PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between rinalds dzirvinskis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edgars Grundmanis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

dzirvinskis
vs
Grundmanis

180 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, rinalds dzirvinskis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Edgars Grundmanis!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Grundmanis throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. dzirvinskis was covering up waiting for the punch and Grundmanis finishes the takedown easily into guard.

dzirvinskis pushes Grundmanis off and gets back to his feet.

Grundmanis gets the takedown into side control.
dzirvinskis wants to get back to his feet but Grundmanis drags him back down.

Grundmanis thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grundmanis working the ground and pound.
dzirvinskis is trying to buck Grundmanis off.
Grundmanis cracks dzirvinskis with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Grundmanis wants to control but dzirvinskis is keeping him busy.

Grundmanis is trying to get an arm triangle but dzirvinskis is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grundmanis stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Grundmanis moves into the clinch successfully.
Grundmanis has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. dzirvinskis is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Grundmanis manages to pull guard.

dzirvinskis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and dzirvinskis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

dzirvinskis is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

dzirvinskis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and dzirvinskis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
dzirvinskis preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grundmanis is pulling down on dzirvinskis's head to control his posture.
Grundmanis looking to hit a scissor sweep but dzirvinskis is one step ahead there.
Grundmanis is trying to control the position from the bottom.

dzirvinskis drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Grundmanis dives on top into guard.

dzirvinskis has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Grundmanis off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
dzirvinskis is breathing heavily.
dzirvinskis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Grundmanis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Grundmanis rushes dzirvinskis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Grundmanis pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grundmanis trying to control the position here.
Grundmanis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Grundmanis scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Grundmanis really doesn't want to stay on the ground with dzirvinskis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

dzirvinskis is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Grundmanis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Grundmanis pulls dzirvinskis in close to his closed guard and prevents dzirvinskis from doing any damage or advancing position.
Grundmanis trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Grundmanis closes the distance and clinches.

Grundmanis has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics dzirvinskis uses from the top position.
Grundmanis is trying to keep dzirvinskis in close.
dzirvinskis preventing the sweep.

dzirvinskis is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Grundmanis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and dzirvinskis defends well.

dzirvinskis is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edgars Grundmanis dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Grundmanis moves into the clinch successfully.
dzirvinskis drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Grundmanis is trying to drag dzirvinskis to the mat but dzirvinskis just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Grundmanis can't get the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Grundmanis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Grundmanis looks for a takedown but dzirvinskis sprawls well.
rinalds dzirvinskis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edgars Grundmanis.

Grundmanis gets caught flat footed, as dzirvinskis shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Grundmanis is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

dzirvinskis drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Grundmanis manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now dzirvinskis has Grundmanis in his guard.
dzirvinskis wants to stand but Grundmanis is controlling the position.
Grundmanis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Grundmanis controls from within his opponent's guard.
dzirvinskis wants to stand up but Grundmanis is controlling him.
Grundmanis showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two 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.
dzirvinskis wants to stand up but Grundmanis is controlling him.
Grundmanis is pushing down on dzirvinskis's leg trying to pass to half guard. dzirvinskis is fighting to maintain full guard but Grundmanis has managed to sneak the leg through.

Grundmanis seems to be looking for submissions.
dzirvinskis pushes Grundmanis off looking to stand but Grundmanis dives back in and keeps control.
dzirvinskis has hold of Grundmanis's hands but Grundmanis slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Grundmanis is controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
dzirvinskis is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grundmanis is looking to take a break and control but dzirvinskis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Grundmanis seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
dzirvinskis won't allow Grundmanis to pass to mount.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
dzirvinskis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and dzirvinskis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Grundmanis moves in looking to clinch but dzirvinskis pushes him off.
dzirvinskis misses with a takedown

and Grundmanis counters with a single leg into guard. dzirvinskis didn't expect that.
dzirvinskis wants to stand up but Grundmanis is controlling him.
Grundmanis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. dzirvinskis is keeping the position for now.
Grundmanis is in close to dzirvinskis's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

dzirvinskis scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Grundmanis decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Grundmanis content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Grundmanis wants to pass to mount but dzirvinskis is defending the position.
Grundmanis trying to control the action but dzirvinskis is working from the bottom.

dzirvinskis makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Grundmanis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Grundmanis is struggling to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edgars Grundmanis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

dzirvinskis gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Grundmanis counters by moving into the clinch.

Grundmanis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
rinalds dzirvinskis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

dzirvinskis scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

dzirvinskis seems to be looking for submissions.
Grundmanis striking from the bottom.

dzirvinskis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Grundmanis has managed to free his arm - good work.
Grundmanis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. dzirvinskis is working away from the top position though.
Grundmanis is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

dzirvinskis is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grundmanis makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Grundmanis.
Grundmanis looking for a sweep. Not yet Grundmanis, not yet.

dzirvinskis drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Grundmanis dives on top into guard.
dzirvinskis is looking to stand up but Grundmanis isn't so interested in that idea.
Edgars Grundmanis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Grundmanis trying to control but dzirvinskis is working from the bottom.
dzirvinskis wants to get back to his feet but Grundmanis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Grundmanis sitting in guard, not really doing much.
dzirvinskis wants to stand and escape but Grundmanis is having none of it.
Grundmanis sitting in guard, not really doing much.
dzirvinskis wants to stand but Grundmanis is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grundmanis decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on dzirvinskis, up you get!
dzirvinskis avoids a kick to the body.

Grundmanis clinches.
Grundmanis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and dzirvinskis avoids it.

Grundmanis manages to break the clinch.
Grundmanis has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Grundmanis.

dzirvinskis bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
dzirvinskis with a lazy takedown attempt

and Grundmanis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Grundmanis changes levels and goes for a takedown here. dzirvinskis fights it off and pushes away nicely.

dzirvinskis closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
rinalds dzirvinskis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Grundmanis is trying to control but can't.

dzirvinskis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

dzirvinskis seems to be working for a kimura but Grundmanis defends the submission attempt.

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 rinalds dzirvinskis.
Well Grundmanis has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edgars Grundmanis!