PBP Commentary

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

Maldonado
vs
Grechucki

169 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

201 cm
18
245 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Mohammed Maldonado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Marek Grechucki!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Grechucki shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Maldonado napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grechucki wants to stand but Maldonado is controlling his arm.
Grechucki tries to move to mount but Maldonado blocks the move with his legs.
Maldonado is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Maldonado is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maldonado takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Grechucki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maldonado keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maldonado tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Maldonado's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Maldonado could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Grechucki wants to stand but Maldonado has his arm trapped.
Grechucki prevents Maldonado from escaping the position.
Grechucki throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Maldonado sneaks back into half guard.
Grechucki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maldonado wants to get back to full guard.
Grechucki is trying to control the action in half guard but Maldonado is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Grechucki wants to work for an arm triangle but Maldonado is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Grechucki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Maldonado works his way to full guard. Good work.
Maldonado is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Grechucki is controlling him.

Maldonado has his feet on Grechucki's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Grechucki closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Maldonado quickly recovers to half guard.
Maldonado trying to get back to full guard but Grechucki takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Maldonado sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grechucki is just content to waste time from the top position. Maldonado takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Grechucki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Grechucki wants to control from the top but Maldonado keeps moving.
Grechucki wanted to stand there but Maldonado had control of the position.

Maldonado has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Grechucki off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Grechucki tries to clinch but Maldonado is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grechucki shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Grechucki is trying to control the action in half guard but Maldonado is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Maldonado slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Maldonado is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Grechucki presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Grechucki looking to stall.

Grechucki has clasped his hands together around Maldonado's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marek Grechucki will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marek Grechucki's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Maldonado avoids the head kick by Grechucki.
Grechucki tries a head kick but it misses.
Grechucki goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Maldonado dodges the punch combination from Grechucki.
Grechucki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Grechucki gets a double leg takedown into Maldonado's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maldonado pulls Grechucki in close to his closed guard and prevents Grechucki from doing any damage or advancing position.
Marek Grechucki has got the better of the ground game so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Maldonado is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grechucki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Maldonado gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Maldonado gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Maldonado throws a couple of heel strikes.
Maldonado is trying to keep Grechucki in close.
Maldonado might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Maldonado keeping moving, preventing Grechucki from controlling successfully.
Grechucki has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Maldonado is proving hard to escape from.
Maldonado keeping moving, preventing Grechucki from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Grechucki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Grechucki trying to control the position from guard on top but Maldonado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Maldonado working for a triangle but Grechucki defends it easily.

Maldonado has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Grechucki is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Grechucki. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grechucki pulls guard successfully.
Grechucki striking off his back but it's not causing Maldonado any problems.

Maldonado stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Grechucki dives in and scores a takedown into Maldonado's guard.

Maldonado kicks Grechucki off and gets to his feet.
Grechucki throws a sloppy head kick and Maldonado moves out of range easily.
Maldonado swats away the attempt to clinch by Grechucki.
Grechucki thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Maldonado if he has to take too many more of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grechucki tries to clinch up
and Maldonado counters with a two punch combo.

Grechucki shoots in and bounces Maldonado off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Maldonado has his feet on Grechucki's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Grechucki misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marek Grechucki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Marek Grechucki's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A head kick from Grechucki lands but Maldonado takes it in his stride.
A slapping body kick lands there for Grechucki.
Maldonado shoots in for a takedown but Grechucki shows good takedown defense.

Maldonado gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Grechucki to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Grechucki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maldonado manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Grechucki manages to get himself to full guard.

Maldonado gets to his feet. Grechucki looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldonado is trying to stand up here but Grechucki is controlling him well.
Grechucki tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Grechucki trying to control from half guard but Maldonado is working away.
Maldonado works his way to full guard. Good work.
Maldonado not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Maldonado holds on and takes a little breather.
Grechucki pushes down on Maldonado's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maldonado is trying to control but can't.
Maldonado slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Grechucki controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Grechucki preventing the sweep.
Grechucki passes Maldonado's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Grechucki wants to take a breather but Maldonado is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grechucki working the head and body with strikes.
Maldonado is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Grechucki is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Grechucki throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Maldonado is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Maldonado keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Grechucki closes the distance looking to clinch

and Maldonado counters by clinching up.
Grechucki tries to stall but Maldonado uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Maldonado blocks a body shot from Grechucki.
Grechucki holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Maldonado is looking to control Grechucki's arms but Grechucki gets an underhook and turns him. Now Maldonado has his back to the cage.
Mohammed Maldonado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marek Grechucki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maldonado leaning against his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marek Grechucki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Grechucki 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marek Grechucki!