PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zapp Brannigan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Grey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Brannigan
vs
Grey

170 cm
22
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
153 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Self confident

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zapp Brannigan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Grey!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grey throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Grey feints and as Brannigan raises his hands in defense, Grey changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Brannigan pulls Grey in to control the position.
Grey trying to control the position from guard on top but Brannigan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grey advances to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brannigan is staying active underneath Grey, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Brannigan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Grey is trying to control. Brannigan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Grey is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Brannigan is trying to control but can't.
Grey wants to control but Brannigan is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brannigan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Brannigan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grey trying to control but Brannigan is working from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mike Grey wasn't active enough on the ground.
Grey misses with an uppercut.
Grey takes a swing at Brannigan's ribcage but misses.
Grey looks to land a left hand but Brannigan moved out of range nicely.
Brannigan is looking to clinch but Grey is avoiding it.
Grey looks to throw the jab but Brannigan is out of range.
Grey looks to score with a jab to the body but Brannigan is just out of range.
Brannigan tries to clinch but Grey moves out of range.
Grey misses with a looping left.
Brannigan tries to close the distance and clinch but Grey swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Grey throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Brannigan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Grey counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Grey.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brannigan has his hands on Grey's head, controlling the position.
Grey showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Grey throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brannigan controls Grey momentarily but Grey frees himself.
Grey throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Brannigan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Brannigan tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Brannigan throws his legs up looking for a submission but Grey uses it to pass to side control.
You can see the frustration on Brannigan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brannigan manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Grey is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Brannigan passes the guard and advances to mount!
Brannigan avoids the attempt from Grey to control.
Grey can't escape the position.

Brannigan swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Grey is now in Brannigan's guard. A big mistake from Brannigan there, giving up the dominant position!
Grey 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Brannigan looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Grey has picked Brannigan up and slammed him! Brannigan can't keep hold of the triangle and Grey manages to pass to side control!
Grey throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Grey trying to control the position but Brannigan is working away.
Grey in side control lands a decent elbow.
Grey advances to full mount.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Brannigan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grey landing strikes from the mount and Brannigan is in trouble!
Grey lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Brannigan shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Brannigan was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Grey is looking to improve his position but Brannigan isn't that keen on the idea.

Brannigan working for a submission but Grey is keeping him at bay.
Mike Grey has got the better of the ground game so far.
Grey wants to control but Brannigan is having none of it.
Brannigan is stalling here but it's allowed Grey to get half guard.
Grey is looking to control Brannigan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Grey avoid being mounted?
Grey flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brannigan is looking for a kimura here.
Brannigan is looking to pass Grey's guard but actually Grey recovers to full guard.
Brannigan trying to control the position from guard on top but Grey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brannigan is really struggling to control Grey but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Grey can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Brannigan controls the pace.
Brannigan won't allow Grey to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grey keeping moving, preventing Brannigan from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zapp Brannigan wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Grey tries for a takedown but Brannigan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grey. Brannigan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Grey throws a lazy right hand but Brannigan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Brannigan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Grey to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Grey is looking to advance position but Brannigan has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Brannigan wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Brannigan wants to control the pace but Grey is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brannigan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Grey is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Brannigan controlling from the full mount.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Brannigan jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Grey is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Grey and Brannigan has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Brannigan trying to control the position but Grey is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grey is looking for a sweep.

Brannigan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Grey has escaped the position, nice work there.
Grey tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Brannigan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Grey is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Brannigan trying to control the position but Grey is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zapp Brannigan dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Grey keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Grey is trying hard to land a takedown here. Brannigan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Grey swings for the body but Brannigan moves out of range.
Brannigan misses with a takedown attempt - Grey sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Grey takes a swing at Brannigan's ribcage but misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Brannigan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Brannigan closes the distance and clinches up with Grey, looking for a takedown. Brannigan pushes Grey against the cage but Grey circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zapp Brannigan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grey misses with a wild body shot.
Grey shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Brannigan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Grey working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brannigan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Brannigan trying to control but Grey is working from the bottom.
Brannigan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Grey swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Grey is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Brannigan is aware though and is defending well.
Grey 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.
Grey trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Grey throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brannigan trying to control but Grey is working from the bottom.

Grey is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Brannigan is aware though and is defending well.
Brannigan trying to control but Grey is working from the bottom.
Grey 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.
Brannigan wants to control from the top but Grey keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Zapp Brannigan.
Brannigan tries to clinch there but Grey circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grey takes a swing at Brannigan's ribcage but misses.
Brannigan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Grey.
Brannigan avoids the body shot from Grey.
Brannigan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Grey swivels and escapes.
Brannigan swings for the body but Grey moves out of range.
Brannigan tries to clinch but Grey is having none of it.
Brannigan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Brannigan wants it to stay on the feet.
Grey misses the shot to the body.

Brannigan throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Grey was covering up waiting for the punch and Brannigan finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Brannigan's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brannigan trying to control the position from guard on top but Grey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Zapp Brannigan just wasn't active enough.
Grey shoots and misses

and Brannigan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Grey!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grey is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Brannigan swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Grey is now in Brannigan's guard. A big mistake from Brannigan there, giving up the dominant position!
Brannigan is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zapp Brannigan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Brannigan 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Mike Grey!
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Zapp Brannigan!
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Mike Grey!

Mike Grey wins by split decision!