PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randy Orton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Grozniy (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.

Orton
vs
Grozniy

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Randy Orton!
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, Ivan Grozniy!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Orton blocks a head kick by Grozniy.

Grozniy shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Grozniy controlling from the full mount.
Grozniy is landing with some decent strikes but Orton is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Grozniy is landing with some decent strikes but Orton is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Grozniy misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Orton tries to lock up and control but Grozniy gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Grozniy moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Orton has worked his arm free - good work by Orton!
Orton is trying to control Grozniy's posture but Grozniy avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grozniy goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Orton has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Grozniy but great work by Orton.
Orton controls the position.
Grozniy is not content to let Orton control the position.
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.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Randy Orton.

Grozniy darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Orton is staying active underneath Grozniy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Orton moves into full guard.
Grozniy is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grozniy preventing the sweep.
Grozniy trying to control the position from guard on top but Orton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grozniy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Grozniy looks gassed!
Orton looking for a sweep. Not yet Orton, not yet.
Grozniy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Orton is trying to keep Grozniy in close.
Orton is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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 fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Orton is looking for a kimura here.
Grozniy wants to get back to full guard.

Orton is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Orton is trying to control. Grozniy wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Grozniy dominated that round.
That's time! Orton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Grozniy closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Orton is trying to get back to half guard.

Grozniy goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Orton rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Grozniy's guard! Nice work there by Orton!

Orton decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Grozniy, up you get!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Orton doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Grozniy counters with a low kick, right behind Orton 's knee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orton with a poor takedown

and Grozniy counters with a takedown into side control.

Grozniy swings around for an armbar but Orton sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Grozniy's guard.
Grozniy is trying to control the position but Orton postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Orton gets to his feet - Grozniy follows without any prompting.
Orton moves out of range of the body kick from Grozniy.
Grozniy shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Orton decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Grozniy's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grozniy trying to control the position.
Orton passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orton taking a breather here.
Grozniy wants to control but Orton postures up.
Orton is looking to take a break and control but Grozniy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Grozniy is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Orton is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Grozniy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Grozniy can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orton throws a strike aimed at the side of Grozniy's head but Grozniy avoids it well.
Grozniy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Orton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Grozniy is looking for a sweep.

Orton looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Grozniy wants to control but Orton postures up.

Orton is trying to get an arm triangle but Grozniy is defending well.
Grozniy manages to work his way to half guard, despite Orton's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orton thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Grozniy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Orton pulls his head out easily.
Grozniy wants to control but Orton is keeping busy.

Orton is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Grozniy doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Orton.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grozniy is trying to maintain the position but Orton is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Orton dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Orton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Orton tries to score a power double leg takedown but Grozniy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Orton somewhat.
Randy Orton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Orton fails with the takedown
and Grozniy counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randy Orton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Grozniy looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Grozniy is trying to control. Orton wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Grozniy not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grozniy wants to take a breather but Orton is having none of it.
Grozniy controlling the action here.
Grozniy is looking to stall here but Orton recovers full guard.
Orton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Grozniy is one step ahead there.

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.
Grozniy loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Grozniy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Orton's guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Orton tries for a takedown but Grozniy circles away easily

and Grozniy counters with a single leg into guard. Orton didn't expect that.
Orton tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grozniy wants to control from the top but Orton keeps moving.
Orton trying to keep a closed guard but Grozniy is proving a slippery customer.
Grozniy trying to control but Orton is working from the bottom.
Grozniy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Orton is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Orton bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Grozniy's guard.
Orton won't allow Grozniy to sweep him here.

Orton drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Orton seems to have locked his on tight now - Grozniy screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Orton, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Randy Orton!