PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kenta Kobashi (ranked 134 p4p, 19 weight class) and Tommy Grunge (ranked 252 p4p, 39 weight class). Grunge has chosen Temple of the Dog - Say Hello To Heaven as his entrance music. Tommy Grunge told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kobashi
vs
Grunge

186 cm
39
198 lbs
36 - 10 - 0

184 cm
39
191 lbs
35 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Nutrition
FORCEE

Blue Moon
Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 36 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Kenta Kobashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Grunge!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grunge is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Grunge looks to land a body kick but Kobashi moved away.
Grunge looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kobashi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grunge moves away.
Kobashi thuds his right hand into Grunge's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Grunge looks to land a right hand but Kobashi moved out of range.
Grunge scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kobashi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kobashi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kobashi just misses with a punch to the body.
Grunge throws a front kick aimed at Kobashi's knee but Kobashi avoids it well.
Kobashi throws a hook to the side of Grunge's head but Grunge sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kobashi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Grunge to score with a decent uppercut.
Kobashi throws a poor cross that misses
and Grunge counters with a head kick. That will keep Kobashi thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Grunge uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kobashi.
Kobashi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Grunge was well out of range. Poor timing from Kobashi.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grunge has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kobashi finds it's way round the side to connect with Grunge's head.
Grunge takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Grunge throws a low kick but Kobashi moves out of range easily.
Grunge throws a body punch but Kobashi moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobashi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Grunge moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Grunge scores with a jab to the head.
Kobashi misses the shot to the body.
Kobashi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Grunge checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kobashi misses with a leg kick
and Grunge connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Grunge misses with a body punch
and Kobashi counters with a low kick, right behind Grunge 's knee.
Grunge throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kobashi.
Kobashi explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Grunge lands a right hook to the body.
Kobashi throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Grunge on the side of the head.
Kobashi lands with a hook. Grunge tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kobashi lands a glancing blow to the side of Grunge's head.
Kobashi throws an off balance right hand
and Grunge counters with a right hand to the body.
Kobashi lands with a shot to the body.
Kobashi lands a jab to Grunge's midsection.
Grunge is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kobashi rather than just go for the knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grunge looks to throw the jab but Kobashi is out of range.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Grunge crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kobashi - the referee stops the clock and Grunge gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kobashi. Grunge manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kobashi connects with a nice looking jab.
Kobashi throws a leg kick but Grunge moved away.
Kobashi swats away the attempt to clinch by Grunge.
Kobashi lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Grunge loads up on a big right hand but Kobashi slips the punch.
Kobashi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A lazy body kick from Kobashi
and Grunge counters with a straight right hand.
Kobashi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Grunge has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kobashi.
Grunge slips under a jab.
Grunge keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Grunge lands a nice hook to Kobashi's body. Kobashi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Grunge throws a jab but it's blocked by Kobashi.
Kobashi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kenta Kobashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kobashi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Grunge throws out the jab.
Grunge connects with a single shot there.
Grunge attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Grunge staying out of range there.
Grunge appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Grunge scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kobashi swings away with a body shot that misses
and Grunge counters with a nice uppercut.
Kobashi throws a hook but Grunge blocks it.
Kobashi throws a push kick but Grunge slaps the foot to one side.
Kobashi connects with a body shot that sends Grunge's belly button to the back.
Kobashi blocks a head kick by Grunge.
Kobashi connects with an inside leg kick.
Grunge checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kobashi misses with a wild body shot.
Kobashi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kobashi looks to land a left hand but Grunge moved out of range nicely.
Kobashi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kobashi misses with a double jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grunge throws a leg kick but Kobashi sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Grunge looks to land a right hand but Kobashi moved out of range.
Grunge moves out of range of the body kick from Kobashi.
Kobashi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Grunge appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Grunge fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kobashi lands with a shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Kobashi misses the target.
Kobashi lands a nice looking body kick.
Kobashi takes a swing at Grunge's ribcage but misses.
Grunge takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Grunge throws out a loose jab but Kobashi uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kobashi throws a sloppy body shot
and Grunge counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kobashi throws an overhand right that lands on Grunge's shoulder, as Grunge tries to avoid the shot.
Kobashi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Grunge.
A bone on bone clash there as Kobashi blocks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kobashi lands a head shot.
Kobashi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Grunge.
Grunge looks to score with a jab to the body but Kobashi is just out of range.
Grunge misses with a body kick.
Grunge takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Grunge bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grunge. Kobashi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Grunge fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kobashi manages to avoid it.
Grunge misses with a looping left.
Kobashi definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Grunge dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kobashi. That did some damage!
Grunge checks the leg kick nicely there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grunge takes a swing at Kobashi's ribcage but misses.
Kobashi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Grunge checks a low kick from Kobashi.
Grunge slips under a jab.
Kenta Kobashi is winning the standup battle so far.
Kobashi misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobashi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kobashi slips under a jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kobashi.
Nice shot by Kobashi.
Kobashi looks to score with a jab to the body but Grunge is just out of range.
And Grunge responds with a good body kick, but Kobashi manages to step out the way in time.
Grunge takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Grunge turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kobashi scores with a jab. Grunge acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Grunge swings for the body but Kobashi moves out of range.
Grunge loads up on a big right hand but Kobashi slips the punch.
Kobashi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Grunge's calf.
Kobashi scores with a head kick. Grunge tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kobashi throws a right hand that misses
and Grunge counters with an inside leg kick.
Grunge throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kobashi pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kobashi misses with a straight left.
Kobashi works Grunge's body with a nice hook.
A right-left combo lands from Grunge.
Grunge changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Grunge throws a chopping leg kick but Kobashi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kobashi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kobashi slips under a jab from Grunge.
Kobashi misses with a body shot.
Kobashi looks to score with a jab to the body but Grunge is just out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kobashi.
Kobashi throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Kobashi closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Grunge's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kobashi throws a sloppy body shot
and Grunge connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kobashi missing with a left hand there. Grunge was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Grunge uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kobashi.
The fighters circling - Kobashi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kobashi throws a hook to the side of Grunge's head but Grunge sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Grunge fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kobashi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Grunge jabs Kobashi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kobashi loads up on a big right hand but Grunge slips the punch.
Kobashi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Grunge.
Kobashi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Grunge's head.

