Gladiator Grand Prix 1, Rnd 1 PBP Commentary

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Greg Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cade Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Burns
vs
Lee

225 cm
22
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Greg Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cade Lee!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Dean Styles and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Burns with that takedown attempt.
Greg Burns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burns looks for a takedown but Lee sprawls well.
Burns shoots in for a takedown but Lee shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Greg Burns. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burns looks for a takedown but Lee sprawls well.
Burns shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lee as he jumps to the side.
Horrible takedown by Lee or perhaps it was just good defense by Burns which made him look bad.
Burns misses with a takedown attempt

and Lee counters with a shoot takedown. Burns fights it but they end up in guard.

Burns had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Lee is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Burns Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Lee's back instead.
Burns is breathing heavily.
Lee just trying to survive but Burns is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Burns is persistently looking for the submission but Lee is defending it well.
Burns knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lee on the ground.

Burns working for the choke.
Lee should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee breaks Burns's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Lee is pushing down on Burns's leg trying to pass to half guard. Burns is fighting to maintain full guard but Lee has managed to sneak the leg through.
Lee throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lee content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Burns regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lee advances position into side control!

Lee is working to tighten is grip on Burns's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Burns has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Lee is really squeezing tight and eventually Burns passes out! Lee breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:04 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Cade Lee!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
52%

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jalen Holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Trevor Reese (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holmes comes into the arena with Birdman ft. Lil Wayne - Always Strapped (Remix) blaring out of the sound system. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Holmes
vs
Reese

180 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jalen Holmes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Trevor Reese!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Alyssa Summers and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Reese shoots in and bounces Holmes off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Holmes wants to stand up but Reese is controlling him.
Holmes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Holmes looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Reese puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Holmes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Holmes is trying to stand.

Reese is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Holmes wants to stand back up but Reese manages to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reese moves into full mount!
Holmes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Reese in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Holmes is rocked!

It looks like Jalen Holmes has been cut.
Reese controlling the position easily from mount.
Oh Holmes is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Holmes is breathing heavily.
Holmes seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes is trying to escape the mount.
Reese in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Reese takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Trevor Reese just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Reese misses with a body kick.
Some wild striking there from Holmes.
Holmes swats away the attempt to clinch by Reese.
Reese ducks under a wild hook from Holmes.
Holmes scores with a hook.
A right-left combo lands from Holmes.
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!
Holmes works over Reese's head and body with a nice combination.

Reese darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Holmes has hold of Reese's hands but Reese slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Reese perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Holmes is looking to get back to full guard here but Reese has managed to pass to side control instead.

Reese wants to finish this one by submission but Holmes is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Reese.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holmes tries to improve his position but instead Reese has taken his back!
Holmes can't escape the position.
Reese punishes Holmes with strikes from the back mount.

Jalen Holmes's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Holmes looking very determined here, making life difficult for Reese.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Holmes wants to get back to his feet.
Reese gets his hands free as Holmes looks to control.
Reese looking to hold on to the position here but Holmes rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Reese pushing down on Holmes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Reese is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Reese decides to return to a standing position.
Holmes swinging wilding here.
Holmes wants to clinch

and Reese counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Holmes wants to break the clinch but can't.
Holmes has had enough of the clinch but Reese keeps him there for the moment.

Reese breaks from the clinch.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Reese pushes Holmes up against the cage in a clinch.
Reese keeps control of Holmes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Reese tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Holmes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Holmes has had enough of the clinch but Reese keeps him there for the moment.
Holmes can't break the clinch.
Reese wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Reese tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Holmes is looking to control Reese's arms but Reese gets an underhook and turns him. Now Holmes has his back to the cage.

Reese breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Holmes blocks a head kick by Reese.
Reese takes one to the side of the head.
Holmes misses with a series of wild punches.
Jalen Holmes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Holmes pushes Reese up against the cage in a clinch.
Holmes is trying to break the clinch but Reese has him pressed against the cage.

Reese pulls guard.
Reese manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Reese working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Holmes is working to get back to half guard.

Reese has isolated one of Holmes's arms. Holmes looking to fight him off but Reese twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Trevor Reese!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
59%

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chaz Sellers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Finch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sellers
vs
Finch

182 cm
22
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chaz Sellers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andy Finch!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Franklyn Lucas and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sellers throws a shot from downtown. Finch moves away and avoids it.
Finch thows a body shot but no joy.
Sellers throws a hook to the side of Finch's head but Finch sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Finch lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Sellers is rocked!

It looks like Chaz Sellers has been cut.
Sellers throws a jab when Finch was well out of range.
Oh Sellers is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sellers throws out a loose jab but Finch uses good head movement to avoid it.
Are you kidding me?! Finch ducked down and unloaded an uppercut from hell that sent Sellers clean off his feet! Someone make me a GIF - that's knockout of the night for sure!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:16 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Andy Finch!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
0%

Undercard bout

Co-main event

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Verbinski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BG Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Verbinski
vs
Lee

210 cm
22
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nikolai Verbinski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, BG Lee!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Reed Andrews and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verbinski drops Lee with a big left hand and mounts him. Lee is in big trouble!

