PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stanislav Guschin (ranked 3894 p4p, 481 weight class) and Viktor Grishin (ranked 4221 p4p, 517 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Grishin's choice of entrance music: Danger. Stanislav Guschin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Guschin
vs
Grishin

175 cm
28
220 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

192 cm
27
210 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

IniTech Nutrition

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 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stanislav Guschin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Viktor Grishin!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Guschin looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Grishin!
Guschin wants to control but Grishin is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Guschin working away.
Guschin working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Guschin is looking to take a break and control but Grishin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Guschin throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Guschin working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Guschin misses with the ground and pound.
Guschin throwing strikes but Grishin manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Grishin in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guschin is looking for a sweep.
The referee asks Grishin politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Grishin prefers to stall for the moment though.
Guschin is trying to control Grishin's posture but Grishin avoids it.
Grishin is looking to take a break and control but Guschin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Grishin scoring with punches from side control.
Guschin struggling a bit here.
Grishin taking a breather here.
Guschin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Guschin is letting Grishin control him for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guschin is trying to improve his position.
Grishin remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Guschin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Guschin is working hard here to advance position.
Grishin is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Guschin will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Grishin trying to control the position but Guschin is working away.
Guschin scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grishin controls the position.
Grishin working away.
Grishin controlling the position from side mount.
Grishin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Guschin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Grishin working away.
Guschin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Grishin is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
A lull in the action here as Grishin stalls from top position.
Guschin takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Grishin working away.

That's four 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.
Guschin is trying to get back to half guard.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Guschin is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Guschin's face as Grishin controls the position.
Grishin creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Guschin wants to control but Grishin postures up.
Guschin is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at St Petersburg MMA Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Grishin controls the position.

Grishin is trying to get an arm triangle but Guschin is defending well.
Guschin gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Grishin stalling.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grishin lands strikes from half guard.
Still in half guard, Grishin seems content to control.
Grishin is trying to control. Guschin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Viktor Grishin will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Grishin goes for a double leg but Guschin avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Guschin continues to drive forward.
Guschin tries to clinch but Grishin moves out of range.
Guschin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Guschin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Grishin napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Grishin can't do much from the bottom here.
Guschin creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Grishin sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Guschin throws a strike aimed at the side of Grishin's head but Grishin avoids it well.
Grishin is looking to reverse the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Guschin throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Guschin working the ground and pound but Grishin is defending the strikes.
Guschin throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Guschin throws an elbow but Grishin slips to the side and avoids it well.
Guschin working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guschin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grishin keeps working.
Guschin is trying to ground and pound but Grishin uses the momentary lack of control by Guschin to regain half guard.
Ground and pound from Guschin.
Guschin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Grishin's head.
Guschin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Guschin misses with a head shot. Grishin uses the momentum to regain guard.
Guschin connects with a couple of short punches.
Grishin seems keen to control Guschin's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guschin throwing strikes but missing.
Guschin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Grishin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Grishin holds on and takes a little breather.
Guschin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stanislav Guschin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Guschin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Grishin seems keen to control Guschin's posture.
Guschin is working Grishin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Guschin throws a big right hand that misses.
Guschin throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Grishin holds on and takes a little breather.
Guschin landing some decent shots from guard.

Grishin is rocked!
Guschin wants to control from the top but Grishin keeps moving.
Guschin throws a big right hand that misses.
Guschin is fighting to break Grishin's control of his arms but Grishin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Grishin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Guschin throwing strikes but missing.
Guschin throws an elbow that misses. Grishin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Guschin's guard. Nice move by Grishin!

Guschin wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grishin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Guschin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Grishin 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.
Grishin stopping the sweep attempt from Guschin.
Grishin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Guschin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Grishin can do to turn this around?
Grishin stopping the sweep attempt from Guschin.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Grishin trying to control but Guschin is working from the bottom.
Guschin is trying to keep Grishin in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stanislav Guschin dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Guschin misses with a double jab
and Grishin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Grishin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Guschin pinned against the cage. Guschin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Grishin looking to score a takedown here. Guschin is defending well but Grishin drives through and ends up in Guschin's guard.
Guschin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Grishin is one step ahead there.
Grishin content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grishin trying to control but Guschin is working from the bottom.
Guschin looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grishin content to stall in guard here.
Grishin won't allow Guschin to sweep him here.
Grishin trying to control the position from guard on top but Guschin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Grishin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Grishin 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.
Grishin preventing the sweep.
Grishin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Guschin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Grishin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Grishin preventing the sweep.
Guschin trying to keep a closed guard but Grishin is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Grishin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Grishin is taking a breather. Guschin says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Guschin wants to improve his position but Grishin is controlling well.
Grishin is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guschin gets full guard.
Grishin 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.
Guschin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Guschin is really struggling to control Grishin but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Guschin throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Guschin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Grishin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Guschin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Grishin is one step ahead there.
Grishin 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.

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.
Let's hope that Grishin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Guschin keeping moving, preventing Grishin from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Grishin.
Guschin throwing a counter right hand but Grishin manages to avoid it.
Guschin just misses with a punch to the body.
Grishin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Guschin defends well and Grishin ends up having to push Guschin into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Stanislav Guschin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Grishin.

Grishin tries to sprawl but Guschin drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Guschin with the ground and pound but Grishin uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Guschin throws a big elbow that misses.
Grishin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Guschin postures up and lands a big shot to Grishin's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Viktor Grishin.
I think Grishin 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viktor Grishin!
After winning the bout, Viktor Grishin thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.