Grunge has managed to clinch.
Kobashi tries a body shot but Grunge blocks it.
A short right from Grunge on the inside.
Grunge lands a left hand.
With the fighters up against the cage, Grunge throws an elbow but misses.
A head punch on the inside from Kobashi fails to land.
Grunge blocks an uppercut.
Grunge misses with the head strike.
Grunge is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kobashi is defending well for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grunge is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kobashi working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Kobashi fails to land.
Kobashi avoids the elbow strike from Grunge, against the cage.
Grunge softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Grunge breaks from the clinch.
Kobashi tried to score with a low kick but Grunge checks it.
Grunge misses with a hook. Kobashi ducked under it nicely.
Kobashi misses with a left hand
and Grunge counters with a big head kick but Kobashi shrugs it off.
Kobashi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Grunge misses with a hook. Kobashi ducked under it nicely.
Grunge looks to score with a jab to the body but Kobashi is just out of range.
Kobashi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A swing and a miss from Grunge.
Kobashi checks a leg kick.
Kobashi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Grunge digs a good hook to Kobashi's body.
Grunge misses with a straight right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Grunge showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kobashi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Grunge uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Kobashi scores with a jab to the head.
Grunge takes one on the button.
Kobashi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Grunge misses the jab.
Grunge throws out a loose jab but Kobashi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grunge lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Grunge feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kobashis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Grunge slips under a jab.
Kobashi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A little jabbing left from Grunge on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kobashi lands a right hook to the body.
Kobashi looks to land a right hand but Grunge moved out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kobashi.
Grunge attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grunge lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Grunge throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kobashi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Kobashi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grunge keeps Kobashi at a distance using the push kick.
Grunge scores with a sloppy right hand. Kobashi should have avoided that one.
Grunge keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Grunge lands an overhand right.
Kobashi throws a chopping leg kick but Grunge manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A countering left hand to the body from Grunge misses.
Kobashi throws the kick towards the body but Grunge avoids it.
Kobashi throws a head kick that misses
and Grunge counters with a nice leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kobashi. That's going to slow Grunge down.
Grunge throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Kobashi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Grunge.
Grunge throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kobashi.
Kobashi stuns Grunge with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kobashi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kobashi connects with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grunge fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kobashi checks it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grunge ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kobashi moves away.
Kobashi tried to counter with a leg kick but Grunge avoided it.
Grunge throws a sloppy head kick and Kobashi moves out of range easily.
Grunge ducks under a wild hook from Kobashi.
A swing and a miss from Kobashi.
Grunge lands with a right hand.
Grunge misses with a straight right.
Kobashi just misses with a punch to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Grunge.
Kobashi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grunge.
Kobashi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kobashi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick by Kobashi misses
and Grunge counters with a nice uppercut.
Grunge scores with a decent looking hook.
Grunge misses with an uppercut. Kobashi saw that one coming.
A solid body kick from Grunge.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kobashi works the jab nicely.
Grunge misses with a series of wild punches.
Grunge takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kobashi throws a good cross that connects.
Decent striking displayed by Grunge there.
Grunge takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kobashi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Grunge counters with a nice leg kick.
Grunge lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The fight stays on the outside here - Grunge looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Grunge scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grunge throws an overhand right that lands on Kobashi's shoulder, as Kobashi tries to avoid the shot.
Kobashi looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kobashi throws the kick towards the body but Grunge avoids it.
Grunge throws the kick towards the body but Kobashi avoids it.
Kobashi throws a looping overhand right but Grunge ducks down to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kobashi checks a low kick from Grunge.
Kobashi lands with a shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Grunge misses the target.
Grunge thuds his right hand into Kobashi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kobashi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Grunge.
Grunge throws a leg kick that misses.
Kobashi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nice defenses there by Kobashi.
Grunge swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kobashi checks a leg kick.
Good exchange - Kobashi coming out on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Grunge comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Grunge has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Grunge!
An out of breath Tommy Grunge thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.