PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kendall Groove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uzaya Mitsuto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mitsuto comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Eye Of The Tiger kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Groove
vs
Mitsuto

197 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kendall Groove!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Uzaya Mitsuto!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Groove shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mitsuto but Mitsuto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Groove looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mitsuto is fending him off so far but Groove persists. Nope, Mitsuto circles away and we're back to standing.
Mitsuto fails with an attempt to clinch.
Groove will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kendall Groove. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mitsuto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Groove swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mitsuto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Groove tries to land a front kick but Mitsuto steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mitsuto gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Groove counters with a left and a right that stings Mitsuto.
Groove looks for a takedown but Mitsuto sprawls well.
Groove is looking to clinch but Mitsuto is avoiding it.

Mitsuto closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Groove to the mat! Groove manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mitsuto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mitsuto preventing the sweep.
Mitsuto postures up.
Mitsuto working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Groove's head.
Groove is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitsuto wants to control from the top but Groove keeps moving.
Mitsuto throws a big right hand that misses.
Mitsuto preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Groove throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Groove is breathing heavily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Groove checks a leg kick.
Kendall Groove seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Groove with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mitsuto counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Groove looking for submissions off his back.
Mitsuto tries to stand but can't do so whilst Groove controls his leg.
Groove slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Groove trying to control the position.
Groove tries to strike from the bottom.
Mitsuto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mitsuto trying to control but Groove is working from the bottom.
Groove working a defensive guard here.
Groove really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Groove tries for a takedown but Mitsuto circles away easily

and Mitsuto counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Mitsuto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Groove wriggles free and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mitsuto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Groove drives through with a takedown into guard.
Groove pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mitsuto is keeping the position for now.
Mitsuto doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Groove trying to control the position from guard on top but Mitsuto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mitsuto is pulling down on Groove's head. It's preventing any offense from Groove, at least for the moment.
Mitsuto keeping moving, preventing Groove from controlling successfully.
Groove won't allow Mitsuto to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mitsuto striking off his back but it's not causing Groove any problems.
Mitsuto is pulling down on Groove's head to control his posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
No joy there for Mitsuto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Groove fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Groove drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mitsuto is trying to improve his position.
Mitsuto struggling a bit here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mitsuto is not content to let Groove control the position.
Groove throws a strike aimed at the side of Mitsuto's head but Mitsuto avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uzaya Mitsuto dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mitsuto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A punch combination from Mitsuto misses.
Mitsuto tries a head kick but it misses.
Mitsuto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Groove.

Mitsuto looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Groove will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Groove is pulling down on Mitsuto's head. It's preventing any offense from Mitsuto, at least for the moment.
Mitsuto wants to pass the guard but Groove is keeping the position.
Mitsuto looking to sit in guard and control but Groove gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mitsuto can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Groove controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitsuto trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Groove trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Groove trying to control the position from guard on top but Mitsuto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Groove is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Groove wants to control from the top but Mitsuto keeps moving.
Groove controlling from the top position.
Mitsuto wants to get back to his feet but Groove is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Groove stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mitsuto swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mitsuto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mitsuto is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Groove is trying to maintain the position but Mitsuto is very close to passing his half guard.
Mitsuto scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Groove works his way to full guard. Good work.
Groove seems keen to control Mitsuto's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groove keeping moving, preventing Mitsuto from controlling successfully.
Groove has his hands on Mitsuto's head, controlling the position.
Mitsuto is looking to advance position but Groove has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Groove lands a big elbow.
Groove controlling the position easily from mount.
Groove seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mitsuto for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kendall Groove just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Groove with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Mitsuto takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kendall Groove will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A head kick by Mitsuto misses
and Groove cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Groove misses with a takedown attempt

so Mitsuto counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mitsuto trying to control but Groove is working from the bottom.
Mitsuto postures up in Groove's guard and throws a big left but Groove blocks it.
Groove has Mitsuto pulled in close to control his posture.
Mitsuto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Groove is controlling Mitsuto's posture.
Mitsuto stays in close to Groove's body and controls the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mitsuto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Groove swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mitsuto looking to sit in guard and control but Groove gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groove passes into half guard.
Uzaya Mitsuto has got the better of the ground game so far.

Groove is trying for a kimura here. Mitsuto looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Groove wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kendall Groove!