PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Gronholm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gronholm comes to the cage accompanied by Eeppinen biisi. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Gronholm
vs
Powers

188 cm
27
280 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

191 cm
26
269 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcus Gronholm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kenny Powers!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Powers scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gronholm is trying to stand back up but Powers is controlling him
Powers landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Powers missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gronholm regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Powers.
Gronholm avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gronholm working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Powers.
Gronholm looking to control.
Powers chips away with some ground and pound.
Powers working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gronholm's head.
Gronholm is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Powers throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gronholm works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Powers with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gronholm utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Powers tries to stand but Gronholm is controlling from the bottom.
Gronholm looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers is looking to advance position but Gronholm has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Gronholm trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Powers is wriggling around trying to escape.

Gronholm swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Powers is now in Gronholm's guard. A big mistake from Gronholm there, giving up the dominant position!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gronholm avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gronholm is trying to control the position but Powers postures up.
Powers postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gronholm is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Powers must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Powers postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Powers working some strikes from top position.
Powers throwing strikes from guard but Gronholm blocks nicely.
Powers throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gronholm works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Powers is looking to work some ground and pound but Gronholm has wrist control.
Gronholm wants to sweep here but Powers controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Powers postures up in Gronholm's guard and throws a big left but Gronholm blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers lands a couple of digs.
Powers lands a couple of digs.
Powers thows a big elbow that misses.
Powers lands a couple of digs.
Powers throws and elbow that misses. Gronholm uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Powers's guard. Nice move by Gronholm!
Gronholm passes into half guard.

Powers kicks off Gronholm and gets to his feet.
Powers gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gronholm counters with a left to the body.
Powers looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gronholm throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Powers with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Gronholm counter with a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gronholm lands a left and a right that send Powers crashing to the mat, dazed. Gronholm thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Kenny Powers has been cut.
Whack! Gronholm lands a heavy head kick that drops Powers. The ref tackles Gronholm to stop the fight - a great save by the referee because Powers was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Head Kick). Marcus Gronholm!