PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Gromov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Karanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gromov comes to the cage accompanied by LITTLE BIG-PUBLIC ENEMY. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gromov
vs
Karanov

180 cm
26
206 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

190 cm
19
210 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Phantom Fightwear

AnonymouS

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mikhail Gromov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andre Karanov!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karanov slaps away a takedown attempt from Gromov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Karanov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Gromov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Karanov counters with a takedown into side control.
Gromov is letting Karanov control him for a moment.
Gromov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gromov is letting Karanov control him for a moment.

Karanov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karanov controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gromov is looking for a sweep.
Karanov wants to control but Gromov is keeping him busy.
Gromov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Gromov is looking for a kimura but Karanov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gromov to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karanov trying to get back to full guard but Gromov takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

Gromov is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Karanov is surviving well by controlling Gromov's body position as best he can.

Gromov is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Karanov has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Karanov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gromov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Karanov working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karanov is still trying to improve position.
Gromov looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Gromov jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Karanov manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Karanov tries to improve position but can't.
Karanov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Karanov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gromov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karanov slows the pace down in half guard.
My spies in Mo's ($499) inform me that Karanov has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Let's hope that Karanov 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.
Gromov wants to control but Karanov is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karanov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gromov is just riding it out for now. Karanov eventually gives up the hold.
Gromov manages to get to full guard.
Karanov is stalling in the full guard.
Gromov controls Karanov momentarily but Karanov frees himself.

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.
Karanov is stalling in the full guard.
Gromov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gromov is on top in guard.

Karanov keeping moving, preventing Gromov from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gromov 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.
Karanov pulls Gromov in close to his closed guard and prevents Gromov from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gromov misses with a takedown attempt - Karanov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Karanov throws a hook but Gromov avoids it easily.
Karanov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gromov momentarily.
Gromov tries for a takedown but Karanov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gromov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikhail Gromov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Karanov has taken the fight to the clinch.

Karanov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gromov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Karanov counters by moving into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gromov fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Gromov jumps guard and drags Karanov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Karanov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Karanov looking to sit in guard and control but Gromov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gromov looking to pass the guard.

Karanov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gromov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Karanov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gromov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mikhail Gromov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gromov wants to control from the top but Karanov keeps moving.
Karanov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Karanov keeping moving, preventing Gromov from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.
Karanov 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.
Gromov trying to control but Karanov is working from the bottom.
Karanov controlling the position.
Gromov content to stall in guard here.
Gromov wants to pass the guard but Karanov is keeping the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gromov with a poor takedown
and Karanov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karanov has closed the distance and engaged Gromov in a clinch.
Karanov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gromov is trying to pull guard but Karanov has him pressed against the cage.
Gromov tries to pull guard but Karanov holds him up against the cage and eventually Gromov drops back down to his feet.

Karanov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Karanov swinging wildly here.
Gromov shoots and misses

and Karanov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Karanov.
Karanov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Karanov.
Karanov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gromov trying to control the position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Karanov wants to pass the guard but Gromov is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Karanov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gromov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gromov misses with a takedown attempt - Karanov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Karanov with the counter takedown but Gromov avoids it easily.
Karanov slaps away a takedown attempt from Gromov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mikhail Gromov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karanov scoring well with a low kick there.

Gromov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Gromov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Karanov defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gromov in particular looking to stall.
Karanov is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karanov is trying to control but can't.
Karanov wants to improve his position but Gromov is controlling well.
Karanov wants to control but Gromov is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Gromov is working for a kimura but Karanov is defending it quite comfortably.
Karanov tries to roll over but Gromov keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Karanov wants to control the action here but instead Gromov manages to pass to full mount!
Gromov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Karanov is looking to escape.

Gromov is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Karanov is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mikhail Gromov!