PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bob Esponja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darius Grimshaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bob Esponja has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Esponja
vs
Grimshaw

225 cm
18
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

197 cm
21
272 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bob Esponja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Darius Grimshaw!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Luis Engracia and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grimshaw keeps the fight on the outside.
Esponja tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Grimshaw manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Esponja decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Esponja will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Grimshaw works his way to full guard. Good work.
Grimshaw bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Esponja's guard.
Esponja keeping full guard, as Grimshaw tries to pass.
Esponja keeping moving, preventing Grimshaw from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grimshaw is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Grimshaw avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grimshaw pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Esponja is keeping the position for now.
Esponja wants to hit a switch here but Grimshaw passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Esponja there!
Grimshaw content just to control the position here.

Grimshaw goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Esponja turns into him and now he's in Grimshaw's guard.
Grimshaw is trying to control the position but Esponja postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grimshaw throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Esponja lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Esponja trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Grimshaw manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Grimshaw wants to pass the guard but Esponja is keeping the position.
Esponja has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Grimshaw passes Esponja's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Grimshaw seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Esponja does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Grimshaw is just content to waste time from the top position. Esponja takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Esponja is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grimshaw wants to stand but Esponja is controlling his posture from full guard.
Grimshaw pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Esponja is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grimshaw tries to stand but Esponja is controlling from the bottom.
Grimshaw tries to free his leg and advance position but Esponja is retaining full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Esponja is on top in guard.
Esponja is looking to stand up but Grimshaw won't let him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grimshaw looking for a sweep. Not yet Grimshaw, not yet.
Grimshaw looking to control.
Grimshaw trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Darius Grimshaw will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Grimshaw manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Esponja on his heels. He'll look to pass Esponja's guard now, I'm sure.
Grimshaw 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.
Esponja is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Grimshaw wants to stand but Esponja has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Esponja working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Grimshaw doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Grimshaw manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Grimshaw wants to control from the top but Esponja keeps moving.
Grimshaw tries to free his leg and advance position but Esponja is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Esponja is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Grimshaw 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.
Esponja tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Darius Grimshaw.
Esponja dives in and grabs Grimshaw's left leg, looking for a takedown. Grimshaw pushes down on Esponja's head and hops out.

Grimshaw shoots in and gets a takedown into Esponja's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Grimshaw trying to control the position from guard on top but Esponja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grimshaw trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Esponja has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Grimshaw can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Grimshaw is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Grimshaw postures up in Esponja's guard and throws a big left but Esponja blocks it.
Esponja controls Grimshaw momentarily but Grimshaw frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grimshaw scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Esponja keeping moving, preventing Grimshaw from controlling successfully.
Grimshaw pushes down on Esponja's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Grimshaw stands up from half guard.
Grimshaw has a takedown stuffed.

Grimshaw fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Esponja to the ground. Grimshaw is now in Esponja's guard.
Grimshaw pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Esponja is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esponja keeping moving, preventing Grimshaw from controlling successfully.
Grimshaw sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Esponja's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grimshaw is trying to control. Esponja wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Esponja is looking to improve his position.

Grimshaw is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Esponja sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darius Grimshaw showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Grimshaw avoids the head kick by Esponja.

Grimshaw looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Esponja keeping moving, preventing Grimshaw from controlling successfully.

Grimshaw stands up from Esponja's guard - Grimshaw perhaps looking for a knockout.
Esponja throws a push kick but Grimshaw slaps the foot to one side.
Esponja tries for a takedown but Grimshaw circles away easily

and Grimshaw moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grimshaw decides to pull guard.
Esponja postures up.
Grimshaw might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Esponja haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Darius Grimshaw has got the better of the ground game so far.
Grimshaw keeping moving, preventing Esponja from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Esponja won't allow Grimshaw to sweep him here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Darius Grimshaw wasn't active enough on the ground.
Grimshaw stuffs the takedown attempt from Esponja. Esponja gets slowly back to his feet.

Grimshaw throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Esponja was covering up waiting for the punch and Grimshaw finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esponja working a defensive guard here.
Esponja keeping moving, preventing Grimshaw from controlling successfully.
Grimshaw wants to pass the guard but Esponja is keeping the position.
Grimshaw throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esponja looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Bob Esponja.
Esponja throws a sloppy head kick and Grimshaw moves out of range easily.
Esponja swats away the attempt to clinch by Grimshaw.

Grimshaw shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Esponja is trying to defend but Grimshaw finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Grimshaw is nestled in close to Esponja, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Esponja is staying active underneath Grimshaw, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grimshaw seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Esponja on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Grimshaw seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Esponja is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Darius Grimshaw!