PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cong Tran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nail Grigorovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tran
vs
Grigorovich

170 cm
19
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

154 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cong Tran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nail Grigorovich!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tran blocks a low kick nicely.
Tran tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Grigorovich paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Good leg kick by Tran there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Grigorovich bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Tran's head backwards.
Grigorovich throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Grigorovich moves into range and clinches up with Tran.
Grigorovich trying to control the position but instead, Tran has worked for underhooks and has pushed Grigorovich into the cage.

Grigorovich breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tran closes the distance and clinches up with Grigorovich, looking for a takedown. Tran pushes Grigorovich against the cage but Grigorovich circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Grigorovich pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Tran closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Grigorovich wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Grigorovich makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grigorovich misses with a two punch combination.
Grigorovich doesn't manage to clinch there - Tran circles away.
Grigorovich misses with a leg kick
and Tran counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Grigorovich.
Grigorovich wants to clinch up but Tran keeps it at a distance.

Tran scores a takedown into full mount!
Grigorovich is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Grigorovich looks winded!
Tran controlling his opponent.
Tran postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Grigorovich looks a forlorn figure.
Tran controlling from mount.
Grigorovich is trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tran looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tran looking to control but Grigorovich is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tran sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Grigorovich bucks up and throws Tran to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A low kick from Grigorovich misses

so Tran counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Grigorovich is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tran is controlling him.
Tran trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Grigorovich wants to stand up but Tran is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grigorovich keeping full guard, as Tran tries to pass.
Grigorovich should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Tran chips away with some ground and pound.
Tran won't allow Grigorovich to get back to his feet.
Tran trying to control the position from guard on top but Grigorovich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tran tries to stand but Grigorovich is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tran engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Grigorovich is working an open guard so Tran takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grigorovich shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tran lands with a kick to the temple. Grigorovich shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Grigorovich throws a poor cross that misses

and Tran counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tran.
Tran lands a right hand.

Grigorovich breaks the clinch.
Tran fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Tran pushes Grigorovich up against the cage in a clinch.
Grigorovich tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tran avoids it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grigorovich is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tran is defending well for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Grigorovich tries to land knees in the clinch but Tran avoids the damage to the body.

Tran gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Tran prevents Grigorovich from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cong Tran dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Grigorovich. No joy for Tran on that attempt.
Grigorovich waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tran.
Tran fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Grigorovich tries to clinch up but Tran circles away and keeps his distance.
Tran slips under a jab.
Tran throws a series of punches but Grigorovich moves out of range.
Tran keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Grigorovich.
Tran lands a nice shot that snaps Grigorovich's head back.
That kick from Grigorovich tenderised Tran's leg. Tran is trying to keep his angry face on.
Grigorovich clobbers Tran with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Grigorovich takes a swing at Tran's ribcage but misses.
Tran avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
No luck for Tran with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cong Tran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Grigorovich lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grigorovich throws a hook but Tran avoids it easily.
Nail Grigorovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grigorovich throws a poor cross that misses
and Tran counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nail Grigorovich seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Grigorovich rushes Tran and presses him up against the cage.
Grigorovich gets underhooks to prevent Tran's takedown attempt.

Grigorovich breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cong Tran is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Grigorovich connects with a body shot that sends Tran's belly button to the back.
Tran needs to keep his hands up - Grigorovich had a free shot at his head there.

Grigorovich moves into range and clinches up with Tran.
Grigorovich is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tran is defending well for now.

Grigorovich breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Grigorovich lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A big right from Grigorovich misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Grigorovich's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Grigorovich is trying to break the clinch but Tran has him pressed against the cage.
Grigorovich trying to land knees to the body.
Tran blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Grigorovich trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tran wants a takedown.

Grigorovich breaks the clinch.
Grigorovich throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Grigorovich throws a leg kick which misses Tran's front leg but catches the back leg as Tran tries to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grigorovich throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tran sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tran scores with a spinning back kick!
Tran moves away from the strike by Grigorovich.
Tran shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Grigorovich but Grigorovich pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tran tries to clinch up but Grigorovich circles away and keeps his distance.
Grigorovich throws a nice outside leg kick.
Grigorovich takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A chopping leg kick lands by Grigorovich.
Tran defending well as Grigorovich loads up on a big left hand.

Grigorovich fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tran, pushing him back against the cage.
Grigorovich is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tran is defending well for now.
Tran tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grigorovich's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice takedown defense from Grigorovich. No joy for Tran on that attempt.
Nice shot by Grigorovich.
Grigorovich fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tran.
Tran shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Grigorovich defends it nicely.
Tran moves in looking to clinch but Grigorovich pushes him off.

Grigorovich clinches with his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grigorovich trying to stall but Tran improves his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grigorovich misses with a punch to the body.
Tran has Grigorovich pressed against the cage.

Grigorovich breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nail Grigorovich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Grigorovich has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Tran circles away from the clinch attempt.

Grigorovich gets a clinch.

Tran breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Tran checks a leg kick.
Tran cracks a nice hook into Grigorovich's ribs.
Grigorovich is looking to clinch.
Good work by Tran as he checks the leg kick.
Grigorovich misses with a wild body shot.
Grigorovich throws a hook but Tran avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tran.
Tran takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Tran gets tackled into the cage by Grigorovich. Grigorovich maintains the clinch.
Tran tries to land a knee to the head but Grigorovich blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grigorovich misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tran.

Grigorovich pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Grigorovich tries to clinch but Tran is having none of it.
Grigorovich misses with a kick to the body.
Tran tries for a takedown but Grigorovich sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tran fails with an attempt to clinch.
Grigorovich throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Tran counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tran.
Tran is standing up over Grigorovich. Grigorovich looks to escape but Tran dives into side control.
Tran controlling the position.
Grigorovich is trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tran taking a breather here.
Grigorovich pushes Tran away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Tran gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Tran stands up and beckons Grigorovich to his feet.
Grigorovich misses with a wild body shot.
A thudding body kick lands there by Tran!
Tran is trying hard to land a takedown here. Grigorovich sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cong Tran. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grigorovich gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Grigorovich breaks the clinch.

Grigorovich instigates a clinch.
Grigorovich is looking to break free of the clinch but Tran has double underhooks.
Grigorovich looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Tran has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Grigorovich is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Grigorovich breaks from the clinch.
Tran just misses with a punch to the body.
Grigorovich tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tran swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Grigorovich slaps away a takedown attempt from Tran, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tran shoots in but Grigorovich avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice uppercut there from Grigorovich.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grigorovich doesn't manage to clinch there - Tran circles away.
Grigorovich throws a front kick aimed at Tran's knee but Tran avoids it well.
Tran takes one to the chin there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tran.
Grigorovich darts in trying to clinch
letting Tran counter with a right hand.
Tran slips a straight right by Grigorovich.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A slow jab from Grigorovich misses its intended target.
Grigorovich just misses with a punch to the body.

Tran closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grigorovich is trying to stand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nail Grigorovich.
I think Grigorovich has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Cong Tran!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Nail Grigorovich!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Nail Grigorovich!

Nail Grigorovich wins by split decision!