PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vasily Grossman (ranked 3181 p4p, 264 weight class) and George Steve Jr (ranked 4674 p4p, 339 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Grossman
vs
Steve Jr

169 cm
19
147 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
150 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Vasily Grossman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, George Steve Jr!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Valeri Chadov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grossman misses with an uppercut. Steve Jr saw that one coming.
George Steve Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grossman avoids the body shot from Steve Jr.
It looked like Grossman was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Steve Jr.
Nice body punch from Steve Jr.
Grossman scores with a hook to the body. Steve Jr takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The fight stays on the outside here - Grossman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Steve Jr connects with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grossman stuffs the takedown.
Steve Jr lands a right hook to the body.
Grossman definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Grossman looks to clinch
and Steve Jr makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve Jr throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Grossman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steve Jr moves away.
Steve Jr throws a right hand that Grossman ducks under and follows up with a left that Grossman also avoids with ease.
Grossman throws a big shot that misses.
Steve Jr throws a body punch but Grossman moves out of range.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Steve Jr has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Steve Jr is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Grossman rather than just go for the knockout.
Grossman lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Grossman.

Grossman rushes Steve Jr and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Steve Jr can't get the takedown.
Steve Jr drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vasily Grossman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Steve Jr.
Grossman misses with some punches.
Grossman lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve Jr works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Steve Jr tries for a takedown but Grossman manages to get underhooks.
Grossman lands a shot to the body.
Grossman softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grossman working aggressively here.
Steve Jr tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Grossman's elbow.
Steve Jr drops down looking for an ankle pick but Grossman pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice uppercut lands for Grossman. That snapped Steve Jr's head back.
Steve Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
Grossman wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Steve Jr is trying hard to land a takedown here. Grossman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Steve Jr swings for the body but Grossman moves out of range.

Steve Jr gets a double leg takedown into Grossman's guard.
Grossman knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Steve Jr on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve Jr with a flurry of punches that miss.
Grossman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Steve Jr throwing strikes but missing.
Steve Jr tries to free his leg and advance position but Grossman is retaining full guard.

Steve Jr drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Grossman manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Steve Jr has Grossman in his guard.

Steve Jr working for a triangle but Grossman defends it easily.
Steve Jr has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Steve Jr is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grossman gets to his feet. Steve Jr looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Steve Jr shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Steve Jr was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Steve Jr working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Grossman keeps Steve Jr under control for a moment.
Grossman gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Grossman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vasily Grossman will probably get the nod.
That's time! Grossman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Grossman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steve Jr was well out of range. Poor timing from Grossman.
Steve Jr works the jab nicely.
Steve Jr throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Steve Jr throws a right and a left that Grossman avoids nicely.
Steve Jr lands a slapping body shot.
Steve Jr connects with a body shot that sends Grossman's belly button to the back.
George Steve Jr seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Grossman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steve Jr moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Steve Jr. Grossman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Grossman takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Grossman tries to clinch but Steve Jr moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Steve Jr misses.
Grossman on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Horrible takedown attempt by Steve Jr or perhaps it was just good defense by Grossman, which made it look bad.
Steve Jr scores with a three punch combo!
Grossman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Grossman misses the shot to the body.
Steve Jr misses with a combination
enabling Grossman to counter with a crisp jab.
Vasily Grossman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve Jr tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Grossman was well out of range. Poor timing from Steve Jr.
Grossman tries to counter by clinching up but Steve Jr breaks away and moves out of range.
Grossman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Steve Jr.
Steve Jr keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Grossman swings for the body but Steve Jr moves out of range.
Grossman tries to clinch there but Steve Jr circles away.
A countering left hand to the body from Steve Jr misses.
Steve Jr slips under a jab.
Grossman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Steve Jr fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Grossman looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grossman tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Steve Jr counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grossman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Steve Jr, pushing him back against the cage.
Steve Jr misses with a punch to the body.
Steve Jr is trying to maintain a safe position but Grossman gets an underhook and turns Steve Jr into the cage.
Grossman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Steve Jr tries to pull guard but Grossman forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Good body shot from Grossman.
Grossman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A shot in the inside from Grossman.

Steve Jr breaks the clinch.
Steve Jr shoots in and drives through. Grossman sprawls well.
Vasily Grossman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Steve Jr.
Grossman throws a shot from downtown. Steve Jr moves away and avoids it.
Grossman lands with a hook. Steve Jr tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Grossman avoids the body shot from Steve Jr.
A little feinted left hand from Grossman on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve Jr connects with a nice looking jab.
Steve Jr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Grossman manages to avoid it.
Steve Jr misses with a straight right.
Grossman throwing a counter right hand but Steve Jr manages to avoid it.
Grossman misses with a body shot.
Steve Jr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Grossman doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steve Jr throws a poor cross that misses
and Grossman counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Steve Jr swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
As Steve Jr tries to get set, Grossman tries to push him back and clinch up but Steve Jr manages to avoid the attempt.
Grossman throws a lazy uppercut
and Steve Jr counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Steve Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Danga de danga de dang - Steve Jr scores with a four punch combination!
Grossman takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Grossman moves out of range as Steve Jr strikes.
Steve Jr misses with a straight left.

Grossman drives through and clinches with Steve Jr against the cage.
Steve Jr blocking some punches.
Steve Jr is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Steve Jr lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grossman lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Grossman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Grossman lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Grossman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Grossman makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steve Jr misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steve Jr.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Grossman.
Steve Jr cracks Grossman with a nice body shot.
Grossman misses with a hook from the clinch.
Grossman misses with a punch to the body.
Steve Jr's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Steve Jr drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Grossman gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Steve Jr pulls guard successfully.
Grossman advances position into side control!
Steve Jr is pushing Grossman's head away, looking to escape. Grossman manages to hold on to the position though.
Steve Jr manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Steve Jr pushes Grossman off looking to stand but Grossman dives back in and keeps control.
Grossman is keen to just control but Steve Jr is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Steve Jr actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steve Jr is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Grossman pulls his head out easily.
Steve Jr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Steve Jr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Steve Jr looking for submissions off his back.
Grossman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steve Jr keeps working.
Grossman perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Steve Jr looking for submissions off his back.
Steve Jr tries to get to full guard but Grossman has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grossman decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Steve Jr throws a body punch but Grossman moves out of range.
Grossman scores with a jab to the jaw.
Grossman scores with a jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Grossman darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Grossman throws a predictable looking body shot
and Steve Jr counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Steve Jr gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Steve Jr works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grossman tries to move into range but Steve Jr moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Steve Jr cracks Grossman with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steve Jr digs a good body shot into Grossman's ribs.

Grossman takes the fight into the clinch.
Grossman swings wildly with an uppercut but Steve Jr uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grossman misses with a hook to the ribs.
Steve Jr wants to take the fight to the mat but Grossman manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Vasily Grossman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Steve Jr.
A short uppercut from Grossman.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Grossman.
Steve Jr can't find room to land a body shot as Grossman controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vasily Grossman.
I think Grossman has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasily Grossman!
During a confident post fight interview, Vasily Grossman thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.