PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between David Friedman (ranked 3688 p4p, 3386 weight class) and Austin Grimaldo (ranked 241 p4p, 218 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Friedman
vs
Grimaldo

164 cm
25
142
3 - 3 - 0

177 cm
26
140
2 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, David Friedman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Austin Grimaldo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grimaldo wants to clinch up but Friedman keeps it at a distance.
Friedman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Friedman is looking to counter the offense by Grimaldo and move into the clinch.

Grimaldo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Friedman, pushing him back against the cage.
Grimaldo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Grimaldo lands an elbow inside.
Friedman has Grimaldo pressed against the cage.
Friedman blocks an elbow strike from Grimaldo.
Friedman avoids a wild elbow strike from Grimaldo.
A short left from Grimaldo.
Friedman is looking for a takedown.

Grimaldo breaks the clinch.

Friedman dives in and scores a takedown into Grimaldo's guard.
Grimaldo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Friedman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Friedman looking to pass the guard.
Friedman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Grimaldo wants to get back to his feet but Friedman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friedman's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Friedman prevents Grimaldo from getting back to his feet.
Friedman tries to free his leg and advance position but Grimaldo is retaining full guard.
Friedman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Grimaldo wants to stand up but Friedman is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Grimaldo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Friedman.

Grimaldo pushes Friedman up against the cage in a clinch.
Grimaldo misses with an elbow strike.

Friedman tightens his grip and picks Grimaldo up, before dumping him to the ground. Grimaldo manages to land in guard.
Friedman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Friedman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Friedman stops Grimaldo from standing up.
Friedman definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Grimaldo keeping moving, preventing Friedman from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friedman wants to pass the guard but Grimaldo is keeping the position.
Grimaldo is looking to stand up but Friedman isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Friedman darts in looking for a takedown but Grimaldo gets double underhooks and turns Friedman into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Friedman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short left from Grimaldo.
Friedman slowing the pace effectively.
Friedman takes a shot to the head.
Grimaldo misses with an elbow strike.
Grimaldo throws an elbow that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Grimaldo.

Grimaldo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Friedman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Grimaldo swivels and escapes.
Grimaldo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Friedman.
Friedman tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Grimaldo defends well and Friedman ends up having to push Grimaldo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grimaldo misses with a punch on the inside.

Friedman drags the fight down to the ground.
Friedman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Grimaldo wants to get back to his feet but Friedman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Friedman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Friedman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've been informed that Grimaldo has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Grimaldo manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Friedman fails with a takedown attempt.
Grimaldo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friedman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Grimaldo swivels and escapes.

Grimaldo closes the distance and clinches.
Grimaldo gets through Friedman's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Grimaldo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grimaldo's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Grimaldo duly obliges.
Friedman moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Grimaldo tries to clinch there but Friedman circles away.
Friedman fails with a takedown attempt.
Friedman misses with a takedown attempt - Grimaldo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Friedman has a takedown stuffed.
Grimaldo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Grimaldo tries to bum rush Friedman with a series of wild strikes but Friedman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Grimaldo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Grimaldo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Grimaldo pushes off an throws an elbow but Friedman leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Friedman tries to pull guard but Grimaldo holds him up against the cage and eventually Friedman drops back down to his feet.
Grimaldo misses with a knee to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Austin Grimaldo dominated that round.
That's time! Friedman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Grimaldo tries to close the distance and clinch but Friedman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Friedman with a poor takedown
and Grimaldo counters with a one-two to the body.
Friedman misses with a takedown
letting Grimaldo counter with a right hand.
Some wild striking there from Grimaldo.
Grimaldo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Friedman doesn't seem bothered though.
Grimaldo tries to clinch up.

Grimaldo moves into range and clinches up with Friedman.

