PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Radomir Pironev (ranked 4649 p4p, 6670 weight class) and Gregory Grouper (ranked 508 p4p, 0 weight class). Gregory Grouper is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Pironev
vs
Grouper

179 cm
18
164
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
162
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Radomir Pironev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gregory Grouper!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, William Peck and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pironev takes a swing at Grouper's ribcage but misses.
Grouper is looking for the big counter here.
Pironev tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Grouper counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Pironev misses with a right hand
and Grouper counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Pironev misses with a left hand
and Grouper cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pironev tries to clinch up.
Pironev misses with a right hand
and Grouper connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grouper uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pironev.
Pironev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Grouper counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pironev tries to clinch but Grouper moves away
enabling Grouper to counter with a crisp jab.
Pironev misses with a body shot
and Pironev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Pironev gets a clinch.
Grouper is trying to pull guard but Pironev turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Grouper has Pironev pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pironev manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pironev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Grouper is defending well.
Pironev gets underhooks to prevent Grouper's takedown attempt.
Radomir Pironev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gregory Grouper.
Pironev drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Pironev wants the takedown. Grouper is fighting it off but Pironev persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Grouper's guard against the cage.
Pironev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grouper seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Pironev passes Grouper's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Pironev wants to pass the guard but Grouper is defending well.
Pironev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Grouper defending well though.
Nice strikes from Pironev there.
Pironev thows a huge punch but Grouper dodges it nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pironev landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Pironev prevents Grouper from improving his position.
Grouper controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pironev is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Pironev scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Pironev working over Grouper with some ground and pound. Grouper looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Grouper is holding on to half guard well.
Ground and pound from Pironev.
Grouper felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Grouper can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pironev scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pironev working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Grouper is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pironev connects with a nice short shot to Grouper's temple.
Grouper controlling the position for now.
Pironev working Grouper over with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grouper has hold of Pironev's hands but Pironev slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nice strikes from Pironev there.
Pironev trying to control from Grouper's half guard. Grouper has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grouper looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Pironev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Radomir Pironev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pironev misses with a lunging right hand
and Grouper counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Grouper slips under a jab.
Grouper tries to counter by closing the distance.
Pironev with a poor takedown
and Grouper counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pironev misses with a hook.
Grouper with the counter takedown but Pironev avoids it easily.
Pironev misses with a lunging right hand
and Grouper cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pironev misses with a shot to the body
and Grouper counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pironev misses with a right hand
and Grouper counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Pironev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pironev misses with a takedown
and Grouper cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pironev shoots and misses
and Grouper counters with a series of strikes. Pironev will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Radomir Pironev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pironev throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Grouper makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Pironev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Grouper counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Pironev misses with a takedown
and Grouper counters with a one-two to the body.
Pironev throws a poor cross that misses
and Grouper counters with a nice body shot.
Pironev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Grouper counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Pironev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Grouper has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pironev fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pironev.
Grouper is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Pironev throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Grouper counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pironev throws a looping overhand right but Grouper ducks down to avoid it.
Gregory Grouper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pironev fails with the takedown
and Grouper counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Pironev fails with the takedown
and Grouper counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pironev misses with a left hand
and Grouper makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Pironev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Grouper is fending him off so far but Pironev persists. Nope, Grouper circles away and we're back to standing.
Grouper is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Pironev misses the body punch
and Grouper counters with a left to the body.
Pironev throws an off balance right hand
and Grouper counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gregory Grouper seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pironev misses with a right hand
and Grouper counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pironev tries to close the distance and clinch but Grouper swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pironev sets himself, and Grouper steps forward looking for the clinch! Pironev avoids it this time.
Pironev throws a looping overhand right but Grouper ducks down to avoid it.
And Grouper tries to counter it with a takedown but Pironev pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pironev. Grouper does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pironev tries to clinch but Grouper moves away
and Grouper counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grouper swats away the attempt to clinch by Pironev.
Grouper steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Pironev.
A big right from Pironev misses.
Grouper steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Pironev.
Grouper ducks under a wild hook from Pironev.
And Grouper tries to counter it with a takedown but Pironev pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Pironev throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Grouper counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pironev throws a shot from downtown. Grouper moves away and avoids it.
Grouper tries to counter with a clinch but Pironev shakes him off and moves away.
Pironev throws a jab but it's blocked by Grouper.
Pironev just misses with a punch to the body.
Grouper leaves Pironev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Grouper is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gregory Grouper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Pironev throws a body punch but Grouper moves out of range.
Pironev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Grouper tries to avoid it but Pironev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Grouper to the ground. Grouper escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pironev shoots in for a takedown but Grouper shows good takedown defense.
Grouper tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Pironev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Grouper is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Pironev with a body shot.
Grouper avoids the body shot from Pironev.
Grouper uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pironev.
Pironev throws a left and a right that both miss
and Grouper counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pironev misses with a looping left.
Grouper lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Pironev throws a lazy uppercut
and Grouper counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pironev throws a hook but Grouper blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grouper ducks under a wild hook from Pironev.
Pironev misses with a takedown attempt
and Grouper counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Radomir Pironev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pironev tries to bum rush Grouper with a series of wild strikes but Grouper uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pironev misses with a jab to the body
and Grouper connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pironev misses with a hook to the body

and Grouper moves into the clinch.
Pironev is looking for a takedown.
Pironev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Grouper is defending well.
Grouper is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Grouper goes for a takedown attempt but Pironev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Grouper moves out of range of the strikes.
Pironev sets himself, and Grouper steps forward looking for the clinch! Pironev avoids it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pironev throws a big shot that misses.
Despite the aggression on Grouper's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Pironev misses with an uppercut
and Grouper counters with a left and a right that stings Pironev.
Grouper uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pironev.
Grouper tries to counter by closing the distance.
Grouper leaves Pironev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pironev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Grouper as he avoids it easily.
Pironev misses with a body punch
and Grouper counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Grouper is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Pironev rather than just go for the knockout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pironev throws a predictable looking body shot
and Grouper counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pironev misses with a right hand
and Grouper counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grouper keeps the fight on the outside.
Pironev doesn't manage to clinch there - Grouper circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pironev. Grouper does a little dance to reset his feet.
Grouper appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Pironev throws a predictable looking body shot
and Grouper counters with a stiff right hand.
Pironev tries for a takedown but Grouper sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Grouper changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Pironev fails with the takedown
and Grouper counters with a stiff right hand.
Pironev tries to clinch up
and Grouper counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pironev misses with an uppercut.
Pironev misses with an uppercut. Grouper saw that one coming.
No luck for Pironev with that takedown attempt.
Grouper tries to counter by closing the distance.
Pironev looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Pironev wants to clinch but Grouper slips to the side
and Grouper counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Pironev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Grouper tries to counter with a clinch but Pironev shakes him off and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pironev closes the distance looking to clinch
and Grouper counters with a right hand to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gregory Grouper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Grouper has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gregory Grouper!