PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Baron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikita Gruzovik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Baron has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Baron
vs
Gruzovik

175 cm
22
178 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

200 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Baron!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nikita Gruzovik!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Franklyn Lucas and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baron closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gruzovik is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Baron's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Baron missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baron looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Baron is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gruzovik moves into full guard.
Baron won't allow Gruzovik to sweep him here.

Gruzovik is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Baron trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gruzovik's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gruzovik had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Baron defends it easily.
Baron thows a big elbow that misses.

Gruzovik is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gruzovik looking to control.
Baron looking to pass the guard.
Baron advances to half guard.

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

Baron is working for a submission of some sort.

Gruzovik looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gruzovik looks gassed!
Gruzovik is looking to improve his position.
Baron is looking to take a break and control but Gruzovik is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baron is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Baron works his way into side control.
Baron wants to control but Gruzovik is keeping him busy.

Baron working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gruzovik is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baron trying to control the position but Gruzovik is working away.

Baron tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Baron has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gruzovik parries the strikes from Baron easily there. Baron is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gruzovik to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Baron dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Baron gets the takedown into side control.
Gruzovik is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gruzovik is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Baron looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Baron wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gruzovik keeps working.
Gruzovik manages to work his way to half guard, despite Baron's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baron seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Baron trying to control the action but Gruzovik is working from the bottom.
Gruzovik gets back to full guard.
Baron pushing down on Gruzovik's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gruzovik wants to get back to full guard.
Gruzovik is breathing heavily.

Gruzovik looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gruzovik is not content to let Baron control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gruzovik is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Baron in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Baron controlling the position easily from mount.
Baron with the ground and pound from mount.
Baron scoring with strikes but Gruzovik is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baron jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Gruzovik is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Gruzovik and Baron has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Gruzovik is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Baron asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Gruzovik tries to buck Baron off but Baron is having none of it.
Baron creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gruzovik is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Baron decides to stand back up. Baron steps back and let's Gruzovik get back to his feet.
Mike Baron seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baron doesn't manage to clinch there - Gruzovik circles away.
Gruzovik doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Baron counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Gruzovik is working an open guard so Baron takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Baron misses with a wild body shot.
Gruzovik fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baron tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gruzovik paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Baron is looking to clinch.
Mike Baron is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baron fails with the takedown

and Gruzovik counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gruzovik.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Baron dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Baron shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Gruzovik tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Baron has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Gruzovik working to try and regain half guard.
Gruzovik in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baron has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gruzovik's face.
Gruzovik takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Baron controlling from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Baron cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Gruzovik tries to lock up and control but Baron gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Baron is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Baron extends the arm and Gruzovik is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mike Baron!