PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Earl Grey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Connell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Connell is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Ain't No Sunshine. Ian Connell has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Grey
vs
Connell

190 cm
27
205 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

193 cm
29
220 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

SP Ultimate Nutrition
EXTREME PSYCHO CLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Earl Grey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ian Connell!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Grey looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Connell thuds his right hand into Grey's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Grey looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Good work by Connell as he checks the leg kick.
Grey blocks a jab.
Connell misses the jab.
Grey tries to close the distance and clinch but Connell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Connell throws a looping overhand right but Grey ducks down to avoid it.
Grey wants to land a leg kick but Connell is out of range.
Connell throws a hook to the side of Grey's head but Grey sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Connell thuds a left hand into Grey's body.
Connell throws a body punch but Grey moves out of range.
Connell misses the shot to the body.
Connell swings for the body but Grey moves out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Grey lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Connell has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Connell and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Connell misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Grey misses.
Connell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Connell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grey moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Connell. Grey does a little dance to reset his feet.
Connell pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Connell looks to throw the jab but Grey is out of range.
Connell misses with a wild body shot.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Grey lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Connell has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Connell and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Connell has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Grey throws a chopping leg kick but Connell manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Connell scores with a hook.
Connell moves into range and connects with a jab.
Grey staying out of range there.
Connell lands with a cross.
Grey uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Connell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grey tries to close the distance and clinch but Connell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Grey takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Connell cracks Grey with a right hand to the side of the head.
Grey takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Connell misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Connell. Grey does a little dance to reset his feet.
Grey moves away from the strike by Connell.
Grey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Connell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grey.
Connell misses the shot to the body.
Grey staying out of range there.
Connell throws the left hand but Grey avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grey fails with an attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Connell misses the target.
Connell misses the shot to the body.
Grey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Grey wants to clinch up but Connell keeps it at a distance.
Connell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grey moves away.
Connell scores with a body shot.
Grey takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Connell takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Grey tries to close the distance and clinch up but Connell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Connell is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Grey.
Connell swings for the body but Grey moves out of range.
Grey slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Grey manages to avoid it.
Grey moves away from the strike by Connell.
Connell swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Connell keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Connell lands with a cross.
Connell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Connell there.
Grey slips a jab from Connell.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grey fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Connell is out of range.
Grey uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Connell.
Connell connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ian Connell dominated that round.
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.

Connell just misses with a punch to the body.
Ian Connell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grey uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Connell.
Grey doesn't manage to clinch there - Connell circles away.
Connell throws out a loose jab but Grey uses good head movement to avoid it.
Connell with a jab.
Grey moves out of range as Connell strikes.
Grey uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Connell.
Grey avoids the body shot from Connell.
Connell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Connell connects with a body shot.
Grey fails with an attempt to clinch.
Grey motions for Connell to come forward. Grey throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Grey pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Connell misses with a hook. Grey ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grey tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Grey tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Connell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Connell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Connell looks to land a left hand but Grey moved out of range nicely.
Grey staying out of range there.
Nice jab there from Connell.
Connell misses with a wild body shot.
Connell throws the left hand but Grey avoids the punch easily.
Nice defenses there by Grey.
Grey fails with an attempt to clinch.
Grey uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Connell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connell cracks Grey with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Connell's jab looks to have found its range, popping Grey under the eye.

Grey is rocked!
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!
Grey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Grey tries to clinch there but Connell circles away.
Connell throws a predictable looking body shot

and Grey moves into the clinch.
Connell dodges an elbow strike from Grey.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Grey just misses with a elbow thrown towards Connell's brow.
Connell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Grey is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Connell blocks an elbow strike from Grey.

Connell breaks the clinch.
Connell throws a shot from downtown. Grey moves away and avoids it.
An inside leg kick from Grey misses.
Grey takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Connell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grey fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ian Connell seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Grey clinches with his opponent.
Connell is looking for a takedown.
Connell dodges an elbow strike from Grey.
Grey gets underhooks to prevent Connell's takedown attempt.
Earl Grey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ian Connell.
Connell tries for a takedown. No joy.
Connell takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Ian Connell has been cut.
Grey looking to slow down the pace here.
Connell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Grey is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Connell looking for a takedown.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Connell as Grey tries to tie him up.
Grey pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Grey looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Grey trying to stall but Connell improves his position.
Grey gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Connell.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grey has Connell pushed against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Connell as Grey tries to tie him up.
Grey looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Grey prevents the takedown attempt.
Grey pushes off an throws an elbow but Connell leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Grey throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Connell blocks the elbow strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grey lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Grey just leaning against Connell, taking a breather.
Grey misses with an elbow over the top.
Grey will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Connell up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grey lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Connell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ian Connell will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ian Connell's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Grey tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Connell cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Grey keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Connell.
Connell looks to score with a jab to the body but Grey is just out of range.
Connell throws a looping overhand right but Grey ducks down to avoid it.
Connell thows a body shot but no joy.
Grey darts in trying to clinch
and Connell cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Connell is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Grey.
Connell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grey.
Grey closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Grey tries to clinch
and Connell counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Grey darts in and clinches Connell up against the cage.
Connell blocks an elbow strike.
Grey keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Connell's efforts to push away.
With the fighters up against the cage, Grey throws an elbow but misses.
Connell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Grey lands a nice elbow.
Grey is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Grey lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Connell wants a takedown.
Connell dodges an elbow strike from Grey.
Grey throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Grey throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Grey misses with an elbow strike.
Earl Grey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connell takes an elbow to the temple.

That has opened up Ian Connell's cut even more.
Nice elbow from Grey.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Grey just misses with a elbow thrown towards Connell's brow.
Connell is working for takedown but Grey is calmly controlling the position for now.
Earl Grey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ian Connell.
Grey throws an elbow that misses.
Connell goes for a takedown in the clinch but Grey prevents it.

Connell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grey avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Grey doesn't manage to clinch there - Connell circles away.
Connell checks a low kick from Grey.
Grey tries to clinch but Connell moves out of range.
Connell lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Grey defending well as Connell loads up on a big left hand.
Grey throws a leg kick that misses.
Connell digs a good hook to Grey's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grey misses with a body kick.
Grey tries to clinch there but Connell circles away.

Grey gets a clinch.
Grey gets underhooks to prevent Connell's takedown attempt.
Grey throws an elbow but it misses.
Connell dodges an elbow strike from Grey.
Connell dodges an elbow strike from Grey.
Connell wants to break the clinch but can't.
Grey lands an elbow inside that Connell shrugs off.
Grey pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Connell tries for a takedown but Grey manages to get underhooks.
Connell can't get the takedown.
Connell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Grey.

The cut above Ian Connell's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Connell is looking for a takedown.
Connell wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
With the fighters up against the cage, Grey throws an elbow but misses.
Grey throws an elbow but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grey lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Grey throws an elbow that misses.
Connell wants a takedown.
Connell can't get the takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grey lands an elbow inside that Connell shrugs off.

Ian Connell's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ian Connell's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Earl Grey!
After the fight, Earl Grey was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.