PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benjamin Rothwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Krystian Gromadowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gromadowski has chosen Południowy Szaman as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Benjamin Rothwell could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Krystian Gromadowski's chin.

Rothwell
vs
Gromadowski

191 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
178 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Benjamin Rothwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Krystian Gromadowski!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Illya Tyunina and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rothwell misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rothwell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Rothwell forces Gromadowski back against the cage and clinches.
Rothwell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gromadowski is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Rothwell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gromadowski changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rothwell tries to avoid it but Gromadowski manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rothwell to the ground. Rothwell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rothwell tries to clinch but Gromadowski is having none of it.
Gromadowski appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Rothwell looks to land a combination but Gromadowski avoids it well.
Gromadowski swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rothwell misses with a double jab
enabling Gromadowski to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gromadowski tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rothwell sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gromadowski somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothwell stuffs the takedown.
Benjamin Rothwell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Krystian Gromadowski.
Rothwell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gromadowski manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gromadowski looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rothwell throws a nice looking combination but Gromadowski bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gromadowski closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rothwell circles away.

Gromadowski has Rothwell up against the cage in a clinch.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gromadowski shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rothwell moves into the clinch.
Gromadowski wants a takedown but no success here.
Gromadowski has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rothwell after a bit of a struggle.
Rothwell is trying to break the clinch but Gromadowski has him pressed against the cage.
Gromadowski wants a takedown but no success here.

Gromadowski works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rothwell has his foot on Gromadowski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gromadowski works his way back into a safe position though.
Rothwell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gromadowski looking to pass the guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gromadowski trying to control but Rothwell is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothwell is trying to control the position but Gromadowski postures up.
Gromadowski's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rothwell wants to stand but Gromadowski is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gromadowski stands up from Rothwell's guard - Gromadowski perhaps looking for a knockout.

Rothwell gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gromadowski prevents Rothwell from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A frustrated look appears on Rothwell's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Gromadowski successfully pulls guard.

Rothwell gets to his feet. Gromadowski looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gromadowski tries for a takedown but Rothwell sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gromadowski fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice uppercut lands for Rothwell. That snapped Gromadowski's head back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gromadowski shoots in and drives through. Rothwell sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Rothwell dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

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

Rothwell has his feet on Gromadowski's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Rothwell throws a series of punches but Gromadowski avoids them all with ease.
Rothwell tests Gromadowski's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Rothwell changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gromadowski looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rothwell wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gromadowski, who protects the arm well.
Rothwell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gromadowski keeps working.
Gromadowski can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothwell lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Rothwell is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gromadowski has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gromadowski is trying to improve his position.
Gromadowski wants to control but Rothwell postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rothwell trying to control the position but Gromadowski is working away.
Gromadowski is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Rothwell decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Gromadowski dives in and scores a takedown into Rothwell's guard.
Gromadowski passes into half guard.
Gromadowski passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gromadowski tries to control but Rothwell wriggling away.
Rothwell is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rothwell working to try and regain half guard.
Gromadowski controlling his opponent.

Gromadowski looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Rothwell is looking to improve his position but Gromadowski isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gromadowski looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gromadowski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rothwell is looking to escape.

Gromadowski looking to secure an arm triangle but Rothwell defends it well.
Rothwell tries to lock up and control but Gromadowski gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gromadowski tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Rothwell dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rothwell throws a right and a left that both miss.

Rothwell clinches.
Gromadowski tries for a takedown but Rothwell manages to get underhooks.
Gromadowski goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rothwell prevents it.
Rothwell is trying to break the clinch but Gromadowski has him pressed against the cage.
Rothwell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gromadowski is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
I was talking to Rothwell's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rothwell has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Rothwell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gromadowski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Benjamin Rothwell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Krystian Gromadowski.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rothwell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rothwell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gromadowski circles away quickly and effectively.
Rothwell misses with a double jab.
Rothwell swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rothwell wants to clinch but Gromadowski slips to the side
and Gromadowski connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rothwell misses with a leg kick

and Gromadowski counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gromadowski.
Gromadowski looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gromadowski wants to pass the guard but Rothwell is keeping the position.
Gromadowski slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rothwell wants to get back to his feet but Gromadowski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gromadowski content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rothwell working a defensive guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rothwell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Gromadowski closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rothwell to the mat! Rothwell manages to get full guard.
Gromadowski trying to control the position from guard on top but Rothwell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gromadowski controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gromadowski trying to control but Rothwell is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Benjamin Rothwell.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rothwell, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Benjamin Rothwell!
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Benjamin Rothwell!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Benjamin Rothwell!

Benjamin Rothwell wins by unanimous decision!