PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sith One (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergey Gribov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). One's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Sith . Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

One
vs
Gribov

175 cm
25
190 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

182 cm
30
180 lbs
20 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

TWGC Champion
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sith One!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sergey Gribov!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Phil Schofield and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

One gets caught flat footed, as Gribov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Gribov trying to control the position from guard on top but One is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
One keeping full guard, as Gribov tries to pass.
Gribov trying to control but One is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Sergey Gribov.
One with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gribov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

One closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gribov's guard.

Gribov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gribov keeping moving, preventing One from controlling successfully.
Gribov has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Vale Tudo. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Gribov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gribov looking to control.
Gribov keeping moving, preventing One from controlling successfully.
One controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
One trying to control but Gribov is working from the bottom.

Sith One has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Gribov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
One is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
One is letting Gribov control him for a moment.
One struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gribov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but One is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Gribov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by One, who protects the arm well.
Gribov controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gribov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. One knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gribov is looking to take a break and control but One is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
One struggling a bit here.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
One tries to improve position but can't.

Gribov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. One knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
One is looking to reverse the position.
One regains half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Gribov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. One doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gribov.
Gribov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gribov wants to free his trapped foot but One is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gribov is trying to control the action in half guard but One is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
One is trying to get back to full guard.

Gribov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. One doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gribov.
Gribov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

One is defending against the submission attempts here by Gribov.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Gribov slows the pace down in half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
One is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Gribov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Sergey Gribov.
One dives in for a single leg takedown but Gribov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
One fails to pull guard.
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 round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

One fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Gribov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gribov is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Gribov is looking for a kimura here.
One wants to control but Gribov is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gribov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for One!
Gribov looking to control but One is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
One manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Gribov trying to control from half guard but One is working away.
Gribov tries to pass to full mount but One defends it.
Gribov works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
One is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gribov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
One is wriggling around trying to escape.

Gribov jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… One is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by One and Gribov has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
One is not content to let Gribov control the position.

Gribov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gribov wants to control but One is keeping him busy.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Gribov is trying to get an arm triangle but One is defending well.
Gribov tries to move into full mount but can't pass One's legs.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gribov trying to control the position but One is working away.
One is trying to control Gribov's posture but Gribov avoids it.
One is not content to let Gribov control the position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gribov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control One haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Sergey Gribov.

A momentary lapse in concentration from One enables Gribov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. One manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gribov looking to sit in guard and control but One gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
One looking to sit in guard and control but Gribov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Gribov sitting in guard here, content to control.
One keeping moving, preventing Gribov from controlling successfully.
Gribov tries to free his leg and advance position but One is retaining full guard.
One keeping moving, preventing Gribov from controlling successfully.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

One looking for a guillotine here but Gribov defends easily.
Gribov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gribov wants to control from the top but One keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Gribov 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!

One fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gribov avoids it really well and circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from One.

One gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gribov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Gribov looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
One is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gribov trying to control but One is working from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
One fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sith One. That's going to take a lot out of him.
One shoots in for a takedown but Gribov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gribov leaves One with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gribov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. One manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gribov trying to control the position from guard on top but One is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
One looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gribov is one step ahead there.
Gribov trying to control the position from guard on top but One is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gribov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Sergey Gribov wasn't active enough on the ground.
One looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Gribov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. One did well to prevent Gribov getting side control.
Gribov not doing much here.
One is staying active underneath Gribov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Sergey Gribov wasn't active enough on the ground.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from One.

Gribov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gribov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gribov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but One is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Gribov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
One is looking for a sweep.
One regains half guard there - taking advantage of Gribov's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Gribov is working for a submission of some sort.

Gribov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and One defends it well.
Sith One has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Gribov is looking for a kimura but One is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gribov to get the leverage.
Gribov is stalling here. One is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gribov seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and One has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Sergey Gribov has got the better of the ground game so far.
One laying and praying for a moment but Gribov takes advantage and regains half guard.
One controlling the action here.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
One is keen to just control but Gribov is a slippery customer.
One wants to free his trapped foot but Gribov is holding on for dear life with his legs.

One seems to be working for a kimura but Gribov defends the submission attempt.
One slows the pace down in half guard.
Sergey Gribov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Gribov is in trouble now - One has advanced to mount!
Gribov is in all sorts of trouble here.

One moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Gribov has worked his arm free - good work by Gribov!
Gribov gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Gribov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gribov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight for Sergey Gribov!
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight for Sergey Gribov!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Sergey Gribov!

Sergey Gribov wins by unanimous decision!
During a confident post fight interview, Sergey Gribov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.