PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Garret Gregory (ranked 25354 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mika Imonen (ranked 6012 p4p, 0 weight class). Imonen has chosen Another One bites the Dust as his entrance music. Mika Imonen has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Garret Gregory's chin.

Gregory
vs
Imonen

170 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

188 cm
18
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Garret Gregory!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mika Imonen!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Imonen drives through and clinches with Gregory against the cage.
Gregory tries to pull guard but Imonen holds him up against the cage and eventually Gregory drops back down to his feet.

Imonen has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Gregory is trying to keep an underhook but Imonen manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Gregory tries to get to full guard but Imonen has control of the leg.

Imonen stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Gregory to get to his feet.
Gregory lands a high kick!

Imonen closes the distance and pushes Gregory back into the cage.

Imonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Imonen darts in and clinches Gregory up against the cage.

Gregory has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Imonen uses from the top position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gregory is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Imonen tries to stand but Gregory is controlling from the bottom.

Gregory is working an open guard so Imonen takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Imonen clinches up against the cage.
Imonen scores with a nice hook to the head.

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

Imonen has managed to clinch.
Imonen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Imonen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Imonen breaks from the clinch.

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

Imonen breaks from the clinch.

Imonen has taken the fight to the clinch.

Imonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Imonen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Imonen gets a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Imonen is trying to push Gregory away but Gregory has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Imonen prevents a takedown attempt there.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Imonen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gregory could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Imonen tries to break free but Gregory pushes him back against the cage.

Imonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Imonen pulls guard.
Imonen wants to get back to his feet but Gregory is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imonen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gregory controls the pace.
Imonen wants to get back to his feet but Gregory is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gregory trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Imonen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Imonen has managed to clinch.

Imonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters circling a little - Gregory finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Imonen moves into the clinch successfully.

Imonen breaks from the clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Imonen as he connects with a hook.

It looks like Garret Gregory has been cut.
Imonen tries for a takedown but Gregory circles away easily

and Gregory counters by moving into the clinch.

Imonen manages to break the clinch.

Imonen clinches.
Imonen stalling against the cage.

Imonen manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mika Imonen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Garret Gregory's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Imonen drives through and clinches with Gregory against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Imonen's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Gregory jumps into guard, dragging Imonen to the mat.
Imonen wanted to stand there but Gregory had control of the position.
Gregory wants to stand but Imonen is controlling the position.
Gregory might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Imonen gets to his feet. Gregory looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Imonen moves into the clinch successfully.

Imonen breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Imonen drives through and clinches with Gregory against the cage.
Imonen goes for a takedown attempt but Gregory pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Imonen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gregory as he avoids it easily.
We've been informed that Imonen has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Imonen gets a clinch.

Gregory manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregory is looking to stand up but Imonen isn't so interested in that idea.
Gregory 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.

Imonen stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Imonen drives through and clinches with Gregory against the cage.
Gregory tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Imonen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gregory gets underhooks to prevent Imonen's takedown attempt.
Garret Gregory has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mika Imonen.
Imonen is trying to break free.
Imonen wants to take the fight to the mat but Gregory manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Gregory manages to break the clinch.
Mika Imonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Imonen moves into the clinch successfully.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Imonen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gregory's half guard.
Imonen is breathing heavily.
Gregory gets back to full guard.
Gregory wants to get back to his feet but Imonen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Imonen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gregory's guard.

Imonen stands and steps away. Gregory gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Imonen clinches with his opponent.

Gregory pulls Imonen into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Imonen is looking to stand up but Gregory won't let him.
Imonen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gregory wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imonen won't allow Gregory to get back to his feet.

Gregory had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Imonen defends it easily.
Gregory pulls Imonen in close to his closed guard and prevents Imonen from doing any damage or advancing position.

Imonen gets to his feet. Gregory looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Imonen clinches up against the cage.

Imonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Imonen rushes Gregory and presses him up against the cage.
Imonen goes for a takedown attempt but Gregory pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Imonen closes the distance and pushes Gregory back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imonen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gregory tries to pull guard but Imonen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Gregory dodges an elbow strike from Imonen.

Imonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Imonen moves into the clinch.

Imonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Imonen has closed the distance and engaged Gregory in a clinch.
Imonen wants to get back to striking at distance but Gregory won't allow it.
Gregory's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gregory is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Imonen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mika Imonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Garret Gregory's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Imonen darts in and clinches Gregory up against the cage.

Imonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gregory on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Imonen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gregory but Gregory pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Imonen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gregory as he jumps to the side.
It looked like Gregory was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Imonen scoring well with a low kick there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Imonen lands a nice looking body shot.

Imonen clinches.

Gregory escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Imonen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gregory tries to pull guard but Imonen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Imonen is trying to break the clinch but Gregory has him pressed against the cage.
Imonen is trying to break the clinch but Gregory has him pressed against the cage.
Imonen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Imonen breaks from the clinch.
Imonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Imonen throws a leg kick but Gregory sees it coming and moves out of range.
Gregory misses with a head kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Imonen is trying to force a seperation but Gregory has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Imonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mika Imonen seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Gregory shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Imonen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Imonen makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Imonen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Imonen! Gregory is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mika Imonen!
A very excited looking Mika Imonen made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.