PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Niko Grigoric (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nucky Smompsoon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Grigoric
vs
Smompsoon

190 cm
25
221 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

195 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Niko Grigoric!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nucky Smompsoon!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grigoric shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smompsoon as he avoids it easily.
Grigoric will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Smompsoon tries to clinch up but Grigoric circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smompsoon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Grigoric closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smompsoon circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Grigoric. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smompsoon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smompsoon fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smompsoon.
Smompsoon cracks Grigoric with a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smompsoon in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Smompsoon postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Smompsoon lands an elbow.
Smompsoon is looking to take a break and control but Grigoric is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smompsoon tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grigoric managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Smompsoon.
Grigoric trying to remain calm as Smompsoon controls from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smompsoon tries to move to mount but Grigoric blocks the move with his legs.
Smompsoon throws a strike aimed at the side of Grigoric's head but Grigoric avoids it well.
Grigoric takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Smompsoon working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Smompsoon misses with the ground and pound.
Smompsoon tries to advance to mount but can't.
Smompsoon wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grigoric keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smompsoon is putting a hurting on Grigoric here, landing some big shots from side control.

Smompsoon swings around for an armbar but Grigoric sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Smompsoon's guard.
Smompsoon has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Grigoric wants to get up but he can't break Smompsoon's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Smompsoon pulls Grigoric in close to prevent any damage.
Smompsoon's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Grigoric avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smompsoon wants to clinch up but Grigoric keeps it at a distance.
Smompsoon wants to clinch.

Smompsoon shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smompsoon looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Grigoric with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smompsoon not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smompsoon looks to land a strike but Grigoric avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Grigoric keeping full guard, as Smompsoon tries to pass.
Smompsoon sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Grigoric keeping moving, preventing Smompsoon from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Smompsoon prevents Grigoric from getting back to his feet.
Smompsoon loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smompsoon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Grigoric keeps the fight on the outside.
Smompsoon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Grigoric paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smompsoon tries to clinch there but Grigoric circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smompsoon is looking to clinch.
Smompsoon tries to close the distance and clinch but Grigoric swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smompsoon tries to clinch up.
Grigoric swats away the attempt to clinch by Smompsoon.
Nucky Smompsoon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smompsoon drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smompsoon wants to pass the guard but Grigoric is keeping the position.
Smompsoon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smompsoon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Grigoric works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smompsoon content to stall in guard here.
Grigoric working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smompsoon.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grigoric avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smompsoon prevents Grigoric from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nucky Smompsoon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Grigoric misses with a takedown

and Smompsoon counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Smompsoon content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Smompsoon looks to land a strike but Grigoric avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Grigoric keeping full guard, as Smompsoon tries to pass.
Grigoric avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smompsoon wants to control from the top but Grigoric keeps moving.
Smompsoon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Grigoric wants to stand but Smompsoon is controlling the position.
Smompsoon sitting in guard here, content to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smompsoon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smompsoon working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Grigoric's head.

That's two 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.
Smompsoon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smompsoon controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Smompsoon wants to pass the guard but Grigoric is keeping the position.
Smompsoon is stalling in the full guard.
Smompsoon throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smompsoon working some strikes from top position.
Smompsoon wants to pass the guard but Grigoric is keeping the position.
Smompsoon lands a couple of elbows.
Smompsoon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smompsoon wants to pass the guard but Grigoric is keeping the position.
Smompsoon controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smompsoon pushing down on Grigoric's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Smompsoon is controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nucky Smompsoon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smompsoon 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nucky Smompsoon!