PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rj Bell (ranked 4322 p4p, 2050 weight class) and Aron Gray (ranked 564 p4p, 304 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Rj Bell has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Rj Bell seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Bell
vs
Gray

177 cm
26
154
9 - 4 - 0

177 cm
25
160
5 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

EFC Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rj Bell!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aron Gray !
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bell tries to clinch but Gray moves out of range.
Gray tries to counter by closing the distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bell.
Gray feints the counter takedown.
Gray dodges the punch combination from Bell.
Gray wants to counter the offense by Bell and move into the clinch position.
Gray slips under a jab from Bell.
Bell misses with a looping left.
Gray with the counter takedown but Bell avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gray with the counter takedown but Bell avoids it easily.
Bell tries to clinch up but Gray circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray slips a jab and a cross from Bell.

Bell clinches up with Gray and pushes him back against the cage.

Bell pulls guard successfully.
Gray slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Gray trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Bell had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gray defends it easily.
Bell has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Bell keeping moving, preventing Gray from controlling successfully.
Gray stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gray trying to control the position from guard on top but Bell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray preventing the sweep.
Gray wants to control from the top but Bell keeps moving.
Gray stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bell swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gray postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bell is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gray , into his guard.

Bell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gray swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell is stalling in the full guard.
Bell wants to control from the top but Gray keeps moving.

Gray working for a triangle but Bell defends it easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bell slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Bell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gray keeps working.

Bell tries for a kimura but Gray is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Bell wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gray , who protects the arm well.

Bell goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Gray has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bell but great work by Gray .
Gray advances to full mount.
Bell is trying to escape the mount.

Gray goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Bell turns into him and now he's in Gray 's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Bell got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gray has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bell has managed to get both his arms back between Gray 's legs - danger averted.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rj Bell dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bell tries to clinch but Gray moves out of range.
Gray feints the counter takedown.
Bell throws the left hand but Gray avoids the punch easily.
Bell tries to clinch but Gray is having none of it.
Bell fails with a takedown attempt.
Gray 's coach down at EFC Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Gray 's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Bell fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bell throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Gray counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gray .
Bell looking for a sweep. Not yet Bell, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gray wants to control from the top but Bell keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gray trying to control the position from guard on top but Bell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gray stands and throws Bell's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Gray is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bell is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Bell sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gray is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bell has managed to free his arm - good work.

Bell looking for submissions off his back.

Gray is trying to work for a kimura but Bell is defending well.
Bell regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray 's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gray looking to sit in guard and control but Bell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gray is keeping the position for now.

Gray throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Gray working for a triangle but Bell defends it easily.
Bell trying to control but Gray is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Gray wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bell, who protects the arm well.
Bell struggling a bit here.
Gray in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bell is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gray 's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aron Gray showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Bell throws a combination that misses

and Gray counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Bell!
You can see the frustration on Bell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Bell's face as Gray controls the position.
Bell tries to improve position but can't.

Gray tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Gray is trying to get an arm triangle but Bell is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gray advances nicely into full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell is trying to escape the mount.
Gray wants to control the action but instead Bell gets a body lock and reverses into Gray 's guard! Nice work!
Aron Gray has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bell looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Gray working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bell is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Gray is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bell is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Gray is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bell is aware though and is defending well.
Bell trying to control but Gray is working from the bottom.
Bell works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Bell is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Bell is looking for a kimura but Gray is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bell to get the leverage.

Gray actively working from the bottom here.

Bell is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gray doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bell.

Bell seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gray looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bell is looking for a kimura but Gray is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bell to get the leverage.
Gray is refusing to be controlled, as Bell sits in half guard.
Bell passes to side control.
Gray sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Gray gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bell trying to control but Gray is working from the bottom.

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

Gray has his foot on Bell's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bell works his way back into a safe position though.
Gray takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bell stands and throws Gray 's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Bell tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Bell has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Bell tries for a kimura but Gray is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gray is looking to regain half guard here but Bell keeps moving and retains side control.

Bell tries for a kimura but Gray is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Aron Gray just about did enough to take it.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Bell shoots in but Gray avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rj Bell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gray circles away from the clinch attempt

and Gray counters with a single leg into guard. Bell didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gray drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gray jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bell keeping moving, preventing Gray from controlling successfully.

Bell looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gray passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Bell!
Gray wants to control the pace but Bell is squirming around nicely.
Gray is trying to take his opponent's back.
Gray sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

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.
Bell is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gray avoids the attempt from Bell to control.
Gray can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bell is looking to escape.
Bell is desperately trying to improve his position but Gray has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray controlling the pace for now.

Gray working for a submission but Bell is keeping him at bay.
Bell tries to reverse the position but Gray maintains control.

Gray has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Bell is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Aron Gray !
Aron Gray is the new middleweight champion!
A very excited looking Aron Gray made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.