PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Sliva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Grizwold (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.

Sliva
vs
Grizwold

182 cm
25
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Prefers standup

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Sliva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Grizwold!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grizwold shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sliva defends it nicely.
Sliva leaves Grizwold with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Sliva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sliva tries to pull guard but Grizwold holds him up against the cage and eventually Sliva drops back down to his feet.
Sliva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sliva tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Grizwold tightens his grip and picks Sliva up, before dumping him to the ground. Sliva manages to land in guard.
Grizwold controlling from the top position.
Grizwold advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sliva tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Grizwold manages to move to mount!

Grizwold goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Sliva is on top in guard.
Sliva wants to get up but he can't break Grizwold's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sliva has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Grizwold uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Grizwold closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Sliva.

Grizwold has Sliva pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Grizwold pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Sliva tumbling to the mat - Grizwold dives into Sliva's guard.

Grizwold postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sliva is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Grizwold, into his guard.
Sliva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sliva trying to stand up but can't free himself from Grizwold's guard.
Grizwold controls Sliva momentarily but Sliva frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grizwold looking for a sweep. Not yet Grizwold, not yet.
Grizwold is controlling Sliva's posture.
Grizwold manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sliva manages to get himself to full guard.
Sliva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Grizwold controls the pace.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mark Grizwold hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Grizwold tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sliva swivels and escapes.
Anderson Sliva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Grizwold.
Grizwold is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sliva sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Grizwold looks gassed!
Sliva moves to clinch but Grizwold breaks away
and Grizwold counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Grizwold tries to clinch up but Sliva circles away and keeps his distance.
Grizwold throws a push kick but Sliva slaps the foot to one side.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Grizwold is defended easily by Sliva.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Grizwold 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.

Sliva tries to clinch

and Grizwold counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Grizwold not doing much here.
Sliva is looking to escape.
Grizwold passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Sliva!
Sliva is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grizwold controlling his opponent.

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.

Grizwold jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Sliva is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Sliva and Grizwold has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Grizwold content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sliva wants to control but Grizwold postures up.

Grizwold goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Sliva has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Grizwold but great work by Sliva.
Grizwold tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Grizwold regains half guard.
Grizwold manages to get to full guard.
Sliva wants to control from the top but Grizwold keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Grizwold managing to control the position.
Grizwold tries to strike from the bottom.
Sliva trying to stand up but can't free himself from Grizwold's guard.

Grizwold manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Sliva scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Grizwold showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sliva displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Grizwold.
Grizwold is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Grizwold clinches up with Sliva and pushes him back against the cage.
Sliva scores with a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sliva lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Grizwold backwards.
Grizwold drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sliva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Grizwold has clasped his hands together around Sliva's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Grizwold working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Grizwold takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sliva is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Grizwold takes a little break here. Sliva wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Grizwold has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

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.

Sliva closes the distance and pushes Grizwold back into the cage.
Sliva is looking to break free of the clinch but Grizwold has double underhooks.
Knees to the body from Sliva.
Grizwold wants a takedown.
Anderson Sliva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Grizwold.
Sliva lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sliva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Grizwold blocks it with crossed arms.
Sliva scores with a shoulder strike.
Sliva lands with a short shot to the head.
Sliva scores with a knee to the head.
Grizwold tries to score a body lock takedown but Sliva shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sliva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Grizwold blocks it with crossed arms.
Grizwold lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sliva backwards.
Sliva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Grizwold gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Grizwold showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Grizwold looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grizwold looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Grizwold comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Grizwold winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Grizwold!