PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Edgars Grundmanis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uri Nabokow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Grundmanis
vs
Nabokow

190 cm
22
200 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Edgars Grundmanis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Uri Nabokow!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nabokow scores with a jab. Grundmanis acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Nabokow fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Grundmanis misses with a takedown

and Nabokow counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nabokow wants to free his trapped foot but Grundmanis is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nabokow missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Grundmanis is trying to stand back up but Nabokow is controlling him
Nabokow is trying to control. Grundmanis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Grundmanis keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Nabokow seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grundmanis is holding on to half guard well.
Grundmanis is refusing to be controlled, as Nabokow sits in half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nabokow shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Grundmanis counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Grundmanis has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Grundmanis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Grundmanis landing some decent shots from guard.
Nabokow wants to get back to his feet but Grundmanis passes into half guard.
Nabokow wants to improve his position but Grundmanis is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grundmanis scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grundmanis takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nabokow is looking for a sweep. Grundmanis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nabokow looks gassed!
Grundmanis slips a nice elbow through Nabokow's hands, connecting with Nabokow's forehead.
Ground and pound from Grundmanis.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Grundmanis working over Nabokow with some ground and pound. Nabokow looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Grundmanis lands a nice short elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grundmanis with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Grundmanis lands a nice short elbow.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Grundmanis connects with a nice short shot to Nabokow's temple.
Grundmanis wants to get back to his feet.
Nabokow is looking to control Grundmanis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nabokow avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Grundmanis there.
Grundmanis seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nabokow manages to get to full guard.
Grundmanis working some strikes from top position.
Nabokow not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nabokow might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Grundmanis kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Nabokow keeping moving, preventing Grundmanis from controlling successfully.
Grundmanis with a nice head shot there.
Grundmanis lands a couple of digs.
Grundmanis lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grundmanis content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Grundmanis's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Grundmanis content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Grundmanis's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Grundmanis trying to control the position from guard on top but Nabokow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nabokow is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Grundmanis scoring with punches to the head and body.
Grundmanis stands up over Nabokow, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Grundmanis content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grundmanis looking to pass the guard.
Grundmanis keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nabokow's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edgars Grundmanis dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Grundmanis darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Grundmanis seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Grundmanis working over Nabokow with some ground and pound. Nabokow looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nabokow wants to control but Grundmanis is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Grundmanis lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Grundmanis drops an elbow to the side of Nabokow's head.
Nabokow on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Grundmanis looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Grundmanis there.
Grundmanis working the head and body with strikes.
Nabokow trying to control but Grundmanis postures up.
Nabokow is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grundmanis working Nabokow over with strikes.

Nabokow looking for submissions off his back.
Grundmanis lands strikes from half guard.
Grundmanis winds up and cracks Nabokow with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Grundmanis wants to pass to mount but Nabokow is defending the position.
Grundmanis looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nabokow with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Grundmanis scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Grundmanis looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nabokow trying to control from the bottom.
Grundmanis passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Nabokow!
Grundmanis cracks Nabokow with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grundmanis cracks Nabokow with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
A nice elbow there by Grundmanis.
Grundmanis controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grundmanis scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Nabokow?
Grundmanis lands a big shot there that rocks Nabokow but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Grundmanis breaks from Nabokow's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Grundmanis putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grundmanis landing strikes from the mount.
Grundmanis trying to control but Nabokow is having none of it.
Nabokow trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grundmanis dominating with strikes here.
Grundmanis looking to finish Nabokow with some ground and pound. This is bad for Nabokow!
Grundmanis is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Grundmanis lands a nice shot to the head.
Grundmanis looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Grundmanis is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Nabokow can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Grundmanis working Nabokow over with strikes here.
A nice elbow there by Grundmanis.
Grundmanis content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grundmanis lands a big shot there that rocks Nabokow but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Grundmanis working the ground and pound effectively.
Grundmanis raining down shots from the mount!
Grundmanis with the ground and pound from mount.
Grundmanis landing shots from mount.
Grundmanis lands a big elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grundmanis landing strikes from the mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nabokow is trying to escape the mount.
Grundmanis looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edgars Grundmanis dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Grundmanis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Nabokow counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nabokow.
Grundmanis has Nabokow pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nabokow manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Nabokow breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nabokow with a lazy takedown attempt

and Grundmanis counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nabokow won't be happy with that.
Nabokow is looking for a sweep.
Nabokow takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Grundmanis in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Nabokow struggling a bit here.
Grundmanis tries to move into full mount but can't pass Nabokow's legs.
Grundmanis landing a few strikes.
Grundmanis landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Grundmanis cracks Nabokow with a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nabokow taking punishment in the form of punches.
Nabokow tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Grundmanis wants to control but Nabokow is keeping him busy.
Nabokow tries to improve position but can't.
Check out the look on Grundmanis's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Grundmanis scoring with punches from side control.
Grundmanis lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Check out the look on Grundmanis's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Grundmanis scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Nabokow to see if he's OK.
Grundmanis lands an elbow.
Nabokow is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Nabokow tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grundmanis lands an elbow.
Grundmanis in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Grundmanis lands some shots froms side control.
Grundmanis scores with a couple of short elbows.
Nabokow tries to buck Grundmanis off but Grundmanis is having none of it.
Grundmanis cracks Nabokow with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Grundmanis cracks Nabokow with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Nabokow takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Nabokow is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grundmanis working the head with strikes.
Grundmanis is working Nabokow over with some ground and pound from side control.
You can see the frustration on Nabokow's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Grundmanis cracks Nabokow with a big elbow.
Grundmanis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nabokow can do to turn this around?
Grundmanis scoring with punches and elbows.
Grundmanis lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Nabokow down.
Nabokow is looking to reverse the position.
Grundmanis scoring with punches and elbows.
Grundmanis lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Nabokow down.
Grundmanis is working Nabokow over with some ground and pound from side control.
Grundmanis cracks Nabokow with a big elbow.
Edgars Grundmanis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nabokow is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grundmanis scoring with punches and elbows.
Check out the look on Grundmanis's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Grundmanis lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Grundmanis connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Nabokow some visible discomfort.
Nabokow wants to control but Grundmanis postures up.
Grundmanis tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Nabokow is trying to get back to half guard.
Uri Nabokow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Edgars Grundmanis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nabokow on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edgars Grundmanis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Grundmanis, 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:26
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edgars Grundmanis!