PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Merle Highchurch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reggie Grimdal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Highchurch
vs
Grimdal

150 cm
26
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
185 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Merle Highchurch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reggie Grimdal!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Highchurch throws a half hearted mid kick.

Grimdal pushes Highchurch up against the cage in a clinch.
Grimdal throws an elbow but it misses.
Highchurch managing to block the knees to the body from Grimdal.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Grimdal just misses with a elbow thrown towards Highchurch's brow.
Highchurch blocks an elbow strike.
Grimdal lands a good knee to the midsection. Highchurch won't want to take too many of those.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Highchurch wants to break the clinch but can't.
Highchurch wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Grimdal has him pressed against the cage.

Highchurch breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grimdal takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Highchurch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Grimdal takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Grimdal looks winded!
Highchurch misses with a wild body shot.
Grimdal throws a big counter head kick but Highchurch avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Highchurch throws the left hand but Grimdal avoids the punch easily.
Highchurch throws a body kick that misses.
Highchurch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grimdal moves away.

Highchurch cracks Grimdal with an uppercut from hell and Grimdal crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Highchurch's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!

Grimdal is rocked!

It looks like Reggie Grimdal has been cut.
Highchurch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Highchurch controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Highchurch has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Highchurch pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Grimdal is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Highchurch advances to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Highchurch perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Merle Highchurch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Highchurch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Grimdal tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Highchurch missing with a left hand there. Grimdal was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Grimdal unleashes a big counter combination but Highchurch bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Grimdal uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Highchurch.
Highchurch throws a low kick but Grimdal moves out of range easily.
Highchurch throws an overhand right that lands on Grimdal's shoulder, as Grimdal tries to avoid the shot.
Highchurch is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Grimdal.
Highchurch cracks the inside of Grimdal's front leg.
Highchurch looks to score with a jab to the body but Grimdal is just out of range.

Highchurch catches Grimdal napping and connects with a big right hand that sends Grimdal to the canvas!
Grimdal is still in real trouble! Can Highchurch finish him?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Highchurch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Grimdal being controlled here, momentarily.
Highchurch might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Highchurch wants to pass the guard but Grimdal is keeping the position.
Grimdal utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Highchurch is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Grimdal seems to have recovered his senses.
Grimdal keeping full guard, as Highchurch tries to pass.
Highchurch sitting in guard here, content to control.
Highchurch wants to pass the guard but Grimdal is keeping the position.
Highchurch stops Grimdal from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merle Highchurch dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Reggie Grimdal'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.

Highchurch throws a sloppy head kick and Grimdal moves out of range easily.
Grimdal was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Grimdal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Grimdal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Highchurch paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Highchurch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Grimdal appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Highchurch throws a sloppy head kick and Grimdal moves out of range easily.
Highchurch waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Grimdal.
Grimdal throws a big counter head kick but Highchurch avoids it with no problem.
A head kick misses from Highchurch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Highchurch loads up on a big right hand but Grimdal slips the punch.
Grimdal appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Grimdal moves in looking to clinch but Highchurch pushes him off.
Grimdal bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A head kick misses from Highchurch.
Despite the aggression on Grimdal's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Highchurch looks to throw the jab but Grimdal is out of range.
Grimdal avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Grimdal looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Highchurch finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Highchurch catches Grimdal napping and connects with a big right hand that sends Grimdal to the canvas!
Highchurch looking to pass the guard.
Highchurch is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Highchurch postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Highchurch wants to pass the guard but Grimdal is keeping the position.
Highchurch is working hard here to advance position.
Highchurch seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Highchurch throws a head kick but Grimdal moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Highchurch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Highchurch throws an overhand right that lands on Grimdal's shoulder, as Grimdal tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Highchurch thuds a left hand into Grimdal's body.
Highchurch misses with a wild body shot.
Grimdal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Highchurch paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grimdal wants to clinch up but Highchurch keeps it at a distance.
Highchurch throws a sloppy head kick and Grimdal moves out of range easily.
Highchurch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Grimdal avoids the body shot from Highchurch.

Grimdal has closed the distance and engaged Highchurch in a clinch.
Grimdal misses with an elbow over the top.
Nice elbow from Grimdal.

Highchurch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Highchurch moves into range and throws a big uppercut. OH! Grimdal goes down! Can Highchurch finish him!?

That has opened up Reggie Grimdal's cut even more.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Highchurch is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Highchurch is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Grimdal can do to turn this around?
Grimdal keeping full guard, as Highchurch tries to pass.
Grimdal is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Highchurch is controlling him.
Highchurch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Grimdal swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merle Highchurch dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Reggie Grimdal's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Highchurch swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Grimdal takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Highchurch misses with a looping left.

Grimdal moves into the clinch successfully.
Grimdal is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Highchurch is keeping busy.
Highchurch is trying to break the clinch but Grimdal is controlling him.

Highchurch's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Grimdal displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Highchurch throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Highchurch throws a lazy body kick
and Grimdal makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Grimdal avoids the body shot from Highchurch.
Grimdal doesn't manage to clinch there - Highchurch circles away.
Grimdal just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromHighchurch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grimdal slips a straight right by Highchurch.
Grimdal tries to clinch but Highchurch moves out of range.
Grimdal uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Highchurch.
Highchurch misses with a low kick.
Grimdal uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Highchurch.
Highchurch throws a head kick that misses.
Grimdal is looking for the big counter here.
Highchurch throws a head kick but Grimdal moves out of range.
Merle Highchurch is winning the standup battle so far.
Highchurch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grimdal moves away.

Grimdal takes the fight into the clinch.
Highchurch looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grimdal wants to stall.
Highchurch has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Highchurch is trying to break the clinch but Grimdal is controlling him.
Highchurch blocks an elbow strike from Grimdal.
A frustrated look appears on Highchurch's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Highchurch has Grimdal pressed against the cage, preventing Grimdal from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Highchurch is trying to break free.

Highchurch pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Highchurch takes a swing at Grimdal's ribcage but misses.
Highchurch fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Grimdal manages to avoid it.
Grimdal shapes to counter with a head kick.
Highchurch missing with a left hand there. Grimdal was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Highchurch misses the shot to the body.

Grimdal moves into the clinch successfully.
Grimdal tries a knee to the head but Highchurch blocks it.

Grimdal's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Highchurch tries a head kick but it misses.
Grimdal tries to counter by closing the distance.
Grimdal checks a leg kick.
Grimdal avoids the head kick by Highchurch.

Grimdal takes the fight into the clinch.
Highchurch dodges an elbow strike from Grimdal.
Highchurch blocks an elbow strike from Grimdal.
Grimdal is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Reggie Grimdal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Highchurch has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grimdal misses with a short punch on the inside.
Highchurch is trying to force a seperation but Grimdal has the dominant position.
Grimdal looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A frustrated look appears on Highchurch's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Highchurch escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Grimdal tries to clinch up.
Highchurch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grimdal.
Grimdal unleashes a big counter combination but Highchurch bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Highchurch throws an overhand right that lands on Grimdal's shoulder, as Grimdal tries to avoid the shot.
Grimdal looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Grimdal moves out of range of the body kick.
Grimdal shapes to counter with a head kick.
Highchurch throws a head kick that misses.
Merle Highchurch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Highchurch throws a sloppy head kick and Grimdal moves out of range easily.
Grimdal tries a quick counter leg kick but Highchurch is wise to it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Merle Highchurch showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Highchurch, 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Merle Highchurch!