PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ciro Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Amaury Grizz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garcia comes to the cage accompanied by Aint no Sunshine. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Garcia
vs
Grizz

180 cm
24
190 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

185 cm
25
181 lbs
6 - 8 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ciro Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Amaury Grizz!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grizz fails in his attempt to clinch.

Grizz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Grizz lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Garcia trying to control here.

Garcia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Grizz uses his free foot to push down on Garcia's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Garcia.
Grizz moves to back control.

Garcia showing good submission defense here.
Garcia breaks Grizz's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Grizz wriggles free and stands up.
Garcia tries to clinch but Grizz moves away

and Grizz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Grizz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grizz stands up and waves to Garcia to follow him.
Grizz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Garcia sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Garcia wants to clinch but Grizz slips to the side
and Grizz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Garcia wants to clinch but Grizz slips to the side

and Grizz counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Garcia!
Grizz looks gassed!
Garcia is looking to improve his position but Grizz isn't that keen on the idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garcia tries to lock up and control but Grizz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Garcia holds on to Grizz as tight as he can, avoiding damage.
Garcia is trying desperately to improve position.
Grizz working the ground and pound effectively.

Grizz with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Garcia is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Grizz is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Garcia can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Garcia is in all sorts of trouble here.
Grizz wants to take his opponent's back but Garcia doesn't allow it.
Garcia 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.
Grizz trying to pass the guard but Garcia defending well.
Garcia slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grizz wants to stand but Garcia is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garcia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Grizz is aware though and is defending well.

Garcia pushes Grizz off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Grizz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Garcia but Garcia pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Amaury Grizz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Garcia clinches.
Grizz is trying to break the clinch but Garcia is controlling him.
Grizz is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Garcia misses with a body punch.
Garcia wants to break the clinch but can't.

Grizz drags the fight down to the ground.
Grizz can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Garcia controls the pace.
Grizz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Garcia manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grizz throws a strike but Garcia rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Garcia thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Grizz has a closed guard, preventing Garcia from standing up.
Grizz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Garcia drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Garcia jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Garcia decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Grizz, up you get!
Grizz looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Grizz shoots in and bounces Garcia off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amaury Grizz dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Garcia shoots in looking for a takedown. Grizz tries to sprawl out of it but Garcia keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Grizz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Grizz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Grizz wants to clinch up but Garcia keeps it at a distance.
Garcia moves in looking to clinch but Grizz pushes him off.
Garcia dodges the punch combination from Grizz.
Garcia throws a leg kick

and Grizz counters with a takedown into side control.
Garcia gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Grizz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Garcia doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Grizz.
Garcia wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia works his way to full guard. Good work.

Grizz is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Garcia is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Garcia has escaped and now he's on top!
Amaury Grizz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Garcia slips nicely into half guard.
Grizz is trying to get back to full guard.

Garcia is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Grizz looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grizz is looking to control Garcia's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Grizz avoid being mounted?

Grizz looking for submissions off his back.
Grizz tries to get to full guard but Garcia has control of the leg.

Garcia is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Grizz defends it well.

Garcia is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Grizz has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grizz tries to roll over but Garcia keeps him under control.

Garcia is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Grizz sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Grizz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Grizz tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Garcia gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A thudding body kick lands there by Grizz!
Grizz tries for a takedown but Garcia sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Grizz slaps away a takedown attempt from Garcia, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grizz wants to clinch but Garcia slips to the side

and Garcia counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Garcia.
Garcia is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Grizz is defending well for now.
Grizz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Garcia walks away with a smile on his face. Grizz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Garcia tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Grizz counters with a single leg into guard. Garcia didn't expect that.
Garcia looking to control.

Garcia had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Grizz defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amaury Grizz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Grizz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Garcia defends it nicely.
Grizz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice sprawl there from Garcia as Grizz shoots in.
Ciro Garcia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Amaury Grizz.

Garcia fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Grizz, pushing him back against the cage.
Garcia wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Garcia misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Grizz.
Garcia has had enough of the clinch but Grizz keeps him there for the moment.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grizz throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Grizz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Garcia smiles and moves away.

Grizz gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grizz keeping moving, preventing Garcia from controlling successfully.
Garcia throwing strikes from guard but Grizz blocks nicely.
Garcia working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Garcia drops back, looking for a kneebar! Grizz looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Grizz looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Grizz!
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.
Garcia is trying to get back to his feet.
Garcia is not content to let Grizz control the position.

Grizz looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Grizz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Garcia keeps working.
Garcia is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Grizz off and has taken his back!
Grizz prevents Garcia from getting a body triangle.

Garcia looking for the choke from the back.

Garcia is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Grizz is defending well though. Garcia let's go of the attempt for now.
Garcia doesn't have the hooks in and Grizz manages to turn into his guard.
Garcia keeping moving, preventing Grizz from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grizz postures up.

Grizz decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Garcia displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Grizz.
Grizz takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ciro Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Amaury Grizz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Grizz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Grizz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Garcia just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Garcia throws a knee to the head but misses.
Grizz is stalling here.
Garcia scores with a knee to the head.
Garcia tries to throw a body punch but Grizz avoids it by throwing Garcia back against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grizz breaks the clinch.
Grizz scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Grizz fails with the takedown

and Garcia counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Garcia has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Garcia missing with knees to the body.
Garcia tries to circle away but Grizz has him pinned against the cage.

Grizz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Grizz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Garcia counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Garcia.

Grizz breaks the clinch.
Grizz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Grizz tries to close the distance and clinch but Garcia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Garcia wants to clinch but Grizz slips to the side

and Grizz counters with a shoot takedown. Garcia fights it but they end up in guard.
Grizz looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ciro Garcia.
I think Grizz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Amaury Grizz!