Lee is rocked!
Lee is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Lee is still in real trouble! Can Verbinski finish him?
Verbinski punching from mount but Lee doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Verbinski wants to control the pace but Lee is squirming around nicely.
Verbinski throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Lee because Verbinski loaded up on that one.
Lee seems to have recovered his senses.
Lee reaches up and holds on to Verbinski to control the position.
Lee is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lee can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lee is looking to improve his position but Verbinski isn't that keen on the idea.
Lee gets back to half guard.
Lee gets back to full guard.
Verbinski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lee is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Lee working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Verbinski.
Lee looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Verbinski drops back looking for a leg! Lee is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lee manages to kick Verbinski off! Verbinski jumps back into Lee's guard.
Verbinski stops Lee from standing up.
Lee looks gassed!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Verbinski throws a shot from downtown. Lee moves away and avoids it.
Lee swings widly with a right hand

and Verbinski counters with a big uppercut that knocks Lee off his feet! Verbinski dives into side control looking to finish!
Lee manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Verbinski trying to control but Lee postures up.
Verbinski is pressing down on Lee's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Verbinski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lee is one step ahead there.
Lee showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Verbinski thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verbinski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Verbinski working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Lee pushes down on Verbinski's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Lee perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Verbinski is trying to control but can't.
Lee trying to control the pace.
Verbinski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lee takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Lee passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Verbinski!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee controlling the position easily from mount.
Verbinski is working to get back to half guard.
Verbinski tries to hold on but Lee postures up.
Verbinski is working to get back to half guard.
Lee content just to control the position here.
Verbinski is desperately trying to improve his position but Lee has a good base and remains in mount.
Lee wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Verbinski is trying desperately to improve position.
Verbinski is working hard here to advance position.
Lee trying to control but he's not successful this time.

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.
Lee looking to control and managing it successfully.
Verbinski tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Lee is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Verbinski shoots in but no luck this time.
Lee throws a sloppy head kick and Verbinski moves out of range easily.

Verbinski gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Lee breaks the clinch.
Lee misses with a lunging right hand

and Verbinski moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lee.
Verbinski throws a punch but it's blocked by Lee.
Lee wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lee wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lee is trying to break free.

Verbinski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lee misses with an uppercut
and Verbinski makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lee misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lee throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Verbinski sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Verbinski dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lee throws a big shot that misses.
Verbinski looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Verbinski fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lee throws an off balance right hand
and Verbinski counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lee thinking.
Verbinski shoots in for a double leg but Lee sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolai Verbinski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Verbinski slow jab from Lee misses its intended target.
Verbinski drops Lee with a naaaaasty hook - Lee is in real trouble here! Verbinski dives in to side control and pounds out his opponent for a TKO victory! The crowd goes nuts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nikolai Verbinski!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
100%

Main event

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jinn Hatame (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Butsa Rymnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hatame comes to the cage accompanied by Invincible. Rymnes comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Bring The Pain kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hatame
vs
Rymnes

180 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

Berserker Nutrition
South Side Swagger

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jinn Hatame!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Butsa Rymnes!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Columbo Gatti and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rymnes closes the distance and clinches.

Hatame drags the fight down to the ground.
Rymnes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Hatame is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Hatame has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rymnes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rymnes wants to pass the guard but Hatame is keeping the position.

Hatame working for a triangle but Rymnes defends it easily.
Rymnes sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rymnes slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rymnes decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Rymnes fails to land the takedown.
Hatame moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Hatame pushes Rymnes up against the cage in a clinch.
Rymnes manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Rymnes is trying to trip Hatame. He has hold of a leg but Hatame is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Rymnes persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Rymnes sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hatame's guard.
Rymnes looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Rymnes is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hatame is just riding it out for now. Rymnes eventually gives up the hold.

Rymnes stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Hatame to get to his feet.
Hatame is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatame fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hatame doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rymnes counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hatame's guard now.
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!

Hatame throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rymnes escapes and throws Hatame's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Hatame takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hatame is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rymnes off and has taken his back!

Hatame is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Rymnes is in bad spot here.

Hatame tightening his grip on Rymnes, looking for the choke.
Hatame doesn't have the hooks in and Rymnes manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rymnes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hatame looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rymnes is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hatame looking for a guillotine here but Rymnes defends easily.
Rymnes passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Rymnes is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hatame knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Rymnes is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hatame knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rymnes throws a strike aimed at the side of Hatame's head but Hatame avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rymnes tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rymnes has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rymnes tries to advance to mount but can't.

Rymnes swings around for an armbar but Hatame sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rymnes's guard.
Rymnes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rymnes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hatame doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hatame manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Hatame has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Rymnes to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Hatame is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Rymnes pulls down on the head and he's put Hatame to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Butsa Rymnes!