PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alfonzo Acosta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Gronk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Acosta
vs
Gronk

213 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
213 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alfonzo Acosta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, The Gronk!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Viktor Lagutenko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Acosta throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Gronk decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Acosta tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Acosta wants to improve his position but Gronk is controlling well.

Gronk is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gronk is trying to control. Acosta wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Acosta has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gronk is working away from the top position though.
Gronk is trying to control. Acosta wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Acosta trying to control but Gronk postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Acosta is concentrating on defense, preventing Gronk from advancing position.
Acosta tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Gronk is trying to control. Acosta wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acosta is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Acosta landing rabbit punches to the side of Gronk's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
Acosta flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Acosta punching from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Acosta. Gronk does a little dance to reset his feet.
Acosta throws a nice looking combination but Gronk bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gronk doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Acosta counters by moving into the clinch.

Acosta manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Acosta has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Acosta throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Gronk controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Acosta throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Acosta has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Gronk is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gronk throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Acosta blocks it with crossed arms.
Acosta is looking to take this one to the mat.
Gronk lands an elbow inside that Acosta shrugs off.

It looks like Alfonzo Acosta has been cut.
Acosta takes an elbow to the forehead.
Acosta tries to pull guard but Gronk holds him up against the cage and eventually Acosta drops back down to his feet.
Acosta tries to pull guard but Gronk forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alfonzo Acosta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gronk's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Acosta throws a sloppy head kick
letting Gronk counter with a right hand.
Acosta is breathing heavily.
Gronk lands a nice looking body shot.

Gronk pushes Acosta up against the cage in a clinch.
Gronk lands a knee to the body.
Gronk lands an elbow inside that Acosta shrugs off.
Gronk gets underhooks to prevent Acosta's takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gronk scores with a knee to the head.

Acosta is rocked!

Gronk jumps guard.
Oh Acosta is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gronk looking for a sweep. Not yet Gronk, not yet.
Gronk really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Acosta. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Gronk looking for a guillotine here but Acosta defends easily.

Gronk has his foot on Acosta's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Acosta works his way back into a safe position though.
Gronk lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Gronk passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gronk lands some shots froms side control.
Acosta really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gronk passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Acosta!
Acosta is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Acosta working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Acosta seems to have got his legs back now.
Acosta gets back to half guard.
Acosta misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Acosta wants to control but Gronk is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Acosta keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Gronk sitting and controlling from the half guard.
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.
Acosta is looking to control Gronk's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Acosta avoid being mounted?
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Acosta controlling the position well.
Acosta is trying to maintain the position but Gronk is very close to passing his half guard.
Acosta is looking to escape.
Gronk trying to control from half guard but Acosta is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Gronk dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alfonzo Acosta's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nice sprawl there from Acosta as Gronk shoots in.
Gronk falls off balance throwing a combination

and Acosta counters by clinching up.
Acosta is looking for a takedown.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Gronk.
Gronk lands an elbow inside that Acosta shrugs off.
Gronk lands a nice knee to the body.
Gronk looking for a takedown.

Gronk manages to break the clinch.

Gronk instigates a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gronk pulls guard successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Acosta being controlled here momentarily.

Gronk is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Acosta presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acosta takes an elbow to the forehead.

Alfonzo Acosta's cut is getting worse.

Gronk has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Acosta clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Gronk is looking to control Acosta but Acosta is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Gronk is looking for the choke from the back position but Acosta is controlling his hands well.
Gronk is hanging on to Acosta's back as he tries to escape.
Gronk gets his hands free as Acosta looks to control.
Gronk controlling from the back.
Gronk tries to get the hooks in deep but Acosta pushed the leg off.
Acosta trying to control the hands but Gronk won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gronk scores with punches and elbows.
Acosta covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Gronk has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Acosta's body.
Gronk gets his hands free as Acosta looks to control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Acosta is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gronk is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Acosta wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gronk avoiding Acosta 's attempts to control his hands.
Acosta trying to get back to his feet but Gronk is in full control for now.
Acosta trying to control the action but Gronk just sinks the hooks in.
Acosta staying busy and making it hard for Gronk to control.
Acosta just trying to survive but Gronk is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Acosta looking very determined here, making life difficult for Gronk.
Acosta trying to control but not successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gronk trying to control momentarily.
Gronk is hanging on to Acosta's back as he tries to escape.
Acosta wants to control his opponent's hands but Gronk gets his hands free.
Acosta tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Acosta throwing hammer fists to the chest of Gronk. What's that going to do exactly?
Gronk wants to control the pace but Acosta is squirming around nicely.

Gronk working for a guillotine from mount but Acosta is in no mood to give up.
Gronk wants to control the pace but Acosta is squirming around nicely.
Gronk lands a big shot there that rocks Acosta but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Gronk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alfonzo Acosta's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gronk moves into the clinch successfully.
Gronk misses with a knee to the head.
Acosta is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gronk to keep the fight standing.
Gronk has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Gronk pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gronk shoots in looking for a takedown but Acosta manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gronk's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gronk misses with a hook
letting Acosta counter with a right hand.

Acosta tries to keep at a distance but Gronk has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gronk has Acosta pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Acosta manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gronk missing with knees to the body.
Gronk jumps guard but Acosta turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Alfonzo Acosta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Gronk.
Gronk lands a good knee to the midsection. Acosta won't want to take too many of those.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Gronk tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Acosta smiles and moves away.
Gronk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gronk takes the fight into the clinch.
Acosta tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gronk smiles and moves away.

Gronk moves into range and clinches up with Acosta.

Gronk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gronk is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Alfonzo Acosta is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Gronk has managed to clinch.
Gronk gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Acosta wants the takedown. Gronk is fighting it off but Acosta persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gronk's guard against the cage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Acosta's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Acosta works over Gronk with some ground and pound from guard.
The Gronk has got the better of the ground game so far.

Acosta decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Acosta shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gronk eats them both and turns towards Acosta to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The Gronk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gronk fails with a takedown attempt.
Gronk staying out of range there.
Gronk wants to counter the offense by Acosta and move into the clinch position.
Acosta keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gronk.
Acosta is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gronk staying out of range there.
Some wild striking there from Gronk.
Gronk tries for a takedown but Acosta sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A right-left combo lands from Gronk.
Alfonzo Acosta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Acosta lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gronk doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Acosta counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Acosta is trying to trip Gronk. He has hold of a leg but Gronk is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Acosta persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Acosta distracts Gronk with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gronk lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gronk working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Acosta.
Acosta is looking to work some ground and pound but Gronk has wrist control.
Acosta is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Acosta with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gronk avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Acosta stands up from Gronk's guard - Acosta perhaps looking for a knockout.
Gronk takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

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 Alfonzo Acosta.
I think Gronk 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... The Gronk!