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grappler is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Poower wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grappler keeps working.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Poower looking to score a takedown here. Grappler is defending well but Poower drives through and ends up in Grappler's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Grappler is on top in guard.

Grappler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Poower throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Poower 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.
Poower controls Grappler momentarily but Grappler frees himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Will Poower will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Grappler misses the shot to the body.
Poower shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Grappler is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Poower.
Poower fails with a takedown attempt.
Grappler is looking to counter punch.
Poower keeps the fight on the outside.
Grappler 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.

Grappler instigates a clinch.
Poower blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Grappler can't find room to land a body shot as Poower controls the action.
Poower is trying to force a seperation but Grappler has the dominant position.
Poower tries to pull guard but Grappler holds him up against the cage and eventually Poower drops back down to his feet.
Gael Grappler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Poower.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grappler misses with an elbow over the top.
Grappler throws an elbow that misses.
Poower dodges an elbow strike from Grappler.
Grappler will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Poower up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poower is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Grappler is defending well.
A head punch on the inside from Grappler fails to land.
Grappler prevents a takedown attempt there.
Grappler throws a punch but it's blocked by Poower.
Poower blocks the elbow strike.

Poower gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Grappler trying to control from the bottom.
Grappler is looking for a sweep. Poower is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Grappler moves into full guard.
Grappler wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poower wants to stand and escape but instead Grappler has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Grappler is in close to Poower's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Grappler got a little sloppy there for a moment and Poower has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Grappler has managed to get both his arms back between Poower's legs - danger averted.
Grappler postures up in Poower's guard and throws a big left but Poower blocks it.
Poower looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Grappler looking to sit in guard and control but Poower gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Poower wants to stand but Grappler is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grappler working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Poower has passed into half guard!
Poower seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Poower wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grappler keeps working.
Grappler controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

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.
Grappler moves into full guard.

Poower avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Poower stays in close to Grappler's body and controls the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Poower trying to control the position from guard on top but Grappler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gael Grappler dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Poower changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Grappler fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Grappler throws a hook to the side of Poower's head but Poower sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Poower is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Poower closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Poower lands in his opponent's guard.
Grappler keeping moving, preventing Poower from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poower throws a strike but Grappler rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Grappler stopping the sweep attempt from Poower.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poower is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Grappler thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Grappler lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Poower utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Grappler stopping the sweep attempt from Poower.

Poower is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Grappler throwing strikes but missing.

Poower has his foot on Grappler's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Grappler works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Poower lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Poower avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Grappler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poower trying to control but Grappler is working from the bottom.
Grappler managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Will Poower has got the better of the ground game so far.
Poower struggling a bit here.
Poower is trying to get back to half guard.
The referee asks Grappler politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Grappler prefers to stall for the moment though.
Grappler lands a few punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grappler working away.
Poower tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Grappler wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Grappler connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Poower some visible discomfort.
Poower is looking to reverse the position.
Grappler in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Poower is trying to improve his position.
Grappler working the head and body with strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Poower's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Grappler landing strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gael Grappler showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Grappler 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 David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gael Grappler!
After winning the bout, Gael Grappler thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.