PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Saul Riggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kuzma Gridin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Riggs
vs
Gridin

162 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
171 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Saul Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kuzma Gridin!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Gridin.
Gridin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Riggs as he avoids it easily.
Gridin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gridin throws a low kick, looking for Riggs's leg but Riggs calmly moves out of range.
Riggs is looking to clinch but Gridin is avoiding it.
Gridin lands a high kick!
Riggs tries to clinch up but Gridin circles away and keeps his distance.

Gridin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Riggs really is a fat lump.

Gridin breaks from the clinch.
Riggs wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gridin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Riggs is fending him off so far but Gridin persists. Nope, Riggs circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Riggs is defended easily by Gridin.
Gridin feints a counter leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs tries to clinch but Gridin moves out of range.

Gridin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Riggs is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gridin is controlling him.
Riggs throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Gridin won't allow Riggs to sweep him here.

Riggs looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Riggs is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Gridin breaks the clinch.

Riggs fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gridin, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs goes for a takedown attempt but Gridin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gridin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kuzma Gridin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gridin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gridin moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Riggs throws a right hand that Gridin ducks under and follows up with a left that Gridin also avoids with ease.
Gridin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gridin throws a head kick that misses.
Gridin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gridin fails to land the takedown.
Saul Riggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kuzma Gridin.
Gridin looks winded!
Gridin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Riggs circles away.
Gridin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Riggs wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riggs shoots in and bounces Gridin off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Gridin has his feet on Riggs's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Riggs comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Riggs looks to land a combination but Gridin avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gridin moves away.
Gridin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Riggs on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gridin. Gridin obviously looking to wear him down.

Gridin moves into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Riggs has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gridin uses from the top position.
Riggs being controlled here, momentarily.
Riggs is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Gridin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gridin advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kuzma Gridin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Gridin breaks the clinch.
Gridin fails to land the takedown.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gridin.
Saul Riggs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Riggs is defended easily by Gridin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riggs avoids the head kick by Gridin.
Riggs tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Gridin manages to circle out of the way.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Riggs is defended easily by Gridin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gridin can pounce on him.
Gridin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gridin tries to clinch but Riggs moves out of range.
Riggs is looking to counter the offense by Gridin and move into the clinch.

Gridin moves into the clinch successfully.
Riggs is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gridin to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saul Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gridin breaks the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gridin.
Riggs moves in looking to clinch but Gridin pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gridin can pounce on him.
Gridin tries to clinch but Riggs is having none of it.

Riggs moves into range and clinches up with Gridin.

Gridin breaks from the clinch.
Gridin is looking to clinch but Riggs is avoiding it.
Gridin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Riggs tries to clinch up.
Riggs takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Riggs throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gridin is looking to slow Riggs down with leg kicks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riggs fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Riggs is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A head kick from Gridin lands but Riggs takes it in his stride.
Gridin is breathing heavily.
Gridin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Riggs.
Gridin throws a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gridin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Riggs misses with a wild combination.
A thudding body kick lands there by Gridin!
Gridin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Riggs paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Riggs tries to counter with a takedown but Gridin is quick to defend against it.
Gridin shoots in and drives through. Riggs sprawls well.
Gridin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Riggs paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Riggs feinted with a counter takedown.
Riggs throws a combination that misses

and Gridin counters by clinching up.
Gridin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Riggs just stands there and leans against the cage.
Riggs can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gridin pulls his leg out and moves away.
Riggs on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Gridin takes the fight into the clinch.

Riggs breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gridin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Riggs paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gridin motions for Riggs to come forward. Gridin throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Riggs tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Gridin manages to circle out of the way.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Riggs swings for the body but Gridin moves out of range.

Gridin moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kuzma Gridin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gridin fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Riggs.
Gridin throws a leg kick which misses Riggs's front leg but catches the back leg as Riggs tries to avoid it.
Riggs fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gridin throws a counter combo.
Riggs wants to clinch up but Gridin keeps it at a distance.
Gridin was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Gridin throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gridin fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Riggs gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Riggs tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Riggs pulls Gridin into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gridin gets to his feet - Riggs follows without any prompting.
Riggs looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gridin lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Riggs darts in looking for a takedown but Gridin gets double underhooks and turns Riggs into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gridin gets tackled into the cage by Riggs. Riggs maintains the clinch.
Riggs goes for a takedown attempt but Gridin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saul Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gridin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Riggs appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A punch combination from Riggs misses.

Gridin forces Riggs back against the cage and clinches.

Gridin breaks the clinch.
Gridin looks for a takedown but Riggs sprawls well.
Gridin chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Gridin instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gridin prevents Riggs from breaking the clinch.

Gridin breaks the clinch.
Gridin lands a head kick. Riggs smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Gridin throws a leg kick which misses Riggs's front leg but catches the back leg as Riggs tries to avoid it.

Gridin moves into the clinch.

Gridin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Riggs looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gridin lands a jab-cross combination.
Gridin fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs stuns Gridin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Gridin plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Riggs throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gridin counters with a good, hard body kick but Riggs shrugs it off.
Riggs swinging wildly here.
Gridin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Riggs wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Gridin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Riggs's waist but Riggs gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gridin off to one side.
Kuzma Gridin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gridin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Riggs paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Riggs closes the distance and pushes Gridin back into the cage.
Riggs is trying to break the clinch but Gridin has him pressed against the cage.
Gridin prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gridin manages to break the clinch.
Gridin fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Riggs has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gridin lands a head kick!

Riggs is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gridin's half guard.

Gridin manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Riggs keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gridin is pressed up against the cage. Riggs has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gridin down to the mat. Gridin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Riggs takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Both fighters circling a little - Gridin finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Saul Riggs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kuzma Gridin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Gridin instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kuzma Gridin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gridin 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kuzma Gridin!
A less than humble Kuzma Gridin misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.