PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hercules Dontin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stu Grounder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Dontin
vs
Grounder

225 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
142 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

MMA's Best Nutrition
MMA's Best Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hercules Dontin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stu Grounder!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dontin is looking to clinch.
Dontin fails in his attempt to clinch.

Grounder feints and as Dontin raises his hands in defense, Grounder changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Grounder is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Dontin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Grounder has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dontin is proving hard to escape from.
Dontin wants to sweep here but Grounder controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grounder wants to stand and escape but instead Dontin has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Grounder tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grounder controlling Dontin's posture.
Grounder is trying to keep Dontin in close.
Dontin stopping the sweep attempt from Grounder.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Dontin throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Grounder's head.
Dontin scores with a jab.
Dontin is looking to clinch but Grounder is avoiding it.
Dontin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Grounder paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grounder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Grounder keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dontin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Grounder swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dontin tries to clinch up but Grounder circles away and keeps his distance.
Dontin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hercules Dontin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grounder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Grounder throws a series of punches but Dontin moves out of range.

Grounder closes the distance and clinches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Dontin prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stalling in the clinch from Dontin.
Dontin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Grounder has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Dontin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dontin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Grounder just misses with a punch to the body.
Grounder misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Grounder rushes Dontin and presses him up against the cage.
Grounder goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dontin prevents it.
Grounder is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Grounder has Dontin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dontin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hercules Dontin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stu Grounder.
Grounder is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Dontin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dontin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Dontin moves into range and clinches up with Grounder.
Dontin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Grounder is trying to trip Dontin. He has hold of a leg but Dontin is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Grounder persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Grounder looks gassed!
Grounder would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Dontin managing to control the position.
Dontin wants to stand and escape but Grounder is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dontin keeping moving, preventing Grounder from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dontin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Grounder's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Grounder can do anything to dispel that myth.
Grounder seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Grounder working a defensive guard here.
Grounder has control of Dontin's left arm, preventing Dontin from doing any damage.
Dontin postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hercules Dontin will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dontin wants to clinch but Grounder slips to the side

and Grounder counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Dontin's guard now.
Grounder stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dontin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dontin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dontin keeping moving, preventing Grounder from controlling successfully.
Grounder controlling from the top position.
Grounder tries to stand but Dontin is controlling from the bottom.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dontin closes the distance but Grounder moves to the side

and Grounder counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Dontin!
Grounder is breathing heavily.
Grounder tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Grounder looking to control but Dontin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Despite being in the dominant position, Stu Grounder just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dontin displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Grounder rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dontin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Grounder circles away from the clinch attempt
and Grounder counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grounder is looking to land body kicks.
Dontin tries to clinch but Grounder moves away

and Grounder counters with a shoot takedown. Dontin fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dontin working a defensive guard here.

Grounder stands up and waves to Dontin to follow him.
Grounder circles away from the clinch attempt

and Grounder counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Dontin 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Grounder pushing down on Dontin's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Grounder is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Grounder is tying to control. Dontin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four 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.
Grounder performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Grounder wants to take a breather but Dontin is having none of it.

Grounder gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Dontin looks to clinch

and Grounder counters with a nice double leg into side control. Dontin won't be happy with that.
Grounder taking a break here but Dontin is having none of it and regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grounder is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stu Grounder showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Grounder tries to clinch up.
Dontin tries to clinch there but Grounder circles away.
Dontin throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Grounder's head.
Grounder swats away the attempt to clinch by Dontin.
Dontin misses with a wild combination.
Hercules Dontin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dontin closes the distance but Grounder moves to the side

and Grounder counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dontin has had enough of the clinch but Grounder keeps him there for the moment.
Dontin is pressed up against the cage. Grounder has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dontin down to the mat. Dontin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Grounder decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Grounder is trying to control the action in half guard but Dontin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Grounder controlling the action here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Stu Grounder just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Dontin gets caught flat footed, as Grounder shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Grounder controls from within his opponent's guard.
Grounder trying to control but Dontin is working from the bottom.
Dontin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Grounder trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grounder trying to control but Dontin is working from the bottom.
Dontin controls Grounder momentarily but Grounder frees himself.
Dontin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Grounder is controlling him.
Grounder pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dontin is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dontin tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Grounder moves into the clinch.
Dontin holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Dontin taking a breather.
Dontin looking to throw knees to the head but Grounder is blocking nicely.
Grounder scores with a hook to the body.

Grounder lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Grounder tries to stand and escape but Dontin is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grounder missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Grounder is controlling the pace.
Let's hope that Grounder 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.
Dontin works his way to full guard. Good work.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Stu Grounder comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Grounder has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stu Grounder!