PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nick Ghirardi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donnie Groves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ghirardi comes to the cage accompanied by go to sleep. Groves has chosen ready 4 war as his entrance music. Donnie Groves has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ghirardi
vs
Groves

225 cm
18
130 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

170 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nick Ghirardi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Donnie Groves!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Groves throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Groves keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ghirardi tries to land a leg kick but Groves saw it coming and moves away.

Groves closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Groves lands in his opponent's guard.
Groves wants to stand but Ghirardi is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Groves throwing strikes from guard but Ghirardi blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ghirardi is on top in guard.
Ghirardi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ghirardi trying to control but Groves is working from the bottom.
Ghirardi is really struggling to control Groves but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groves manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Groves sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Ghirardi tries to hold on but Groves postures up.
Ghirardi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ghirardi blocking the ground and pound.
Ghirardi is looking to get to half guard.
BOOM! Groves connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's two 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.
Groves punching from mount but Ghirardi doing a good job of avoiding damage.
A nice elbow there by Groves.
Groves misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Groves looks gassed!
Ghirardi gets back to half guard.
Ghirardi wants to control but Groves is keeping busy.
Ghirardi is trying to stand back up but Groves is controlling him
Groves not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Groves throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Groves blocks the strikes from Ghirardi.
Ghirardi gets full guard.
Groves with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ghirardi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Groves gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Groves makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Groves working some strikes from top position.
Ghirardi trying to keep a closed guard but Groves is proving a slippery customer.
Groves missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Ghirardi scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Ghirardi with a poor takedown

and Groves counters with a single leg into guard. Ghirardi didn't expect that.
Groves must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Groves throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Groves accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groves passes into half guard.
Ghirardi won't allow Groves to pass to mount.
Ghirardi throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Groves lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Groves is trying to work for a kimura but Ghirardi is defending well.
Ghirardi manages to get to full guard.
Ghirardi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Ghirardi working for a triangle but Groves defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnie Groves dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Groves tries to clinch there but Ghirardi circles away.
Ghirardi fails with the takedown

and Groves moves into the clinch.
Ghirardi trying to stall but Groves improves his position.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Groves.
Groves lands a hook that snaps the head of Ghirardi backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ghirardi ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ghirardi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Ghirardi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Groves throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ghirardi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Groves trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Groves is breathing heavily.
Groves distracts Ghirardi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghirardi trying to control the position here.

Ghirardi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ghirardi trying to keep a closed guard but Groves is proving a slippery customer.
Ghirardi managing to control the position.
Groves is looking to work some ground and pound but Ghirardi has wrist control.
Ghirardi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two 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.

Ghirardi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Groves trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ghirardi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Groves passes Ghirardi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ghirardi tries to get to full guard but Groves has control of the leg.
Groves looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ghirardi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Groves is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ghirardi tries to get to full guard but Groves has control of the leg.
Groves is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Ghirardi!
Groves throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Ghirardi because Groves loaded up on that one.
Donnie Groves has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groves throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Groves scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Groves landing shots from mount.

Ghirardi is rocked!
Groves landing strikes from the mount.
Oh Ghirardi is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Groves connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Ghirardi gets back to half guard.
Groves throwing shots but Ghirardi is blocking nicely.
Ghirardi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Groves is working away from the top position though.
Ghirardi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Groves.
Ghirardi is looking for a sweep. Groves is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ghirardi seems to have got his legs back now.
Groves wants to stand up but Ghirardi manages to regain full guard.
Groves throws a strike but Ghirardi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghirardi content to stall in guard here.
Groves avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ghirardi trying to control but Groves is working from the bottom.
Groves throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Groves keeping moving, preventing Ghirardi from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnie Groves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Ghirardi is looking to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Ghirardi as Groves shoots in.
Nick Ghirardi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Groves showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ghirardi.
Ghirardi misses with a takedown attempt

and Groves decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ghirardi's guard.
Groves looking to pass the guard.
Ghirardi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Groves!
Ghirardi tries to control but Groves wriggling away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groves is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ghirardi cracks Groves with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ghirardi thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Ghirardi prevents Groves from getting the reversal.
Ghirardi throws some wild stikes that Groves manages to avoid easily.
Groves is working to get back to half guard.
Groves slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Groves works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ghirardi advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Groves is looking to regain half guard here but Ghirardi keeps moving and retains side control.
Groves sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Groves slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Groves wants to get back to his feet but Ghirardi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Ghirardi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Ghirardi drives through and clinches with Groves against the cage.
Ghirardi tries to break the clinch but Groves is controlling the position.

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

Ghirardi drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Ghirardi seems to have locked his on tight now - Groves screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Ghirardi, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Nick Ghirardi!