PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jason Grendine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hassan Al Sumal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Grendine
vs
Al Sumal

150 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

[MMABR]Terror Trition[†CoE†]

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jason Grendine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hassan Al Sumal!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Sumal lands with a nice combination. Grendine backs away looking to recover.
Al Sumal scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Grendine moves out of range as Al Sumal strikes.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Grendine.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Grendine tries to advance to mount but Al Sumal denies him.
Sloppy strikes there by Grendine.
Al Sumal can't do much from the bottom here.
Al Sumal is not content to let Grendine control the position.

Grendine working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Al Sumal being controlled for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grendine trying to control the position but Al Sumal is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Al Sumal really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Grendine. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Grendine controlling the position from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Grendine seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Al Sumal for as long as he can get away with.
Grendine is looking to take a break and control but Al Sumal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jason Grendine just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Al Sumal misses with a takedown attempt

and Grendine counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Grendine.
Grendine might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Grendine won't allow Al Sumal to sweep him here.
Grendine trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Sumal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Al Sumal working a defensive guard but Grendine passes into half guard.
Al Sumal has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Grendine is working away from the top position though.
Grendine is looking to take a break and control but Al Sumal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grendine wants to pass to mount but Al Sumal is defending the position.
Well, if Grendine is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Grendine misses with a body shot.

Al Sumal gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Grendine to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Grendine works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grendine is keen to just control but Al Sumal is a slippery customer.
Grendine is taking a breather. Al Sumal says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Al Sumal regains full guard. Nicely done.
Grendine postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Al Sumal not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Grendine trying to control but Al Sumal is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Grendine dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Al Sumal uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Grendine.
Al Sumal tries for a takedown but Grendine circles away easily

and Grendine counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Al Sumal's guard now.
Al Sumal wants to sweep but no luck.
Grendine tries to free his leg and advance position but Al Sumal is retaining full guard.
Al Sumal wants to improve his position but instead Grendine has moved into half guard.
Grendine passes into side control, despite Al Sumal's attempt to control the position.

Grendine working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Al Sumal can't do much from the bottom here.
Al Sumal tries to improve position but can't.
Grendine wants to control but Al Sumal is keeping him busy.
The strikes coming from Grendine are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two 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.
Grendine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Al Sumal keeps working.
Al Sumal is trying to control Grendine's posture but Grendine avoids it.
Grendine takes a little break here. Al Sumal wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Grendine misses with a hook.
Al Sumal with a poor takedown

and Grendine counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Al Sumal!
Al Sumal is looking to get to half guard.
Grendine trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Sumal looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Grendine has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Al Sumal has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Grendine is looking for the choke from the back position but Al Sumal is controlling his hands well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grendine avoiding Al Sumal 's attempts to control his hands.
Grendine throwing sloppy strikes.
Grendine missing with strikes from the back.
Al Sumal covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Al Sumal is in bad spot here.
Grendine missing with strikes.
Al Sumal trying to get back to his feet but Grendine is in full control for now.
Al Sumal is in bad spot here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Grendine dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Grendine gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Al Sumal changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Grendine fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Grendine throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Al Sumal was covering up waiting for the punch and Grendine finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Grendine thows a big elbow that misses.

Grendine has gone for a leg lock! Al Sumal slips out almost immediately though and dives into Grendine's guard.
Al Sumal trying to stand up but can't free himself from Grendine's guard.
Al Sumal stopping the sweep attempt from Grendine.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grendine is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Al Sumal trying to control but Grendine is working from the bottom.
Al Sumal preventing the sweep.
Grendine bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Al Sumal's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Grendine trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Sumal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grendine trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Grendine advances position into side control!

Grendine wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Al Sumal, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Al Sumal can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grendine throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Al Sumal is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Al Sumal looking for a sweep but Grendine has passed into full mount! Oh no!

Grendine looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Grendine prevents Al Sumal from getting the reversal.
Grendine punching from mount but Al Sumal doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Grendine sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

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.
Grendine misses with a head shot.

Grendine is working for a guillotine from mount but Al Sumal frees his head quite easily.
Jason Grendine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Grendine avoids the attempt from Al Sumal to control.

Grendine jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Al Sumal manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grendine creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Al Sumal sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Grendine showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Grendine, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:26
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Grendine!