PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cassius Clay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Gruunch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Gruunch has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Clay
vs
Gruunch

175 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

193 cm
18
135 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cassius Clay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Gruunch!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gruunch closes the distance but Clay moves to the side
and Clay counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Clay stalks Gruunch and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gruunch's face. Gruunch staggers backwards, shaken.
Gruunch gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Clay throws a one two combo.

Gruunch has closed the distance and engaged Clay in a clinch.
Clay tries to break the clinch but Gruunch is controlling the position.
A frustrated look appears on Clay's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Clay has had enough of the clinch but Gruunch keeps him there for the moment.
Gruunch tries to land a knee to the head but Clay blocks with his arms.
A frustrated look appears on Clay's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gruunch tries a knee to the head but Clay blocks it.
Clay really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Clay tries to break the clinch but Gruunch is controlling the position.

Clay pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Clay misses with a few strikes there.
Gruunch tries to close the distance and clinch but Clay swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Steve Gruunch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gruunch shoots in for a takedown but Clay shows good takedown defense.
Gruunch closes the distance looking to clinch
and Clay makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clay lands a jab-cross combination.
Clay avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Clay misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gruunch moves in looking to clinch but Clay pushes him off.

Gruunch moves into the clinch successfully.
Gruunch looking to stall.
Clay pushes Gruunch back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Clay breaks the clinch.
Clay fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A left and a right from Clay both land. Nice combination.
Gruunch wants to clinch but Clay slips to the side

and Clay holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gruunch has Clay pressed against the cage, preventing Clay from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gruunch tries to land a knee to the head but Clay blocks with his arms.
Clay drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gruunch landing knees to the body.
Gruunch misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay is trying to break the clinch but Gruunch has him pressed against the cage.
Gruunch with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Gruunch.
Clay is trying to break the clinch but Gruunch has him pressed against the cage.
Clay has had enough of the clinch but Gruunch keeps him there for the moment.
Gruunch tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Clay manages to break the clinch.
Gruunch fails to land the takedown.
Clay keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
No joy there for Clay, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Clay misses with a jab, cross combination.
Clay tries to bum rush Gruunch with a series of wild strikes but Gruunch uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gruunch connects with a solid leg kick.
Gruunch tries to clinch but Clay moves out of range.
Clay will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Clay keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clay misses with a wild combination.
Clay will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Clay misses with a wild combination.

Clay closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gruunch's guard.
Gruunch wants to get back to his feet but Clay is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Clay gets to his feet - Gruunch follows without any prompting.
Clay throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Clay throws a right and a left that Gruunch avoids nicely.
Clay misses with a few strikes there.
Clay misses with a double jab.
Clay is breathing heavily.
Gruunch tries to clinch up but Clay circles away and keeps his distance.
Gruunch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gruunch tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Clay counters with a three punch combo that has Gruunch backing up. Gruunch nods at Clay to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clay misses with a wild body shot.

Gruunch rushes Clay and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gruunch with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Clay tries to break the clinch but Gruunch is controlling the position.
Gruunch with a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Clay can't break the clinch.
Gruunch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Clay has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A frustrated look appears on Clay's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Clay wants to get back to striking at distance but Gruunch won't allow it.
Clay is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gruunch tries a knee to the head but Clay blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clay is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Clay is trying to force a seperation but Gruunch has the dominant position.
Clay wants to break free but Gruunch has control.
Clay throws an elbow that misses.
Gruunch is trying to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cassius Clay dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Clay lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gruunch circles away quickly and effectively.
Clay stalks Gruunch and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gruunch's face. Gruunch staggers backwards, shaken.
Cassius Clay is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gruunch tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Clay counter with a right hand.
Clay tries to bum rush Gruunch with a series of wild strikes but Gruunch uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Clay's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Clay duly obliges.
Clay avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gruunch on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Clay tries to bum rush Gruunch with a series of wild strikes but Gruunch uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cassius Clay is winning the standup battle so far.
Clay swats away the attempt to clinch by Gruunch.
Gruunch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Clay paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gruunch fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gruunch is looking to clinch.
Clay misses with a series of wild punches.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Clay.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clay stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Gruunch closes this distance looking for a takedown but Clay circles away.
A combination from Clay does no damage.
Gruunch tries to close the distance and clinch up but Clay swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Clay scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Gruunch walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Clay misses with a double jab
and Gruunch counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gruunch tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Clay manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gruunch takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Gruunch tries to close the distance and clinch up but Clay swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Clay throws a body kick that misses.
Nice defenses there by Clay.
Clay looks to land a combination. Gruunch sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gruunch darts in trying to clinch

and Clay counters with a single leg into guard. Gruunch didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Clay stopping the sweep attempt from Gruunch.
Clay 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Clay decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gruunch, up you get!
Clay rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gruunch moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sloppy strikes from Clay. Those never looked like landing.
Clay keeps the fight on the outside.
Clay throws a series of strikes that have Gruunch backpedaling.
Clay scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Clay throws a nice looking combination but Gruunch bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Clay smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Clay avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gruunch tries to clinch up but Clay circles away and keeps his distance.
Clay throws a right hand that Gruunch ducks under and follows up with a left that Gruunch also avoids with ease.
Gruunch looks to clinch
and Clay counters with a one-two to the body.

