PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alejandro Girrand (ranked 6220 p4p, 4818 weight class) and Juha Maenpaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Girrand
vs
Maenpaa

185 cm
25
177
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
18
185
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alejandro Girrand!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Juha Maenpaa!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Girrand displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maenpaa throws out the jab.
Girrand looks for a takedown but Maenpaa sprawls well.
Maenpaa looks to score with a jab to the body but Girrand is just out of range.
Girrand defending well as Maenpaa loads up on a big left hand.
Girrand drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maenpaa sprawls and moves away.
Maenpaa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Girrand avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As Maenpaa looks to move away, Girrand throws a big counter combo but Maenpaa just gets out of the way.
Maenpaa misses with a body shot.
Maenpaa lands a lovely overhand right.
Maenpaa scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Maenpaa throws a hook but Girrand blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maenpaa scores with a jab. Girrand acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Girrand closes the distance and pushes Maenpaa back into the cage.
Girrand blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Girrand.
Maenpaa swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Girrand tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Maenpaa avoids it.
Girrand blocks a body shot from Maenpaa.
Girrand digs a right hand underneath Maenpaa's ribcage. Maenpaa let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Girrand gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Girrand is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Girrand trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Maenpaa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Girrand is one step ahead there.
Girrand controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Girrand tries to free his leg and advance position but Maenpaa is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maenpaa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Girrand content to stall in guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Girrand moves into range and clinches up with Maenpaa.
Girrand blocking some punches.
Maenpaa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Girrand's elbow.
Maenpaa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Girrand's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Maenpaa fails to land.
Girrand fails to pull guard.
Maenpaa dodges an elbow strike from Girrand.
Maenpaa has a couple of punches blocked by Girrand.
Maenpaa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Girrand's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maenpaa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Maenpaa throws a punch but it's blocked by Girrand.
Girrand with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Girrand breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Girrand steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maenpaa.
Girrand tries to counter by clinching up but Maenpaa breaks away and moves out of range.
Juha Maenpaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Girrand fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alejandro Girrand. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Girrand misses with a body kick.
Maenpaa throws a poor cross that misses
and Girrand counters with a left and a right that stings Maenpaa.
Girrand avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Girrand or perhaps it was just good defense by Maenpaa, which made it look bad.
Maenpaa connects with a body shot.
Girrand moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Girrand looks to land a combination but Maenpaa avoids it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Girrand uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maenpaa.
Maenpaa throws out a loose jab but Girrand uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maenpaa throws a good cross that connects.

Girrand rushes Maenpaa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Maenpaa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Girrand blocks a body shot from Maenpaa.
Maenpaa misses with a punch to the body.
Girrand blocks a body shot from Maenpaa.

Girrand pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maenpaa swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Girrand rushes Maenpaa and presses him up against the cage.
Maenpaa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Maenpaa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maenpaa working aggressively here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Maenpaa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Girrand swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Girrand closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Maenpaa to the mat! Maenpaa manages to get full guard.
Girrand tries to free his leg and advance position but Maenpaa is retaining full guard.
Maenpaa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Girrand is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maenpaa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Maenpaa is trying to control the position but Girrand postures up.

Girrand stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Maenpaa throws a hook but Girrand avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maenpaa throws a lazy uppercut
and Girrand counters with a nice uppercut.

Girrand drives through and clinches with Maenpaa against the cage.
Maenpaa misses with the head strike.
Girrand jumps guard but Maenpaa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Girrand blocks a body shot from Maenpaa.
Maenpaa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Girrands head.

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

Girrand moves into range and clinches up with Maenpaa.
Girrand blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Girrand jumps guard.
Girrand is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Girrand is pulling down on Maenpaa's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Girrand on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Girrand tries to get out of the position.

Girrand looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Girrand is adopting a defensive guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Girrand continues to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maenpaa misses with a hook.
Maenpaa takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Girrand shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Maenpaa sprawls well. Maenpaa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Girrand gets slowly back to his feet.
Girrand tries to score a power double leg takedown but Maenpaa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Girrand somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alejandro Girrand. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Girrand misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maenpaa jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Girrand shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Maenpaa napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Girrand trying to control the position but Maenpaa is working away.
Girrand is staying tight to Maenpaa's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Maenpaa wants to control but Girrand postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A lull in the action here.
Girrand tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Girrand dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Maenpaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Maenpaa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Girrand.
Girrand lands a nice shot to the body.
Girrand misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Girrand takes one on the button.
Girrand closes the distance and clinches up with Maenpaa, looking for a takedown. Girrand pushes Maenpaa against the cage but Maenpaa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Maenpaa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Girrand, pushing him back against the cage.
Maenpaa tries to work over Girrand's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Girrand has clasped his hands together around Maenpaa's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Girrand looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Maenpaa is avoiding damage well.
Girrand controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maenpaa is looking to regain half guard here but Girrand keeps moving and retains side control.
Girrand sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Maenpaa is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
You can see the frustration on Maenpaa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Girrand throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Maenpaa can't do much from the bottom here.
Maenpaa parries the strikes from Girrand easily there. Girrand is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Maenpaa to escape.
Alejandro Girrand overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Girrand looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Maenpaa gets back to half guard.
Maenpaa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Girrand.
Girrand content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Girrand is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maenpaa can do to turn this around?
Girrand not landing any meaningful shots this time.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Girrand moves into the clinch.
Girrand leaning his opponent against the cage.

Girrand escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Girrand drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Girrand uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maenpaa.

Girrand pushes Maenpaa up against the cage in a clinch.

Girrand escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice takedown defense from Maenpaa. No joy for Girrand on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alejandro Girrand. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maenpaa's corner calls for a 1-2. Maenpaa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Maenpaa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Girrand instigates a clinch.
Juha Maenpaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maenpaa struggles to land a body shot inside as Girrand controls his hands.

Girrand jumps guard.
Girrand bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Maenpaa's guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Girrand trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Girrand is looking to work some ground and pound but Maenpaa has wrist control.
Girrand slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Maenpaa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Alejandro Girrand is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Girrand showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alejandro Girrand showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Girrand, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alejandro Girrand!