Friedman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Friedman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Grimaldo wants to clinch up but Friedman keeps it at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Grimaldo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Grimaldo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Grimaldo throws an elbow but it misses.
Friedman is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Grimaldo to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Friedman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Friedman breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grimaldo gets a clinch.
Friedman blocks the elbow strike.
Friedman tries to pull guard but Grimaldo won't allow it.
Friedman blocks an elbow strike.
Friedman tries to pull guard but Grimaldo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Friedman takes an elbow to the temple.
With the fighters up against the cage, Grimaldo throws an elbow but misses.
Grimaldo avoids the elbow strike from Friedman, against the cage.
Grimaldo lands an uppercut.
Friedman tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Grimaldo smiles and moves away.
Friedman dives in for a single leg takedown but Grimaldo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Friedman is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Grimaldo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Friedman tries to pull guard but Grimaldo won't allow it.
Friedman avoids a wild elbow strike from Grimaldo.
Grimaldo pushes off an throws an elbow but Friedman leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Friedman - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Austin Grimaldo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Grimaldo tries to land a knee to the head but Friedman blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friedman trying to land knees to the body.
Grimaldo misses with an elbow over the top.
Grimaldo lands a right hand.

Grimaldo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grimaldo throws a solid leg kick but Friedman takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Grimaldo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Friedman keeps the fight on the outside.
Grimaldo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Grimaldo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Friedman keeps the fight on the outside.
Friedman seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Grimaldo tries to clinch there but Friedman circles away.

Friedman looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Grimaldo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Friedman passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Grimaldo is not content to let Friedman control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Friedman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Friedman tries to move into full mount but can't pass Grimaldo's legs.
Grimaldo is trying to get back to his feet.

Friedman thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Friedman taking a breather here.
Grimaldo is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friedman has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Grimaldo!
Grimaldo squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Friedman controlling the pace for now.

Friedman is working for a guillotine from mount but Grimaldo frees his head quite easily.

Grimaldo bucks up and throws Friedman to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Grimaldo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Friedman swats away the attempt to clinch by Grimaldo.
Grimaldo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Austin Grimaldo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Grimaldo moves into the clinch.

Friedman pulls guard successfully.
Grimaldo is looking to stand up but Friedman won't let him.
Friedman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Friedman tries to get out of the position.
Friedman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Grimaldo's guard.

Grimaldo has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Friedman is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Friedman pulls Grimaldo into guard.

Grimaldo stands up from Friedman's guard - Grimaldo perhaps looking for a knockout.
Friedman dives in for a single leg takedown but Grimaldo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Friedman takes a shot to the head.
Grimaldo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Friedman manages to break the clinch.
Grimaldo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Friedman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Grimaldo closes the distance and clinches.
Friedman is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Grimaldo is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friedman is trying to drag Grimaldo to the mat but Grimaldo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Friedman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Grimaldo lands with a light punch inside.
Friedman dodges an elbow strike from Grimaldo.

Friedman lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Friedman tries to pass to full mount but Grimaldo defends it.

Grimaldo pushes Friedman off and gets back to his feet.
Friedman tries for a takedown but Grimaldo circles away easily
and Grimaldo counters with a left and a right that stings Friedman.
Some wild striking there from Grimaldo.
Austin Grimaldo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Friedman looks for a takedown but Grimaldo sprawls well.
Grimaldo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Grimaldo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friedman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Grimaldo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
David Friedman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Friedman goes for a double leg but Grimaldo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Grimaldo continues to drive forward.
Friedman takes a knee right on the jaw!
Grimaldo misses with a body punch.
Grimaldo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Friedman's face.
Friedman is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Grimaldo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Grimaldo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Grimaldo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Friedman's defenses.
Grimaldo lands a nice elbow.
Grimaldo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Friedman tries to break the clinch but Grimaldo is controlling the position.
Grimaldo gets through Friedman's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grimaldo managing to block the knees to the body from Friedman.

Grimaldo breaks from the clinch.

Grimaldo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Friedman manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Grimaldo lands a knee to the body.
Grimaldo prevents the takedown attempt.

Friedman jumps guard.

Friedman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Grimaldo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Grimaldo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Friedman, up you get!
Friedman shoots in looking for a takedown. Grimaldo tries to sprawl out of it but Friedman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Grimaldo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friedman takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Friedman closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grimaldo is pushing Friedman's head away, looking to escape. Friedman manages to hold on to the position though.

Grimaldo throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Grimaldo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Friedman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Friedman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Grimaldo but Grimaldo pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Grimaldo clinches.
Grimaldo misses with a knee strike.
Friedman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Grimaldo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Friedman is working for takedown but Grimaldo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Friedman misses with some punches.
David Friedman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Austin Grimaldo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Grimaldo prevents the takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Austin Grimaldo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Grimaldo 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 Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Austin Grimaldo!
During a confident post fight interview, Austin Grimaldo thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.