PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bart Grominsky (ranked 2662 p4p, 291 weight class) and Richard McAuliffe (ranked 2974 p4p, 321 weight class). Bart Grominsky looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Grominsky
vs
McAuliffe

181 cm
26
160 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

174 cm
25
157 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bart Grominsky!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Richard McAuliffe!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Viktor Lagutenko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McAuliffe stalks Grominsky and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Grominsky's face. Grominsky staggers backwards, shaken.
Bart Grominsky seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grominsky takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Grominsky misses with a takedown
and McAuliffe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Grominsky fails with a takedown attempt.

McAuliffe closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
McAuliffe scoring with punches and elbows.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grominsky tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McAuliffe wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Grominsky is breathing heavily.
McAuliffe working the ground and pound.
Grominsky manages to work his way to half guard, despite McAuliffe's best efforts.

McAuliffe is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Grominsky is just riding it out for now. McAuliffe eventually gives up the hold.
Grominsky has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
McAuliffe not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McAuliffe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Grominsky is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McAuliffe tries to pass the half guard into mount. Grominsky knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
McAuliffe trying to control from half guard but Grominsky is working away.
Grominsky tries to get to full guard but McAuliffe has control of the leg.
McAuliffe slips a nice elbow through Grominsky's hands, connecting with Grominsky's forehead.
McAuliffe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Grominsky wants to get back to his feet.
McAuliffe perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
McAuliffe thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McAuliffe is trying to control the action in half guard but Grominsky is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
McAuliffe prevents Grominsky from improving his position.
Grominsky is staying active underneath McAuliffe, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

McAuliffe has managed to clinch.

McAuliffe has clasped his hands together around Grominsky's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

McAuliffe looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grominsky tries to get back to half guard but can't.

McAuliffe is trying to get an arm triangle but Grominsky is defending well.
Grominsky tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Grominsky can't do much from the bottom here.
McAuliffe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Grominsky. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Grominsky regains half guard.

McAuliffe is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
McAuliffe slips a nice elbow through Grominsky's hands, connecting with Grominsky's forehead.

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.
McAuliffe tries to pass to full mount but Grominsky defends it.

McAuliffe seems to be looking for submissions.
McAuliffe is trying to control the action in half guard but Grominsky is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grominsky is looking for a sweep. McAuliffe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Grominsky is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McAuliffe pulls his head out easily.
McAuliffe tries to stand but can't do so whilst Grominsky controls his leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McAuliffe is trying to control the action in half guard but Grominsky is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard McAuliffe dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by McAuliffe.
McAuliffe lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
McAuliffe connects with a body shot that sends Grominsky's belly button to the back.
McAuliffe scores with a shot to the body.
McAuliffe displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Grominsky.
Grominsky takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McAuliffe scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Grominsky doesn't seem bothered though.
Grominsky shoots for a takedown but McAuliffe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
McAuliffe is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Grominsky with a body shot.
McAuliffe throws a good cross that connects.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Grominsky has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Grominsky is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
McAuliffe and Grominsky are patiently standing in front of each other looking for an opening. McAuliffe throws a head kick. It's landed, knocking Grominsky into next week! Ooooh that was huge! McAuliffe knows it - he's on the cage flexing is biceps. That's a bit weird considering he won by kick but whatever.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:09 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Richard McAuliffe!
In his post fight interview, Richard McAuliffe started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.