PBP Commentary

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

Lara
vs
Gruka

182 cm
19
278 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

200 cm
25
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wally Lara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nica Gruka!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Mauricio Rocha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lara closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gruka's guard.
Lara postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Lara gets to his feet - Gruka follows without any prompting.

Gruka changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lara looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gruka misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Gruka swings around for an armbar but Lara sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Gruka's guard.
Gruka is trying to control the position but Lara postures up.
Lara with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lara really is a fat lump.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gruka is trying to control the position but Lara postures up.
Lara throws a big right hand that misses.
Gruka managing to control the position.
Gruka is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nica Gruka was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Gruka looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lara!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gruka is trying to get an arm triangle but Lara is defending well.
Lara can't do much from the bottom here.
Gruka misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Gruka working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gruka throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gruka trying to control the position but Lara is working away.
Gruka staying calm.
Let's hope that Gruka has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gruka throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Gruka wants to control but Lara is keeping him busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nica Gruka.

Lara shoots in and bounces Gruka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gruka 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gruka had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lara defends it easily.
Lara throws a big right hand that misses.

Lara stands and steps away. Gruka gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gruka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Gruka has managed to clinch.

Lara pulls guard effortlessly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gruka trying to control but Lara is working from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gruka showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nica Gruka will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Wally Lara's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gruka shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gruka not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Gruka. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Gruka not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gruka perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gruka tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Gruka stops Lara from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gruka is looking to advance position but Lara won't allow it.

Gruka decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Gruka misses with a wild body shot.

Lara throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gruka was covering up waiting for the punch and Lara finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Nica Gruka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gruka is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Lara gets to his feet - Gruka follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Gruka - just one landing.

Lara looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
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!

Gruka is defending against the submission attempts here by Lara.
Gruka controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Lara thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gruka's head.
Gruka missing with punches from the bottom.

Lara seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gruka slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gruka wants to sweep here but Lara controlling him for the moment.
Lara scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gruka manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lara manages to get himself to full guard.
Lara is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Gruka drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lara manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gruka has Lara in his guard.
Gruka is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gruka is trying to keep Lara in close.
Lara throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lara working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gruka's head.

Lara stands up from Gruka's guard - Lara perhaps looking for a knockout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gruka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lara, pushing him back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gruka pulls Lara into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nica Gruka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Wally Lara's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Gruka gets caught flat footed, as Lara shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Lara lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lara might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gruka wants to get back to his feet but Lara is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gruka is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Lara stands and steps away. Gruka gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Lara changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gruka looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Lara decides to stand back up. Lara steps back and let's Gruka get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Lara fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gruka sprawls well initially but Lara persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Lara is working for a submission of some sort.
Gruka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lara.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lara throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lara missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gruka is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Gruka actively working from the bottom here.
Gruka gets back to full guard.
Lara throws a big right hand that misses.
Gruka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lara is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lara preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lara decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gruka, up you get!

Gruka shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Gruka was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lara is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gruka asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Gruka decides to stand back up. Gruka steps back and let's Lara get back to his feet.

Gruka looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lara!
Lara wants to control but Gruka postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gruka controlling from side mount.

Gruka decides to stand up, so the ref orders Lara to his feet.
Wally Lara is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Gruka looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gruka is fighting to break Lara's control of his arms but Lara is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gruka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Lara is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gruka stands and throws Lara's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Wally Lara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nica Gruka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gruka controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Wally Lara.
Well Gruka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Nica Gruka!