PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rip James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samson Grabowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

James
vs
Grabowski

194 cm
22
273 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

195 cm
21
275 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Crippler's Corner
MMA's Best Nutrition

Xotic Fruits

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rip James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Samson Grabowski!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Grabowski.

James gets the takedown into side control.
James is looking to take a break and control but Grabowski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Grabowski takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
James trying to control the position but Grabowski is working away.

James tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no James has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
James remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Grabowski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with James. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Grabowski is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throwing shots but missing, from side control.
James postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
James tries to score with some ground and pound. Grabowski controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Grabowski is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
James fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Grabowski throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Grabowski gets caught flat footed, as James shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Grabowski looking to control.
James is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Grabowski is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Grabowski has escaped and now he's on top!
James wants to sweep but no luck.
Grabowski controlling from the top position.
James wants to sweep but no luck.
James is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Grabowski tries to kick James off but James keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James wants to pass to mount but Grabowski is defending the position.
James sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Grabowski defending well though.
Still in half guard, James seems content to control.
James wants to take a breather but Grabowski is having none of it.

James looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Grabowski preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Grabowski keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
James tries to clinch up but Grabowski circles away and keeps his distance.
James fails with the takedown.
James's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and James duly obliges.
James tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Grabowski swivels and escapes.
Grabowski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Grabowski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Grabowski tries a head kick but it misses.
James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Grabowski's waist but Grabowski gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing James off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rip James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James tries to clinch up but Grabowski circles away and keeps his distance.
James fails with a takedown attempt.
James is breathing heavily.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Grabowski sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Samson Grabowski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James misses with a two punch combination.
James shoots in for a takedown but Grabowski shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A shot to de liver by Grabowski. Beautiful body shot.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Grabowski.
Grabowski lands a nice hook to James's body. James takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Grabowski looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.

James scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
James slows the pace down.
James laying and praying for a moment but Grabowski takes advantage and regains half guard.
Grabowski keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
James is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Grabowski can't keep his opponent in guard - James advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
James passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Grabowski!

That's one minute gone in the round.
James postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Grabowski looks a forlorn figure.
James tries to control but Grabowski wriggling away.
James avoids the attempt from Grabowski to control.
James landing strikes, looking to finish!
James lands a nice shot to the head.
James has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

James has hold of Grabowski's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Grabowski manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
James looking to control but Grabowski is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Grabowski can do anything to dispel that myth.
James tries to control but Grabowski wriggling away.
James punishing his opponent with strikes.
James cracks Grabowski with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
James controlling his opponent.
Grabowski is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James controlling from the full mount.
James lands a big elbow.
James wants to control the pace but Grabowski is squirming around nicely.
Grabowski is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
James looking to control but Grabowski is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
James tries to take Grabowski's back but instead Grabowski uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
James tries to pass the half guard into mount. Grabowski knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Grabowski has hold of James's hands but James slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Grabowski trying to hold on to James's head to control him but James postures up.
James takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

James is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Grabowski is trying to control but can't.
Grabowski avoiding damage under a succession of punches from James.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James not doing much here.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grabowski keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rip James dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
James tries to bum rush Grabowski with a series of wild strikes but Grabowski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James misses with a takedown attempt - Grabowski sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Grabowski misses with a double jab

and James counters with a single leg into guard. Grabowski didn't expect that.

Grabowski has his feet on James's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Grabowski lands a body shot.
Grabowski throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
James bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Grabowski lands a two punch combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
James throws a right hand that misses
letting Grabowski counter with a right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Grabowski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Grabowski staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grabowski throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.
Grabowski throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.
James misses with a shot to the body
and Grabowski counters with a low kick, right behind James 's knee.
James has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rip James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Grabowski tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Grabowski manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Grabowski throws a head kick that James semi-blocks.
Grabowski stuffs the takedown attempt from James. James gets slowly back to his feet.

James scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
James moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
James in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

James is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Grabowski looks calm but he's in trouble here. James gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Grabowski is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! James lets go of the hold and Grabowski can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rip James!