PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Masayuki Araki (ranked 4196 p4p, 4550 weight class) and Jevon Grimson (ranked 383 p4p, 400 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Araki
vs
Grimson

172 cm
18
151
0 - 1 - 0

169 cm
18
145
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Kore Fight Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Masayuki Araki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jevon Grimson!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grimson throws a right and a left that Araki avoids nicely.
A jab from Araki misses.
Grimson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Araki throws a body kick that misses

and Grimson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Araki wants to get back to full guard.
Grimson is thwarting Araki's attempts to control the position.

Araki actively working from the bottom here.
Araki is looking to control Grimson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Araki avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Grimson is working for a kimura but Araki is defending it quite comfortably.
Araki gets back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grimson wants to control from the top but Araki keeps moving.

Grimson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Araki has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Araki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grimson drops back looking for a leg! Araki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Araki manages to kick Grimson off! Grimson jumps back into Araki's guard.

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

Araki has his foot on Grimson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Grimson works his way back into a safe position though.

Grimson 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.
Grimson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Araki lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Araki trying to control but Grimson is working from the bottom.
Araki sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grimson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Araki is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Araki passes Grimson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Grimson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Araki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Grimson gets back to full guard.
Araki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Araki tries to free his leg and advance position but Grimson is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grimson is trying to control the position but Araki postures up.
Araki pushing down on Grimson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Araki trying to control the action but Grimson is working from the bottom.
Araki tries to pass the half guard into mount. Grimson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Araki is working hard here to advance position.
Grimson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Araki's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Araki's back!

Araki showing good submission defense here.
Araki looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Grimson looking for the choke but no joy.
Araki tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Araki tries to hold on but Grimson pushes him away.
Grimson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Araki wants to hold on but Grimson pushes him away.
Araki sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Grimson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Araki is just riding it out for now. Grimson eventually gives up the hold.
Grimson looks winded!
Grimson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Araki keeps working.
Araki is looking to control Grimson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Araki avoid being mounted?
The fighters are battling for position here. Araki manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jevon Grimson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Grimson throws a shot to the body.

Araki drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Grimson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Grimson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Araki haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Araki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Grimson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Grimson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Grimson regains half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araki perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Araki is trying to control. Grimson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Araki scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Araki is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Grimson sees it coming and defends easily.
Still in half guard, Araki seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grimson tries to get to full guard but Araki has control of the leg.
Araki takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Araki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Araki wants to take a breather but Grimson is having none of it.

Araki is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Grimson defends it well.
Araki prevents Grimson from improving his position.
Araki not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grimson keeps working.
Araki not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Grimson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Araki.
Grimson is looking to improve his position.
Araki with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Araki is trying to control the action in half guard but Grimson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Araki is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Grimson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Araki scores with a couple of nice shots.

Araki is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Grimson is just riding it out for now. Araki eventually gives up the hold.
Araki drops an elbow to the side of Grimson's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araki thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Grimson's head.
Araki content to control rather than advance.
Araki has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Grimson keeping hold of Araki's head, controlling as best he can.
Grimson trying to control here.
Araki passes the guard and advances to mount!
Araki lands a big elbow.
Araki pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Araki jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Grimson manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Araki working the ground and pound.
Araki is looking to take a break and control but Grimson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Araki landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Grimson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Araki takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Grimson keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Araki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Grimson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Araki is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Grimson defends it well.
Araki lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Masayuki Araki dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Grimson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Araki fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Grimson sprawls well initially but Araki persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Araki is trying to control the action in half guard but Grimson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Grimson is trying to control but can't.
Araki prevents Grimson from improving his position.
Grimson is refusing to be controlled, as Araki sits in half guard.
Araki trying to mount his opponent but Grimson defends it.
Grimson tries to roll over but Araki keeps him under control.
Araki slips a nice elbow through Grimson's hands, connecting with Grimson's forehead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Araki controlling the action here.

Araki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Araki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grimson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Araki is working away from the top position though.
Araki working over Grimson with some ground and pound. Grimson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Araki is looking to advance position but Grimson won't allow it.
Araki is looking to take a break and control but Grimson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Araki passes to side control.

Araki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Araki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Grimson isn't going anywhere.
Araki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grimson keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grimson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Araki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Araki working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Araki is looking to take a break and control but Grimson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Check out the look on Araki's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Araki thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Masayuki Araki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Grimson parries the strikes from Araki easily there. Araki is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Grimson to escape.
Araki lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Grimson down.
Grimson is not content to let Araki control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grimson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Grimson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Araki controlling the position from side mount.

Araki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Araki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Araki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Grimson, who protects the arm well.
Grimson on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Araki cracks Grimson with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Araki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Araki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Araki wants to control but Grimson is keeping him busy.
Grimson is looking to regain half guard here but Araki keeps moving and retains side control.

Araki is trying to get an arm triangle but Grimson is defending well.
Araki lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Grimson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Araki wants to control but Grimson is keeping him busy.
Grimson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Masayuki Araki showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Araki has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masayuki Araki!