PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gunnar Grimes (ranked 985 p4p, 2812 weight class) and Verney Lapierre (ranked 88 p4p, 255 weight class). Lapierre has chosen Sugar as his entrance music. Verney Lapierre has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Grimes
vs
Lapierre

176 cm
23
155
14 - 0 - 0

156 cm
23
142
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 14 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gunnar Grimes !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Verney Lapierre!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, John Kavanagh and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grimes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lapierre swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lapierre swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Lapierre throws a lazy right hand but Grimes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Grimes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lapierre swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Grimes clinches up against the cage.
Grimes jumps guard but Lapierre stands there with Grimes around his waist. Grimes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Grimes tries to pull guard but Lapierre forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
We've been hearing reports that Grimes has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Grimes is fighting off a takedown attempt but Lapierre is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Grimes to the mat. Grimes regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Lapierre thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Grimes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lapierre doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lapierre manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Grimes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lapierre defends well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grimes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lapierre defends well.

Grimes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

Grimes looking for a guillotine here but Lapierre defends easily.

Grimes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lapierre is aware though and is defending well.

Grimes working for a triangle but Lapierre defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Grimes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lapierre defends well.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Grimes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lapierre defends it easily.

Grimes working for a triangle but Lapierre defends it easily.

Grimes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lapierre gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lapierre drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lapierre jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Lapierre got a little sloppy there for a moment and Grimes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lapierre has managed to get both his arms back between Grimes 's legs - danger averted.

Grimes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Grimes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Grimes has his foot on Lapierre's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lapierre works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Grimes looking for a guillotine here but Lapierre defends easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

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

Lapierre 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.

Grimes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lapierre can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

Lapierre drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lapierre jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gunnar Grimes will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lapierre throws out a loose jab but Grimes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lapierre keeps the fight on the outside.
Lapierre throws out a counter right but Grimes avoids it with no problem.
Grimes tries to clinch up.
Grimes tries to clinch there but Lapierre circles away.
Grimes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lapierre circles away.
Lapierre looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Grimes misses with a takedown
and Lapierre connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Grimes moves in looking to clinch but Lapierre pushes him off.
Grimes fails with an attempt to clinch.

Grimes drives through and clinches with Lapierre against the cage.

Grimes ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Grimes no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grimes is looking for a triangle but Lapierre pushes his legs off easily.

Grimes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lapierre gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Grimes looking for a guillotine here but Lapierre defends easily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Lapierre drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lapierre jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Grimes looking for a guillotine here but Lapierre defends easily.

Grimes working for a triangle but Lapierre defends it easily.

Lapierre 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.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grimes looking for a guillotine here but Lapierre defends easily.

Grimes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Grimes looking for a guillotine here but Lapierre defends easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

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

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

Lapierre drops back looking for a leg! Grimes is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Grimes manages to kick Lapierre off! Lapierre jumps back into Grimes 's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Grimes has his foot on Lapierre's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lapierre works his way back into a safe position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gunnar Grimes will probably get the nod.
That's time! Grimes 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Grimes darts in looking for a takedown but Lapierre gets double underhooks and turns Grimes into the cage.
Grimes tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lapierre smiles and moves away.
Grimes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lapierre looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Grimes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Grimes wants to clinch but Lapierre slips to the side
and Lapierre counters with a nice uppercut.
Grimes moves away from the strike by Lapierre.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Grimes is defended easily by Lapierre.
It seemed like Lapierre was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gunnar Grimes . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grimes is looking to clinch but Lapierre is avoiding it.
Lapierre throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grimes shoots in for a takedown but Lapierre shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lapierre looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Grimes drives through and clinches with Lapierre against the cage.

Grimes decides to pull guard.
Grimes wants to sweep here but Lapierre controlling him for the moment.

Grimes looking for a guillotine here but Lapierre defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lapierre thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

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

Grimes is looking for a triangle but Lapierre pushes his legs off easily.

Lapierre 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.

Grimes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lapierre can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gunnar Grimes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grimes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Grimes working for a triangle but Lapierre defends it easily.

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

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

Lapierre drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lapierre jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

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

Grimes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lapierre gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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

Grimes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lapierre gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Verney Lapierre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Verney Lapierre comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Grimes 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Gunnar Grimes !
Our winner, Gunnar Grimes , made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.