PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paul Styles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baki Grappler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grappler is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Let the bodies hit the floor. Paul Styles had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Paul Styles has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Styles
vs
Grappler

180 cm
21
179 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Styles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Baki Grappler!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Styles shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Styles stands and steps away. Grappler gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Grappler closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Grappler lands in his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Grappler's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Styles keeping full guard, as Grappler tries to pass.
Styles is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Grappler is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Grappler tries to free his leg and advance position but Styles is retaining full guard.
Styles avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Styles keeping full guard, as Grappler tries to pass.
Grappler trying to control the position from guard on top but Styles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Styles throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Styles with a lazy takedown attempt

and Grappler counters with a shoot takedown. Styles fights it but they end up in guard.
Styles is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grappler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Styles seems keen to control Grappler's posture.
Styles keeping moving, preventing Grappler from controlling successfully.
Grappler makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Grappler tries to free his leg and advance position but Styles is retaining full guard.
Styles trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Grappler stopping the sweep attempt from Styles.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Styles gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Styles tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Grappler forces his way into half guard.
Styles taking some punishment here, with Grappler in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grappler passes to side control.
Grappler working the ground and pound from side control.
Styles manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Grappler thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Styles pushes Grappler off and gets back to his feet.
Styles tries for a takedown but Grappler circles away easily

and Grappler counters with a nice double leg into side control. Styles won't be happy with that.
Styles is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Grappler asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Styles is trying to get back to half guard.
Grappler lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Styles down.
Grappler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Styles keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grappler works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Styles is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Grappler has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Grappler lands a nice forearm strike.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Grappler swats away the attempt to clinch by Styles.
Styles looks to land a combination but Grappler avoids it well.

Grappler gets a takedown into half guard.
Styles trying to control but Grappler postures up.
Grappler looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Styles with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Grappler decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Grappler shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Grappler is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Styles is just riding it out for now. Grappler eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Styles wants to improve his position but Grappler is controlling well.
Styles trying to control but Grappler postures up.

Grappler is working for a kimura but Styles is defending it quite comfortably.
Grappler wants to pass to mount but Styles is defending the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grappler looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Styles with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grappler scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Styles is defending against the submission attempts here by Grappler.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Styles clinches up with Grappler and pushes him back against the cage.
Grappler prevents a takedown attempt there.
Styles tries to break the clinch but Grappler is controlling the position.
Grappler drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Styles gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Styles tries to break the clinch but Grappler is controlling the position.
Grappler has Styles pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Styles manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Grappler keeps control of Styles as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Styles breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Styles shoots and misses

and Grappler counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Grappler wants to control from the top but Styles keeps moving.

Styles is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Grappler forces his way into half guard.

Styles is defending against the submission attempts here by Grappler.
Grappler is breathing heavily.
Styles gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grappler sitting in guard here, content to control.
Grappler trying to control the position from guard on top but Styles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Styles seems keen to control Grappler's posture.
Styles lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Grappler!
Styles with shots to the head and body - Grappler looks very uncomfortable down there.

Styles goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Grappler turns into him and now he's in Styles's guard.
Grappler trying to control but Styles is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grappler postures up and lands a big shot to Styles's brow.
Grappler stopping the sweep attempt from Styles.
Styles keeping full guard, as Grappler tries to pass.
Grappler prevents Styles from getting back to his feet.
Grappler trying to control the position from guard on top but Styles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grappler content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Grappler postures up.
Baki Grappler has got the better of the ground game so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Styles gets caught flat footed, as Grappler shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Styles is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grappler 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.
Styles wants to get back to his feet but Grappler is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Styles is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Grappler postures up.
Styles keeping full guard, as Grappler tries to pass.

Styles throws his legs up looking for a submission but Grappler uses it to pass to side control.
Grappler is putting a hurting on Styles here, landing some big shots from side control.
Styles gets back to half guard.
Grappler trying to control from half guard but Styles is working away.
Styles blocking the ground and pound attempt from Grappler.

That's four 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.
Styles is looking to escape.
Grappler throws a strike but Styles avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Styles looking for a guillotine here but Grappler defends easily.
Grappler must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Grappler won't allow Styles to get back to his feet.
Styles working a defensive guard here.
Styles wants to stand but Grappler is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Grappler gets the takedown into side control.
Styles gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Grappler is keen to just control but Styles is a slippery customer.
Styles trying to hold on to Grappler's head to control him but Grappler postures up.
Grappler throwing shots but Styles is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baki Grappler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Styles throws a right and a left that both miss.
Styles closes the distance looking to clinch

and Grappler counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Grappler stands up over Styles, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Grappler passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Styles takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Grappler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Styles keeps working.
Styles wants to control but Grappler postures up.
Grappler lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Styles down.
Styles misses with a strike from the bottom.
Styles taking punishment in the form of punches.
Styles tries to buck Grappler off but Grappler is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Styles.
Styles throws a sloppy head kick and Grappler moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Styles throws a head kick but Grappler moves out of range.

Grappler closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Grappler lands in his opponent's guard.
Grappler stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Styles swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Styles has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Grappler can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Styles looking to hit a scissor sweep but Grappler is one step ahead there.
Grappler working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Grappler trying to control the position from guard on top but Styles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grappler working some strikes from top position.
Grappler preventing the sweep.
Styles is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Styles wants to stand but Grappler is controlling the position.
Styles looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Styles throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Styles darts in trying to clinch

and Grappler counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Styles looking to hit a scissor sweep but Grappler is one step ahead there.
Styles looking to control.
Grappler landing with the ground and pound.

Grappler gets to his feet. Styles looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Styles gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Grappler counters with a shoot takedown. Styles fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grappler cracks Styles with a solid left hand.
Styles is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Grappler is looking to control Styles's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Grappler avoid being mounted?
Styles seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Grappler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Grappler tries to roll over but Styles keeps him under control.
Grappler is pressing down on Styles's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Grappler has his hands on Styles's head, controlling the position.

Grappler looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four 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.
Grappler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Grappler throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Grappler looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Styles is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Styles trying to control but Grappler is working from the bottom.
Grappler looking for a sweep. Not yet Grappler, not yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Grappler shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Styles working a defensive guard here.
Styles is looking to stand back up but Grappler counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Styles.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grappler is looking to take a break and control but Styles is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Paul Styles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Styles takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Baki Grappler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Grappler winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Baki Grappler!