PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Gribov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Avtandil Gamsakhurdia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Avtandil Gamsakhurdia acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Gribov
vs
Gamsakhurdia

182 cm
22
180 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
175 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

>>> Blitzkrieg Formula 5000 (159++ Recovery $42)
Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Gribov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Avtandil Gamsakhurdia!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gamsakhurdia shoots and misses
and Gribov counters with a series of strikes. Gamsakhurdia will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nice takedown defense from Gribov. No joy for Gamsakhurdia on that attempt.
Gamsakhurdia shoots and misses
and Gribov counters with a stiff right hand.
Sergey Gribov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Avtandil Gamsakhurdia.
Gamsakhurdia doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gribov counters with a series of strikes. Gamsakhurdia will be more careful next time no doubt.
A punch combination from Gribov misses.

Gamsakhurdia drives through with a takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gribov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gamsakhurdia is one step ahead there.
Gribov is working hard here to advance position.

Gribov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gribov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gamsakhurdia's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gribov lands a couple of digs.
Gribov 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.
Gamsakhurdia is looking to stand up but Gribov isn't so interested in that idea.
Gamsakhurdia manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gamsakhurdia is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Gribov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gribov avoids a series of strikes thrown by Gamsakhurdia.
Gribov wants to hold on but Gamsakhurdia pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gribov regains half guard.
Gribov moves into full guard.
Gribov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gamsakhurdia trying to hold on to Gribov's head to control him but Gribov postures up.
Gamsakhurdia is staying active underneath Gribov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gribov prevents Gamsakhurdia from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gamsakhurdia trying to control from the bottom.

Gribov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
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!
Gamsakhurdia wants to get back to full guard.

Gribov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gamsakhurdia has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gribov is looking to advance position but Gamsakhurdia won't allow it.
Gribov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gamsakhurdia does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Gribov seems to be looking for submissions.
Gribov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gamsakhurdia controlling the position well.
Gamsakhurdia wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gamsakhurdia is controlling Gribov's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gamsakhurdia trying to control from the bottom.
Gribov prevents Gamsakhurdia from standing back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Avtandil Gamsakhurdia wasn't active enough on the ground.
Gamsakhurdia doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gribov counters with a low kick, right behind Gamsakhurdia 's knee.
Sergey Gribov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gamsakhurdia shoots and misses
and Gribov counters with a stiff right hand.
Gamsakhurdia with a poor takedown
and Gribov counters with a nice uppercut.
Gamsakhurdia looks gassed!
Gribov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Gribov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gribov stuffs the takedown attempt from Gamsakhurdia. Gamsakhurdia gets slowly back to his feet.
Avtandil Gamsakhurdia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gamsakhurdia with a poor takedown
and Gribov counters with a two punch combo.
Gamsakhurdia throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gribov's waist but Gribov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gamsakhurdia off to one side.
Gribov scores with a punch to the head.
Gamsakhurdia with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gribov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gribov lands a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gribov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Gribov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gribov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Gamsakhurdia back to the cage. Gribov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Gamsakhurdia on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Gribov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gamsakhurdia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gribov counters with a left and a right that stings Gamsakhurdia.
Gamsakhurdia looks for a takedown but Gribov sprawls well.
Gamsakhurdia misses with a takedown attempt
and Gribov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Gribov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gamsakhurdia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gribov lands a jab to Gamsakhurdia's midsection.
Gamsakhurdia moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gamsakhurdia on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gribov feints a jab promting Gamsakhurdia to slip. Gribov then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Gamsakhurdia slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Gamsakhurdia shoots in and drives through. Gribov sprawls well.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gribov!
Gribov throws a right hand that Gamsakhurdia ducks under and follows up with a left that Gamsakhurdia also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Gribov dominated that round.
That's time! Gribov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Some wild striking there from Gribov.
Gamsakhurdia on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Gamsakhurdia with a poor takedown
and Gribov counters with a stiff right hand.
Gamsakhurdia tries for a takedown but Gribov circles away easily
and Gribov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gribov lands with a nice combination. Gamsakhurdia backs away looking to recover.
Gribov lands a body shot.
Gribov tries to bum rush Gamsakhurdia with a series of wild strikes but Gamsakhurdia uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gribov lands with a shot to the body.
Gribov cracks Gamsakhurdia with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Gamsakhurdia closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gribov to the mat! Gribov manages to get full guard.

Gribov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gribov trying to keep a closed guard but Gamsakhurdia is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gribov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gamsakhurdia manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gamsakhurdia 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.
Gribov is looking to work some ground and pound but Gamsakhurdia has wrist control.
Gribov advances to half guard.
Gamsakhurdia is trying to get back to full guard.
Gamsakhurdia is trying to stand.
Gamsakhurdia is breathing heavily.

