PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aristarh Grobokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitry Matveev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aristarh Grobokov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Grobokov
vs
Matveev

200 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
21
230 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aristarh Grobokov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitry Matveev!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matveev tries to clinch

and Grobokov counters with a takedown into side control.
Matveev is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Grobokov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Matveev makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Matveev.
Grobokov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Matveev looking for a sweep. Not yet Matveev, not yet.
Grobokov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Matveev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Grobokov is aware though and is defending well.
Grobokov is stalling in the full guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Aristarh Grobokov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Grobokov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grobokov seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Grobokov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Matveev wants to control but Grobokov is keeping busy.
Matveev is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Grobokov jumps into side control!
Grobokov working the head with strikes.
Matveev gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grobokov slows the pace down in half guard.
Matveev has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Grobokov is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Grobokov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Matveev is trying to maintain the position but Grobokov is very close to passing his half guard.

Matveev has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Grobokov escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Grobokov!
Matveev is being controlled here.
Matveev prevents Grobokov from improving position.
Grobokov staying calm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grobokov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Matveev trying to control but Grobokov flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Grobokov lands strikes to the head.
Grobokov has the hooks in. Matveev is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Grobokov controlling from the back.
Grobokov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matveev tries to escape the position.
Matveev looks gassed!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Matveev is trying to remain composed but Grobokov is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Grobokov avoiding Matveev 's attempts to control his hands.
Grobokov scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Matveev is looking for a way out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aristarh Grobokov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Matveev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Grobokov quickly recovers to half guard.
Grobokov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Grobokov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Matveev preventing the sweep.

Grobokov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Matveev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Grobokov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Grobokov tries to get out of the position.
Matveev is looking to work some ground and pound but Grobokov has wrist control.
Grobokov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Matveev manages to get himself to full guard.
Grobokov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Grobokov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grobokov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Grobokov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Grobokov wants to stand but Matveev has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Grobokov sitting in guard here, content to control.

Matveev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Grobokov defends it easily.
Matveev is breathing heavily.

Matveev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Grobokov defends well.
Grobokov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Grobokov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

We're going to have a standup here because Aristarh Grobokov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Grobokov lands a lovely overhand right.
Matveev misses with a takedown attempt

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grobokov passes Matveev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Grobokov stands up from half guard.

Grobokov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Matveev manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Grobokov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Grobokov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Grobokov tries to free his leg and advance position but Matveev is retaining full guard.
Grobokov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matveev controls Grobokov momentarily but Grobokov frees himself.

Grobokov gets to his feet - Matveev follows without any prompting.
A head kick by Grobokov misses

and Matveev counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Grobokov keeping hold of Matveev's head, controlling as best he can.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matveev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grobokov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Matveev is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aristarh Grobokov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Grobokov.
Matveev wants to control but Grobokov postures up.
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.

Matveev bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Grobokov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Grobokov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Grobokov controlling the action here.

Matveev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grobokov controlling the action here.
Matveev is trying to get back to full guard.
Matveev is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Matveev is trying to control but can't.
Matveev wants to improve his position but Grobokov is controlling well.
Grobokov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Aristarh Grobokov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Grobokov drives through and clinches with Matveev against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Grobokov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Grobokov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Grobokov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Grobokov decides to stand and escape the position.

Grobokov drives through and clinches with Matveev against the cage.
Grobokov blocks the elbow strike.
Grobokov tries to pull guard but Matveev won't allow it.

Grobokov pulls guard effortlessly.
Grobokov controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matveev throwing strikes from guard but Grobokov blocks nicely.
Matveev wants to control from the top but Grobokov keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Grobokov throws a head kick that misses

and Matveev counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Grobokov blocks an elbow strike from Matveev.
Matveev being controlled against the cage.

Grobokov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Grobokov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Matveev is trying to maintain a safe position but Grobokov gets an underhook and turns Matveev into the cage.

Grobokov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Grobokov pulls Matveev in to control the position.
Dmitry Matveev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Grobokov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Matveev tries to free his leg and advance position but Grobokov is retaining full guard.
Grobokov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Matveev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Matveev throws a big right hand that misses.
Matveev throwing strikes but missing.
Aristarh Grobokov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Grobokov pushes Matveev off and gets back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aristarh Grobokov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Grobokov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aristarh Grobokov!