PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Grady Froelich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Sewer Rat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Froelich
vs
Sewer Rat

190 cm
19
175 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

183 cm
18
180 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Grady Froelich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, The Sewer Rat!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Bruno Lombardi and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Froelich shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rat but Rat pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rat lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rat slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rat tries to bum rush Froelich with a series of wild strikes but Froelich uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Froelich is looking to clinch but Rat is avoiding it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Froelich is defended easily by Rat.

Froelich has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Froelich is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grady Froelich. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rat pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Froelich blocks a head kick by Rat.
That kick from Rat tenderised Froelich's leg. Froelich is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rat showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Froelich.
Froelich moves in looking to clinch but Rat pushes him off.
Rat lands with a hook. Froelich tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Froelich has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Rat shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Froelich pinned against the cage. Froelich gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Froelich.
Froelich tries to clinch there but Rat circles away.
Rat throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rat fails with a takedown attempt.
Rat is looking to clinch but Froelich is avoiding it.
Rat throws a head kick that half lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Froelich.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Froelich keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rat.
Rat throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Froelich.
Rat lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rat.
Rat misses the jab.

Rat tries to keep at a distance but Froelich has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rat missing with knees to the body.
Rat with a knee to the head.
Rat misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Froelich wants to get back to striking at distance but Rat won't allow it.
The referee calls for Froelich to work.
Rat tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Froelich just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rat breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rat misses with a combination

and Froelich counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Froelich takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rat really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Froelich. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rat keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Froelich 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Froelich performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rat has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Froelich is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rat defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Froelich.
Froelich takes one to the side of the head.
Rat darts in looking for a takedown but Froelich gets double underhooks and turns Rat into the cage.
Rat throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rat throws a body punch but Froelich moves out of range.
Nice cross by Froelich.
Rat tries to clinch up but Froelich circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Sewer Rat dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Froelich darts in looking for a takedown but Rat gets double underhooks and turns Froelich into the cage.
Froelich throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rat's waist but Rat gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Froelich off to one side.
Rat tries to clinch but Froelich moves out of range.

Rat clinches.
Froelich jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rat walks away with a smile on his face. Froelich gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grady Froelich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Froelich takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Froelich fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rat lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The Sewer Rat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Froelich takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Rat goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Froelich is defended easily by Rat.
Rat swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rat lands with a kick to the temple. Froelich shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Froelich throws a series of punches but Rat moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Rat.
Froelich fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Froelich uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rat.
Rat throws a head kick that half lands.
Rat throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Froelich's head.
Froelich fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rat connects with the punch.
Rat scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Rat misses the target.
Froelich slips a jab and a cross from Rat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rat stuffs the takedown attempt from Froelich. Froelich gets slowly back to his feet.
Rat closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Nice cross by Rat.
Rat slaps away a takedown attempt from Froelich, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Froelich looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rat is fending him off so far but Froelich persists. Nope, Rat circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice shot lands for Rat.
Froelich fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rat throws a head kick that misses.
Froelich appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Froelich keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rat lands an overhand right.

Rat pushes Froelich up against the cage in a clinch.
Froelich tries to circle away but Rat has him pinned against the cage.
Rat throws a head punch that misses.
Froelich tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rat smiles and moves away.
Grady Froelich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rat fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rat connects with a body shot.
Rat tries to clinch up but Froelich circles away and keeps his distance.
Rat sizes up Froelich with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rat pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rat swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Froelich misses with an uppercut.
Rat's corner calls for a 1-2. Rat obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rat tries to clinch up but Froelich circles away and keeps his distance.
Rat stuffs the takedown.
Rat tries to close the distance and clinch up but Froelich swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rat misses with a double jab.
Froelich half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Froelich stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Froelich wants it to stay on the feet.
Froelich drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rat sprawls and moves away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Froelich shoots in for a takedown but Rat shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rat connects with a crisp jab.
Rat is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Froelich misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Froelich shoots in for a double leg but Rat sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
We've been informed that Rat has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Nice takedown defense from Froelich. No joy for Rat on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Sewer Rat showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rat throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Froelich throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rat counters with a head kick.
Froelich fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Froelich tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rat sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Froelich somewhat.
Rat throws a series of punches but Froelich moves out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Rat.
Rat tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Froelich swivels and escapes.

Froelich gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Froelich tries to circle away but Rat has him pinned against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rat creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Froelich's defenses.
Rat lands a nice elbow.
Froelich fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grady Froelich. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rat using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rat misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rat.
Rat with a knee to the head.
Rat lands an elbow just above Froelich 's eye.
Froelich working hard to break the clinch.
Rat unloads a knee to the mid-section. Froelich lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Rat breaks the clinch.
Rat cracks Froelich with a good jab.
Froelich tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rat defends well and Froelich ends up having to push Rat into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rat throws a head kick that misses.
Froelich walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Froelich takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rat throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rat shoots in looking for a takedown but Froelich manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rat's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Froelich tries for a takedown but Rat sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Froelich closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rat circles away.
Rat unleashes a big counter combination but Froelich bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Rat explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Rat lands with a kick to the temple. Froelich shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Froelich moves into the clinch successfully.
Rat stalling in the clinch but Froelich improves position.
Rat misses with an elbow over the top.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Froelich tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rat smiles and moves away.

Rat shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Froelich pushes Rat off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Froelich will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Froelich fails with a takedown attempt.
Rat has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rat lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Rat moves into the clinch.
Rat lands a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rat unloads a knee to the mid-section.
The Sewer Rat seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Froelich takes a knee to the side of the body.

Rat's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rat lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Rat rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Froelich moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
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!
Rat tries to close the distance and clinch up but Froelich swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rat stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rat is trying hard to land a takedown here. Froelich sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Froelich goes for a double leg but Rat avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rat continues to drive forward.
Rat throws out a counter right but Froelich avoids it with no problem.
Rat slaps away a takedown attempt from Froelich, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rat wants to clinch up but Froelich keeps it at a distance.
Grady Froelich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The Sewer Rat is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rat shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Froelich defends it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
The Sewer Rat comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rat winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

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