PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shael Connen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryce Groves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Groves has chosen Voices in the air as his entrance music. Bryce Groves has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Shael Connen's chin.

Connen
vs
Groves

185 cm
19
205 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

193 cm
26
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Brute

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Shael Connen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Bryce Groves!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Colin Fotheringham and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Connen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Connen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Groves is fending him off so far but Connen persists. Nope, Groves circles away and we're back to standing.
Connen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shael Connen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Groves slips a straight right by Connen.
Connen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Groves. No joy for Connen on that attempt.
No luck for Connen with that takedown attempt.
Connen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Groves as he jumps to the side.

Groves has closed the distance and engaged Connen in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Groves jumps guard.
Connen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Connen with a flurry of punches that miss.

Groves had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Connen defends it easily.
Groves can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Connen controls the pace.
Connen stands up over Groves, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Groves keeping moving, preventing Connen from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connen is pushing down on Groves's leg trying to pass to half guard. Groves is fighting to maintain full guard but Connen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Connen works his way into side control.
Connen controlling the position from side mount.
Connen is looking to take a break and control but Groves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Connen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Connen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groves gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Connen looking to control but Groves is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Connen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Groves is squirming around, avoiding Connen's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groves trying to control the position from guard on top but Connen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Groves in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Connen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Groves's guard.
Connen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Groves's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Connen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Connen stalling away here and it's allowed Groves to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Connen wants to control from the top but Groves keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shael Connen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Connen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Connen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Groves circles away.
Connen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Connen fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shael Connen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Groves decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Connen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Connen tries to get out of the position.
Groves working over Connen with some ground and pound. Connen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Connen is trying to get back to full guard.
Connen is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connen is doing well to control the position and prevent Groves from advancing to side control.
Connen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Groves is working away from the top position though.
Groves is nestled in close to Connen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Groves not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shael Connen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Groves wants to work for an arm triangle but Connen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Groves scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Groves thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Connen's head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Connen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Groves must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Groves throwing strikes from guard but Connen blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connen trying to control the position here.
Groves trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Connen is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Connen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
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!
Groves stops Connen from standing up.
Groves throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Groves throws a big elbow that misses.
Groves in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Groves trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Connen looking for a sweep. Not yet Connen, not yet.
Groves postures up and lands a big shot to Connen's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groves keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Connen's head.
Connen has momentary wrist control but Groves slips an elbow through the middle.
Groves throwing strikes from guard but Connen blocks nicely.
Groves trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Connen is trying to control the position but Groves postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Connen is on top in guard.
Connen wants to control from the top but Groves keeps moving.
Connen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Groves keeping moving, preventing Connen from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connen advances position into side control!
Groves is not content to let Connen control the position.
Connen controlling from side mount.
Groves is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bryce Groves will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Connen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Groves avoids it really well and circles away.
Connen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Connen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Groves's waist but Groves gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Connen off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shael Connen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Groves throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Groves scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Connen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Groves is trying to get back to full guard.
Connen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Groves's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groves tries to kick Connen off but Connen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Connen is looking to advance position but Groves won't allow it.

Connen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Connen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Connen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Groves defends it well.
Groves tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Connen manages to move to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connen controlling the position easily from mount.
Connen looking to control but Groves is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Connen working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Connen is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Groves has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Groves!
Connen looking for a sweep. Not yet Connen, not yet.
Connen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Groves's guard.
Connen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Groves's head.
Connen trying to control but Groves is working from the bottom.
Connen tries to free his leg and advance position but Groves is retaining full guard.
Connen pushes down on Groves's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connen prevents Groves from improving his position.
Connen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Groves is looking to escape.
Connen wants to pass the guard but Groves is defending well.
Connen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Groves is squirming around, avoiding Connen's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shael Connen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Connen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shael Connen!
A pretty intense looking Shael Connen took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.