Gruunch pushes Clay up against the cage in a clinch.
Gruunch stalling in the clinch but Clay improves position.
Clay tries to circle away but Gruunch has him pinned against the cage.
Clay is trying to break free.
Clay takes a knee right on the jaw!
Clay lands a body punch.
Clay has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Clay wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gruunch is trying to maintain a safe position but Clay gets an underhook and turns Gruunch into the cage.
Clay is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Clay gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Clay gets to his feet. Gruunch looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A left and a right from Clay both land. Nice combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gruunch pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gruunch tries a head kick but it misses.
Clay lands a jab to the nose.
Clay throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gruunch tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Clay counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gruunch is looking to clinch.
Clay fails to land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gruunch looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gruunch tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Clay manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gruunch takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clay throws a series of punches but Gruunch avoids them all with ease.
Clay lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Gruunch wants to clinch up but Clay keeps it at a distance.
Clay misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cassius Clay dominated that second round.
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!

Gruunch tries for a takedown but Clay sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Clay pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Clay pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gruunch tries to clinch there but Clay circles away.
Gruunch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Clay misses with a hook. Gruunch ducked under it nicely.
Gruunch takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gruunch fails in his attempt to clinch.
Clay misses with the combination.

Gruunch gets a clinch.
Clay is trying to break free.
Clay is trying to break the clinch but Gruunch has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gruunch throws a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Gruunch.
Clay lands with a left to the head.
Clay wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clay breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gruunch has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Clay stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Clay wants it to stay on the feet.
Gruunch is looking to clinch.
Gruunch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Clay motions for Gruunch to come forward. Clay throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Clay circles away from the clinch attempt.
Clay rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gruunch moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gruunch moves in looking to clinch but Clay pushes him off.
Clay scores with a sloppy right hand. Gruunch should have avoided that one.
Gruunch wants to clinch but Clay slips to the side
and Clay counters with a two punch combo.
Gruunch tries to clinch up but Clay circles away and keeps his distance.
Gruunch doesn't manage to clinch there - Clay circles away.
Gruunch fails with an attempt to clinch.
Clay throws a series of punches but Gruunch moves out of range.
Steve Gruunch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clay misses with a few strikes there.
Clay takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gruunch showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Clay.
Clay throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gruunch.
Clay looks to land a combination but Gruunch avoids it well.
Gruunch tries to clinch but Clay is having none of it.
Gruunch wants to clinch.
Gruunch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Gruunch clinches.
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!
Gruunch throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gruunch managing to block the knees to the body from Clay.
Gruunch throws a knee to the head but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gruunch just misses with a elbow thrown towards Clay's brow.
Steve Gruunch seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gruunch misses with a knee strike.
A right hand to the body from Clay.
Clay lands a body punch.
Clay scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Clay tries to break the clinch but Gruunch is controlling the position.
Clay managing to block the knees to the body from Gruunch.
Clay lands a shoulder strike.
Clay is trying to push Gruunch away but Gruunch has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Clay escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gruunch has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Clay swinging wildly here.
Clay misses with a double jab.
Clay misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gruunch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A left and a right from Clay both land. Nice combination.
Clay thuds his right hand into Gruunch's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gruunch tries to clinch but Clay moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gruunch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Clay avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Clay swats away the attempt to clinch by Gruunch.
Gruunch is looking to clinch.
Gruunch moves in looking to clinch but Clay pushes him off.
Gruunch wants to clinch but Clay slips to the side
and Clay counters with a left and a right that stings Gruunch.
Gruunch wants to clinch but Clay slips to the side
and Clay counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gruunch tries to close the distance and clinch but Clay swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Clay lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gruunch is looking to clinch.
Gruunch slips a jab and a cross from Clay.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters circling - Gruunch throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Clay avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cassius Clay is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Clay throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Clay. Those never looked like landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Cassius Clay.
Well Clay has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cassius Clay!
Cassius Clay decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.