PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ground Pound (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grgur Zvonimir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Pound
vs
Zvonimir

185 cm
23
184 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

184 cm
22
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Gifts of the Rainforest

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ground Pound!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Grgur Zvonimir!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pound misses the jab.
Zvonimir takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Pound thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zvonimir misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Zvonimir.
Zvonimir throws a head kick but Pound moves out of range.
Pound looks to land a right hand but Zvonimir moved out of range.
Zvonimir uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pound.
Zvonimir throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Zvonimir shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pound's guard.
Pound tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pound keeping full guard, as Zvonimir tries to pass.
Zvonimir passes into half guard.

Pound has one foot on Zvonimir's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Pound throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zvonimir sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pound throws a low kick but it's checked well by Zvonimir.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zvonimir tries a head kick but it misses.
Pound throws a hook but Zvonimir avoids it easily.
Zvonimir tries a head kick but it misses.
Pound looks to land a left hand but Zvonimir moved out of range nicely.
Pound blocks a head kick by Zvonimir.
Pound throws out a loose jab but Zvonimir uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pound jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zvonimir staying out of range there.
Zvonimir moves out of range of the strikes.
Zvonimir throws a head kick that misses.
Pound lands with an uppercut that bounces Zvonimir off the cage and back into rage.

It looks like Grgur Zvonimir has been cut.
Pound misses with a low kick as Zvonimir jumps back.
Pound looks to land a right hand but Zvonimir moved out of range.
Pound looks to land a right hand but Zvonimir moved out of range.

Zvonimir gets the takedown into side control.

Zvonimir tries for a kimura but Pound is defending well.
Zvonimir looks gassed!
Pound wants to get back to his feet but Zvonimir drags him back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zvonimir working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Zvonimir tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pound is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Zvonimir is controlling him well.
Pound can't do much from the bottom here.
Pound tries to buck Zvonimir off but Zvonimir is having none of it.
Pound gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Zvonimir trying to pass the guard but Pound defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zvonimir seems to be working for a kimura but Pound defends the submission attempt.
Pound makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pound.
Zvonimir looking to pass the guard.
Pound scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Zvonimir stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pound swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pound manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Zvonimir tries to get back to half guard but can't.

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.
Pound looking to control but Zvonimir is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zvonimir is in all sorts of trouble here.

Pound looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Zvonimir is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zvonimir is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Pound wants to control the pace but Zvonimir is squirming around nicely.
Zvonimir manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Grgur Zvonimir will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Grgur Zvonimir's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zvonimir takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Pound gets caught flat footed, as Zvonimir shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Zvonimir trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Pound looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Zvonimir has picked Pound up and slammed him! Pound can't keep hold of the triangle and Zvonimir manages to pass to side control!

Zvonimir looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Pound manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Zvonimir is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zvonimir tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pound knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Pound is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pound throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Zvonimir is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pound is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Zvonimir is working for a submission of some sort.

Zvonimir is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pound manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Zvonimir trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pound working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pound wants to sweep here but Zvonimir controlling him for the moment.
Pound tries to strike from the bottom.
Zvonimir stands and throws Pound's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Zvonimir working away.

Zvonimir wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pound, who protects the arm well.
Pound is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Zvonimir goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Pound rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Zvonimir's guard! Nice work there by Pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pound looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Zvonimir throws his legs up looking for a submission but Pound uses it to pass to side control.
Zvonimir is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Zvonimir is looking to regain half guard here but Pound keeps moving and retains side control.
Pound working the head and body with strikes.
Zvonimir is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Pound's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zvonimir looking for submissions off his back.
Nice strikes from Pound there.
Pound is keen to just control but Zvonimir is a slippery customer.
Pound thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zvonimir's head.
Zvonimir gets full guard.
Zvonimir wants to sweep here but Pound controlling him for the moment.
Zvonimir wants to improve his position but instead Pound has moved into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Grgur Zvonimir will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Grgur Zvonimir's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Zvonimir throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pound comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Pound bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A head kick misses from Zvonimir.
Zvonimir avoids the head kick by Pound.
Pound scores with a jab to the head.
Pound connects with a body shot.
Zvonimir steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pound.
Zvonimir moves out of range of the strikes.
Zvonimir tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zvonimir throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zvonimir changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pound tries to avoid it but Zvonimir manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pound to the ground. Pound escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Zvonimir shoots in and bounces Pound off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Zvonimir drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zvonimir jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pound working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zvonimir looking to pass the guard.
Pound wants to sweep here but Zvonimir controlling him for the moment.
Zvonimir works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Pound is trying to get back to full guard.

Zvonimir is trying for a kimura here. Pound looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Zvonimir wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Grgur Zvonimir!
Grgur Zvonimir is the new middleweight champion!