PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael Gronfors (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenjiro Yoshinobi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshinobi has chosen Light It Up as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gronfors
vs
Yoshinobi

175 cm
22
157 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

178 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Gronfors!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenjiro Yoshinobi!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gronfors will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Yoshinobi closes the distance and clinches.

Yoshinobi jumps guard and drags Gronfors to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Yoshinobi uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Gronfors circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gronfors shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yoshinobi as he jumps to the side.
Yoshinobi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A combination from Gronfors does no damage.
Yoshinobi doesn't manage to clinch there - Gronfors circles away.
A head kick misses from Gronfors.
Yoshinobi wants to clinch.
Yoshinobi looks to land a combination but Gronfors avoids it well.
Michael Gronfors seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gronfors keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Yoshinobi tries to clinch but Gronfors is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gronfors misses with a head kick.
Yoshinobi tries to clinch up.
Gronfors swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Yoshinobi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Gronfors is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Gronfors is breathing heavily.
Gronfors swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Yoshinobi counters with a single leg into guard. Gronfors didn't expect that.
Yoshinobi trying to control but Gronfors is working from the bottom.
Yoshinobi is in close to Gronfors's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Yoshinobi stands up over Gronfors, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Gronfors pushes Yoshinobi off and gets back to his feet.
Gronfors throws a left and a right that both miss

and Yoshinobi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gronfors won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yoshinobi trying to control the action but Gronfors is working from the bottom.

Yoshinobi decides to stand up, so the ref orders Gronfors to his feet.

Yoshinobi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gronfors, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gronfors has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Yoshinobi clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Good control from Gronfors.
Gronfors has the hooks in. Yoshinobi is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Gronfors has good solid back control here.
Yoshinobi looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Gronfors'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.
Yoshinobi trying to control the position but Gronfors manages to sink in the hooks.
Gronfors has the hooks in. Yoshinobi is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Gronfors is not going to allow Yoshinobi to sit and survive in this position.

Yoshinobi manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Gronfors dodges the punch combination from Yoshinobi.

That's four 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.

Yoshinobi gets the takedown into side control.

Yoshinobi stands up and beckons Gronfors to his feet.
Gronfors staying out of range there.
Yoshinobi is looking to clinch but Gronfors is avoiding it.

Yoshinobi moves into range and clinches up with Gronfors.
Gronfors wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Yoshinobi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Yoshinobi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gronfors's face.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Yoshinobi.
Yoshinobi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gronfors fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gronfors has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenjiro Yoshinobi dominated that round.
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.

Yoshinobi closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gronfors is pushing Yoshinobi's head away, looking to escape. Yoshinobi manages to hold on to the position though.
Yoshinobi trying to control the action but Gronfors is working from the bottom.
Yoshinobi controls the position.
Gronfors is pushing Yoshinobi's head away, looking to escape. Yoshinobi manages to hold on to the position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yoshinobi is looking to take a break and control but Gronfors is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gronfors is trying to buck Yoshinobi off.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Yoshinobi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gronfors wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yoshinobi gets underhooks to prevent Gronfors's takedown attempt.
Yoshinobi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gronfors gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gronfors lands with a left to the head.
Gronfors wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gronfors is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Yoshinobi prevents Gronfors from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Yoshinobi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Yoshinobi tries to pull guard but Gronfors holds him up against the cage and eventually Yoshinobi drops back down to his feet.
Yoshinobi tries to stall but Gronfors uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Yoshinobi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Michael Gronfors is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Yoshinobi!

Gronfors is rocked!

Yoshinobi moves into the clinch.
Oh Gronfors is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Yoshinobi fails to pull guard.
Michael Gronfors has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenjiro Yoshinobi.
Gronfors prevents the takedown attempt.
Gronfors wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gronfors takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gronfors takes an elbow to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshinobi lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Michael Gronfors has been cut.
Yoshinobi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Yoshinobi wants a takedown but no success here.
Yoshinobi lands a big knee to the head and Gronfors goes down! Yoshinobi pounces and finishes the fight with strikes! He jumps to his feet and celebrates with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kenjiro Yoshinobi!