PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gianpaolo Cassano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grigoriev Maxim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maxim has chosen Dolphin feat Stella - Eyes as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Grigoriev Maxim was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Cassano
vs
Maxim

167 cm
23
153 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

176 cm
27
155 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gianpaolo Cassano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Grigoriev Maxim!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maxim will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Maxim is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cassano sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Grigoriev Maxim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maxim shoots in looking for a takedown. Cassano tries to sprawl out of it but Maxim keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cassano manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gianpaolo Cassano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grigoriev Maxim.
Cassano connects with the punch.
Maxim fails to land the takedown.
Maxim closes the distance and clinches up with Cassano, looking for a takedown. Maxim pushes Cassano against the cage but Cassano circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cassano misses with a double jab.
Maxim shoots in for a double leg but Cassano sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Maxim shoots for a double leg takedown but Cassano sprawls well. He's pushed Maxim's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Cassano gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cassano on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cassano tries to get out of the position.
Maxim stops Cassano from standing up.
Maxim throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cassano works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cassano avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maxim missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maxim trying to control the position from guard on top but Cassano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cassano preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cassano working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maxim.
Maxim throws a big elbow that misses.
Maxim is working Cassano over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Maxim throwing strikes from guard but Cassano blocks nicely.
Cassano is looking to stand up but Maxim isn't so interested in that idea.
Maxim throwing strikes from guard but Cassano blocks nicely.
Cassano wants to stand up but Maxim is controlling him.
Maxim makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Maxim lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cassano is looking to stand back up but Maxim counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Cassano.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maxim looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Maxim not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Maxim keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Maxim working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
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!
Maxim has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Cassano is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Maxim connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Cassano is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Maxim lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Maxim trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cassano is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxim scores with a couple of good head shots there.
A nice elbow there by Maxim.
Maxim lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Cassano hang on?
BOOM! Maxim connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Maxim has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cassano's face.
Maxim takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Maxim is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Cassano is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maxim landing strikes from the mount and Cassano is in trouble!
Oh Cassano is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Maxim lands with some strikes.
Maxim loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Cassano scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Maxim land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Maxim stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Grigoriev Maxim!
Grigoriev Maxim gave a mention to CEC Nutrition Q160 & Loans in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).