PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robinson Crusoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viktor Gragula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Viktor Gragula told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Crusoe
vs
Gragula

180 cm
35
215 lbs
26 - 8 - 0

188 cm
31
218 lbs
15 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

CBK Fury Nutrition Inc.
Machiavelli Boutique

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 26 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Robinson Crusoe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Viktor Gragula!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A lazy body kick from Crusoe

and Gragula counters with a single leg into guard. Crusoe didn't expect that.
My spies in Body Pain_12elite_599$+VM inform me that Gragula has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Crusoe looking to control.
Crusoe working a defensive guard but Gragula passes into half guard.

Crusoe is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gragula pulls his head out easily.

Gragula is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Crusoe gets back to full guard.
Gragula throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gragula with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gragula won't allow Crusoe to sweep him here.

Crusoe looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gragula forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gragula is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Crusoe on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Gragula is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Crusoe defends it well.
Crusoe manages to get to full guard.

Gragula drops back looking for a leg! Crusoe is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Crusoe manages to kick Gragula off! Gragula jumps back into Crusoe's guard.
Gragula trying to control but Crusoe is working from the bottom.

Crusoe had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gragula defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gragula stopping the sweep attempt from Crusoe.
Crusoe keeping moving, preventing Gragula from controlling successfully.
Gragula is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Crusoe controls Gragula momentarily but Gragula frees himself.
Crusoe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Crusoe has his foot on Gragula's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gragula works his way back into a safe position though.

Gragula has gone for a leg lock! Crusoe slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gragula's guard.

Gragula keeping moving, preventing Crusoe from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crusoe is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gragula has his hands on Crusoe's head, controlling the position.
Crusoe not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Gragula controls Crusoe momentarily but Crusoe frees himself.
Gragula can't keep his opponent in guard - Crusoe advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Crusoe is looking to advance position but Gragula won't allow it.

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.
Gragula is trying to stand up here but Crusoe is controlling him well.
Gragula wants to control but Crusoe is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gragula manages to get to full guard.
Gragula wants to sweep here but Crusoe controlling him for the moment.
Crusoe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gragula keeping moving, preventing Crusoe from controlling successfully.
Gragula is trying to control the position but Crusoe postures up.
Gragula 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Crusoe cracks Gragula with a solid left hand.
Crusoe is stalling in the full guard.
Crusoe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Viktor Gragula will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Crusoe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gragula tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Gragula displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Crusoe.

Gragula gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Crusoe to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Gragula uses the cage to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crusoe looks to score with a jab to the body but Gragula is just out of range.
Gragula tries to score a power double leg takedown but Crusoe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gragula somewhat.
Crusoe half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crusoe avoids the head kick by Gragula.
Crusoe dodges the punch combination from Gragula.
Crusoe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gragula swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Crusoe tries to clinch but Gragula is having none of it.
Gragula is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Robinson Crusoe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gragula connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Crusoe's hands.
Crusoe misses with a double jab

so Gragula counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gragula pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Crusoe is keeping the position for now.
Gragula pushing down on Crusoe's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gragula missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Gragula is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Crusoe sees it coming and defends easily.
Gragula trying to pass the guard but Crusoe defending well.
Gragula tries to stand and escape but Crusoe is controlling the position.
Crusoe is looking to improve his position.

Gragula is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Crusoe sees it coming and defends easily.
Viktor Gragula has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

Crusoe is defending against the submission attempts here by Gragula.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crusoe is defending against the submission attempts here by Gragula.

Gragula wants to work for an arm triangle but Crusoe is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gragula has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Crusoe looking for submissions off his back.

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

Gragula is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Crusoe defends it well.

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.
Crusoe moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gragula stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Crusoe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Crusoe trying to keep a closed guard but Gragula is proving a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gragula trying to control the position from guard on top but Crusoe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Crusoe is trying to control the position but Gragula postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Gragula showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Crusoe leaves Gragula with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Crusoe throws a lazy head kick

and Gragula counters with a nice double leg into side control. Crusoe won't be happy with that.

Gragula is trying to get an arm triangle but Crusoe is defending well.
Crusoe is trying to control Gragula's posture but Gragula avoids it.
Crusoe tries to get back to half guard but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crusoe struggling a bit here.

Gragula is trying to get an arm triangle but Crusoe is defending well.

Gragula looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crusoe tries to buck Gragula off but Gragula is having none of it.

Gragula working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Crusoe is looking for a sweep.

Gragula is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Crusoe has escaped the position, nice work there.
Crusoe is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Gragula is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two 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.
Crusoe trying to control but Gragula postures up.
Viktor Gragula is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Crusoe is refusing to be controlled, as Gragula sits in half guard.
Crusoe wants to get back to full guard.
Crusoe slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gragula is fighting to break Crusoe's control of his arms but Crusoe is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gragula stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Crusoe swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Crusoe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gragula gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gragula throws a big elbow that misses.
Gragula trying to control the position from guard on top but Crusoe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gragula has gone for a leg lock! Crusoe slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gragula's guard.

Crusoe lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Crusoe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Crusoe is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gragula is pulling down on Crusoe's head. It's preventing any offense from Crusoe, at least for the moment.
Crusoe advances to half guard.
Crusoe with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Crusoe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gragula defending well though.
Gragula wants to control but Crusoe is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nice strikes from Crusoe there.
Robinson Crusoe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Crusoe not doing much here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gragula makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Crusoe is defended easily by Gragula.
Gragula swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viktor Gragula comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gragula 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viktor Gragula!
Viktor Gragula was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.