Gribov is looking for a kimura here.
Gribov wants to free his trapped foot but Gamsakhurdia is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gamsakhurdia slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gribov tries to free his leg and advance position but Gamsakhurdia is retaining full guard.
Gribov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gamsakhurdia wants to get back to his feet but Gribov passes into half guard.
Gribov is keen to just control but Gamsakhurdia is a slippery customer.
Gribov passes to side control.

Gamsakhurdia explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
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!
Gribov looks to land a combination but Gamsakhurdia avoids it well.
Gamsakhurdia with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gribov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sergey Gribov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Avtandil Gamsakhurdia.
Gamsakhurdia has his takedown stuffed
and Gribov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Gribov chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gamsakhurdia tries for a takedown but Gribov circles away easily
and Gribov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Gamsakhurdia's knee momentarily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gribov.
Danga de danga de dang - Gribov scores with a four punch combination!
Gamsakhurdia fails with the takedown.
Gribov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Gamsakhurdia tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Gribov tries to bum rush Gamsakhurdia with a series of wild strikes but Gamsakhurdia uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gribov is working the combinations to good effect here.
Jab, jab by Gribov - just one landing.
Gribov scores with a shot to the body.
Gribov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Gribov looks to land a combination but Gamsakhurdia avoids it well.
Gribov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gribov scores with a shot to the body.
Gribov clobbers Gamsakhurdia with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gamsakhurdia misses with a takedown
and Gribov counters with a left and a right that stings Gamsakhurdia.
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!
Gribov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gamsakhurdia walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Gribov throws a combination. Gamsakhurdia tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gribov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sergey Gribov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gamsakhurdia takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gamsakhurdia moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gribov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gamsakhurdia with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gribov counters with a left and a right that stings Gamsakhurdia.
Gribov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Gribov duly obliges.
Gamsakhurdia misses with a takedown
and Gribov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gribov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Gribov scores with a three punch combo!
Gribov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gamsakhurdia just misses with a punch to the body.
Gribov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gamsakhurdia.
Sergey Gribov is winning the standup battle so far.
Gamsakhurdia tries for a takedown but Gribov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gamsakhurdia fails with the takedown
and Gribov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sergey Gribov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Avtandil Gamsakhurdia.
Gamsakhurdia has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Gribov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gribov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Gamsakhurdia shoots and misses
and Gribov counters with an outside leg kick.
Gribov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gamsakhurdia's calf.
Gamsakhurdia closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Gribov cracks Gamsakhurdia with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Gamsakhurdia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gribov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Gribov misses with a double jab.
Gamsakhurdia walks into a left hand.
Gamsakhurdia has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Gribov cracks a nice hook into Gamsakhurdia's ribs.
Gamsakhurdia misses with a takedown attempt
and Gribov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gribov dips to his left and cracks Gamsakhurdia with an uppercut!
A shot to the liver by Gribov. Beautiful body shot.
Gribov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A left and a right from Gribov both land. Nice combination.
Gribov with a jab.
Gribov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Good leg kick by Gribov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Gribov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gamsakhurdia looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice shot by Gribov.
Nice takedown defense from Gribov. No joy for Gamsakhurdia on that attempt.
Gamsakhurdia stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gribov.
Gamsakhurdia throws a right hand that misses
and Gribov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Gribov lands with a shot to the body.
Gribov lands with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gribov throws a series of punches but Gamsakhurdia avoids them all with ease.
Gribov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gamsakhurdia looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
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!
Gribov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gamsakhurdia circles away quickly and effectively.
Gribov scores with a one two! Gamsakhurdia had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Gribov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gribov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Gamsakhurdia shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gribov pinned against the cage. Gribov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gribov misses with a double jab.
Gribov pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gamsakhurdia is out of range and Gribov settles back down.
Gamsakhurdia tries for a takedown but Gribov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gribov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Gamsakhurdia fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Gribov. Those never looked like landing.
Gribov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gribov, as that shot connected.

Gamsakhurdia shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gribov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Avtandil Gamsakhurdia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gribov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gamsakhurdia!
Gamsakhurdia holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gribov tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Gamsakhurdia is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gribov content just to control the position here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gamsakhurdia is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gribov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gamsakhurdia is looking to escape.
Gamsakhurdia keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gribov is in the full mount, landing strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gamsakhurdia is trying desperately to improve position.
Gamsakhurdia is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gamsakhurdia flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Gribov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gribov 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Gribov!
A relieved looking Sergey Gribov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.