PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Borthol Grynworst (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anton Kuivanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Kuivanen's choice of entrance music: Kanye West - POWER . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Grynworst
vs
Kuivanen

170 cm
27
170 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

176 cm
27
171 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Pitt Nutrition + Laundry (160 Recovery, Stamina
BeastMode

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Borthol Grynworst!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anton Kuivanen!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Saam Ante and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping leg kick lands for Kuivanen.
Kuivanen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Borthol Grynworst has been cut.
Grynworst swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kuivanen.
Kuivanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Kuivanen tries to clinch but Grynworst moves out of range.
Kuivanen misses with a double jab.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Grynworst enables Kuivanen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Grynworst manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Kuivanen 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.
Kuivanen postures up in Grynworst's guard and throws a big left but Grynworst blocks it.
Kuivanen throwing strikes but missing.

Kuivanen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kuivanen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grynworst working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kuivanen.

Grynworst throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Kuivanen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Grynworst fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kuivanen manages to avoid it.
Kuivanen throws a body punch but Grynworst moves out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kuivanen.
Kuivanen lets loose with a powerful body kick. Grynworst will feel that in the morning.
Kuivanen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Grynworst.

Grynworst tries to keep at a distance but Kuivanen has taken the fight into the clinch.

Kuivanen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Grynworst scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grynworst throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kuivanen connects with a solid leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuivanen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Kuivanen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuivanen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Kuivanen is looking for a kimura but Grynworst is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kuivanen to get the leverage.

Kuivanen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Grynworst is refusing to be controlled, as Kuivanen sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grynworst looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kuivanen is working for a submission of some sort.
Kuivanen wants to get back to his feet.

Kuivanen is trying to work for a kimura but Grynworst is defending well.

Kuivanen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Grynworst is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kuivanen pulls his head out easily.

Kuivanen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Grynworst looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kuivanen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Grynworst is just riding it out for now. Kuivanen eventually gives up the hold.

Grynworst looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Kuivanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Borthol Grynworst's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Grynworst avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Grynworst throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Grynworst takes a swing at Kuivanen's ribcage but misses.
Kuivanen misses with a jab, cross combination.

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

Kuivanen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Grynworst is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Grynworst is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kuivanen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kuivanen is looking for a kimura here.

Kuivanen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grynworst trying to hold on to Kuivanen's head to control him but Kuivanen postures up.

Grynworst looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kuivanen is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Anton Kuivanen has got the better of the ground game so far.

Grynworst defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Kuivanen.
Kuivanen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Grynworst?
Kuivanen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kuivanen has control of Grynworst's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Grynworst regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Grynworst is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Mano`s Elite BJJ Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Kuivanen lands with some strikes.
Kuivanen looking to control but Grynworst is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Grynworst sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Grynworst looking for submissions off his back.

Kuivanen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuivanen is looking for a kimura but Grynworst is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kuivanen to get the leverage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Grynworst manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kuivanen postures up.

Kuivanen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Grynworst swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Grynworst moves out of range of the body kick from Kuivanen.
Grynworst throws a series of punches but Kuivanen avoids them all with ease.

Grynworst shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Grynworst showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuivanen is trying to stand.

Kuivanen manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Grynworst keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Grynworst tries a body shot but Kuivanen blocks it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kuivanen.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kuivanen throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kuivanen holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Kuivanen breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Kuivanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Borthol Grynworst's cut.
That's time! Grynworst's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kuivanen moves into the clinch successfully.
Grynworst misses with a punch to the body.
Grynworst misses with a punch to the body.

Kuivanen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Grynworst shoots in for a takedown but Kuivanen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kuivanen misses with a double jab

and Grynworst counters with a single leg into guard. Kuivanen didn't expect that.

Kuivanen looking for a guillotine here but Grynworst defends easily.
Grynworst postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grynworst throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kuivanen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Grynworst drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kuivanen dives on top into guard.

Grynworst looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kuivanen wants to stand and escape but instead Grynworst has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Grynworst is looking to advance position but Kuivanen has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Kuivanen jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Grynworst manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Kuivanen controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grynworst sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Kuivanen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kuivanen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kuivanen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Grynworst does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuivanen throwing shots but Grynworst is blocking nicely.

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

Grynworst actively working from the bottom here.

Kuivanen seems to be looking for submissions.
Kuivanen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Grynworst keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Grynworst moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Grynworst keeping moving, preventing Kuivanen from controlling successfully.

That's four 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.
Kuivanen wants to stand but Grynworst has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Grynworst trying to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A jab from Grynworst finds it's way through Kuivanen's defenses.

Kuivanen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Grynworst, pushing him back against the cage.

Kuivanen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
No joy there for Kuivanen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Grynworst misses with an uppercut. Kuivanen saw that one coming.
Kuivanen wants to clinch up but Grynworst keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Anton Kuivanen just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Borthol Grynworst's cut.
That's time! Grynworst's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Grynworst misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kuivanen.
Kuivanen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Grynworst paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Kuivanen closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Grynworst's guard.
Grynworst working a defensive guard here.

Kuivanen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Grynworst has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kuivanen has managed to get both his arms back between Grynworst's legs - danger averted.

Kuivanen drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Kuivanen as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Grynworst screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Kuivanen! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:46 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Anton Kuivanen! Anton Kuivanen retains his lightweight title!
A relieved looking Anton Kuivanen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.