PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kendall Grove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Strickland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Strickland has chosen Drake & Future - Big Rings as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Grove
vs
Strickland

198 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Zenith Nutrition (160q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kendall Grove!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gabriel Strickland!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strickland misses with a takedown attempt - Grove sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Grove appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Grove fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Strickland sprawls well initially but Grove persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Strickland tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Grove blocks the strikes from Strickland.

Strickland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've been hearing that Grove has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Grove is looking to take a break and control but Strickland is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Strickland manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Grove trying to control the position from guard on top but Strickland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grove passes Strickland's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strickland slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Grove trying to control the position from guard on top but Strickland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strickland can't keep his opponent in guard - Grove advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Strickland wants to get back to full guard.
Strickland is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Grove's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Grove's back!
Strickland has good solid back control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strickland is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Grove has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Strickland has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Strickland is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Grove has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Strickland is riding his opponent, not letting Grove buck him off.
Grove tries to escape but Strickland has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grove is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Strickland looking for the choke from the back.
Grove is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Strickland really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Grove. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Strickland goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Grove escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Strickland is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strickland is in trouble now - Grove has advanced to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grove looking to control but Strickland is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Strickland doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
Strickland has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Grove wants to control the pace but Strickland is squirming around nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strickland tries to hold on but Grove 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 Kendall Grove will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Strickland shoots in and drives through. Grove sprawls well.
Grove half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Grove closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Strickland quickly recovers to half guard.
Grove will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Strickland tries to roll over but Grove keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grove wants to pass to mount but Strickland is defending the position.
Grove is trying to control the action in half guard but Strickland is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grove looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kendall Grove overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Strickland is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grove seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Strickland does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Grove prevents Strickland from improving his position.
Strickland tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Strickland slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Grove trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Grove advances to half guard.
Strickland trying to control here.
Grove really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Strickland keeping hold of Grove's head, controlling as best he can.
Grove is looking to stall here but Strickland recovers full guard.

Grove avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Grove stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strickland swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strickland tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Strickland keeping moving, preventing Grove from controlling successfully.

Strickland is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Grove is aware though and is defending well.
Grove wants to control from the top but Strickland keeps moving.

Strickland looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Grove wants to pass the guard but Strickland is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Grove is fighting to break Strickland's control of his arms but Strickland is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Grove wants to pass the guard but Strickland is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Strickland fails with a takedown attempt.
Grove appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Grove looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Grove is thwarting Strickland's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendall Grove dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Strickland shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Grove as he jumps to the side.
Grove leaves Strickland with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Grove drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Grove trying to control the position from guard on top but Strickland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grove trying to move into half guard but instead Strickland has managed to sweep!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grove manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Strickland manages to get himself to full guard.

Grove stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strickland swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Grove is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grove is fighting to break Strickland's control of his arms but Strickland is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Grove looking to pass the guard.
Strickland controlling the position.
Strickland looking for a sweep. Not yet Strickland, not yet.
Grove passes into half guard.

Grove moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Strickland.
Grove working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Grove trying to control the action but Strickland is working from the bottom.
Strickland prevents Grove from improving position.

Grove has hold of Strickland's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Strickland tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Grove cranks the arm and Strickland screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Strickland, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Kendall Grove!