PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Gribov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arnold Rimmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arnold Rimmer has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gribov
vs
Rimmer

182 cm
28
180 lbs
18 - 8 - 1

180 cm
23
226 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Sparta Fightware

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sergey Gribov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Arnold Rimmer!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rimmer swings for the body but Gribov moves out of range.

Gribov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rimmer on his heels. He'll look to pass Rimmer's guard now, I'm sure.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gribov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rimmer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gribov.
Gribov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rimmer keeping moving, preventing Gribov from controlling successfully.
Gribov throws a big elbow that misses.
Rimmer wants to stand up but Gribov is controlling him.
Gribov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rimmer is keeping the position for now.
Rimmer pulls Gribov in close to prevent any damage.
Gribov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rimmer misses with a wild body shot.
Gribov misses with a straight right.
Rimmer waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gribov.
Gribov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A jab from Rimmer misses.
Gribov loads up on a big right hand but Rimmer slips the punch.

Gribov shoots in and gets a takedown into Rimmer's guard.
Gribov scoring with punches to the head and body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rimmer is looking to stand up but Gribov isn't so interested in that idea.
Rimmer pulls Gribov in close to prevent any damage.
Gribov connects with a couple of short punches.
Rimmer trying to keep a closed guard but Gribov is proving a slippery customer.
Rimmer tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gribov looking to pass the guard.
Gribov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rimmer is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gribov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gribov chips away with some ground and pound.
Rimmer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gribov is controlling him.
Gribov is stalling in the full guard.
Gribov wants to control from the top but Rimmer keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rimmer throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Gribov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rimmer wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gribov has him pressed against the cage.
Gribov is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rimmer is trying to break the clinch but Gribov has him pressed against the cage.
Rimmer looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gribov stalling the fight.
Rimmer wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gribov has him pressed against the cage.
Rimmer is pressed up against the cage. Gribov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rimmer down to the mat. Rimmer avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gribov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Gribov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rimmer sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gribov somewhat.
A lazy left from Rimmer finds it's target.
Rimmer slaps away a takedown attempt from Gribov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergey Gribov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gribov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gribov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gribov misses with a few strikes there.
Arnold Rimmer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gribov fails with a takedown attempt.
Rimmer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gribov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rimmer bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Gribov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rimmer throws out the jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Rimmer misses the target.

Gribov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gribov throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rimmer can't do much from the bottom here.

Gribov tries for a kimura but Rimmer is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Gribov 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.

Rimmer cracks Gribov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rimmer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gribov.
Rimmer misses with a series of wild punches.
Rimmer misses with a two punch combination.
Gribov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rimmer.
Rimmer fails to land with a series of punches.
Gribov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Gribov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rimmer thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rimmer lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rimmer takes one on the button.
Rimmer stuffs the takedown attempt from Gribov. Gribov gets slowly back to his feet.
Gribov shoots in but Rimmer avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergey Gribov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rimmer darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rimmer stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gribov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rimmer pinned against the cage. Rimmer gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rimmer throws a looping overhand right but Gribov ducks down to avoid it.
Rimmer stuffs the takedown attempt from Gribov. Gribov gets slowly back to his feet.
Gribov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rimmer sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Gribov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rimmer is trying to maintain the position but Gribov is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Gribov there.
Gribov prevents Rimmer from standing back up.
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!

Gribov is working for a kimura but Rimmer is defending it quite comfortably.
Gribov wants to control but Rimmer is keeping him busy.
Rimmer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gribov.
Rimmer looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gribov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gribov trying to control from half guard but Rimmer is working away.

Gribov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rimmer defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rimmer wants to control but Gribov is keeping busy.
Rimmer is controlling Gribov's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Gribov content to control rather than advance.

Gribov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rimmer is just riding it out for now. Gribov eventually gives up the hold.
Rimmer taking some punishment here, with Gribov in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rimmer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gribov.
Gribov is pressing down on Rimmer's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rimmer is holding on for now.

Gribov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rimmer defends it well.
Rimmer tries to get to full guard but Gribov has control of the leg.
Rimmer really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gribov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gribov trying to control the action but Rimmer is working from the bottom.
Sergey Gribov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gribov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gribov is looking for a kimura but Rimmer is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gribov to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Gribov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gribov shoots in for a takedown but Rimmer shows good takedown defense.
Rimmer throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rimmer might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Gribov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rimmer's half guard.

Gribov wants to work for an arm triangle but Rimmer is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gribov prevents Rimmer from improving his position.
Gribov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gribov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gribov wants to control but Rimmer is keeping him busy.
Gribov passes to side control.
Rimmer pushes Gribov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gribov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Gribov controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gribov advances to mount.
Gribov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rimmer is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rimmer wants to hold on but Gribov pushes him away.
Rimmer tries to reverse the position but Gribov maintains control.
Gribov landing strikes from the mount.
Gribov with the ground and pound from mount.
Gribov lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Gribov is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rimmer is surviving well by controlling Gribov's body position as best he can.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rimmer is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Arnold Rimmer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gribov cracks Rimmer with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Rimmer tries to lock up and control but Gribov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rimmer working to try and regain half guard.
Gribov wants to control the pace but Rimmer is squirming around nicely.
Gribov landing strikes, looking to finish!
Gribov in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rimmer's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Gribov with shots to the head and body - Rimmer looks very uncomfortable down there.
BOOM! Gribov connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Gribov looking for a guillotine from mount but Rimmer is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gribov content just to control the position here.
Gribov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rimmer hang on?
Rimmer is desperately trying to improve his position but Gribov has a good base and remains in mount.
Gribov working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Gribov postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rimmer looks a forlorn figure.
Gribov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gribov landing strikes from the mount.
Sergey Gribov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gribov controlling from mount.
Gribov raining down shots from the mount!
Rimmer is looking to get to half guard.
Gribov landing shots from mount.
Gribov lands a big shot there that rocks Rimmer but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Gribov looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gribov putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gribov content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Gribov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gribov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Gribov!
Sergey Gribov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.