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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gary Groper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Smith (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.
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| 185 cm
22
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
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186 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin |
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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 London, Gary Groper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Steve Smith!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Groper has managed to free his arm - good work.
Groper slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Groper lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Smith!
Groper controlling the pace for now.
Groper trying to control but Smith is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith is looking to improve his position but Groper isn't that keen on the idea.
Groper lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Smith hang on?
Groper raining down shots from the mount!
Groper trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Smith is wriggling around trying to escape.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is in a horrible position here. Groper smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Groper is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Smith can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Smith is trying to escape the mount.
Smith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Groper with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Smith tries to hold on but Groper pushes him away.
Smith tries to reverse the position but Groper maintains control.
Groper has control of Smith's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Smith regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Groper tries to control but Smith wriggling away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Groper prevents Smith from getting the reversal.
Groper trying to control but Smith is having none of it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Groper prevents Smith from getting the reversal.
Groper wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
Smith tries to hold on but Groper postures up.
Smith regains half guard.
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Smith keeping full guard, as Groper tries to pass.
Groper is breathing heavily.
Groper 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.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Groper is defending well.
Smith uses his free foot to push down on Groper's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Groper.
Smith looking for a guillotine from mount but Groper is having none of it.
Groper tries to hold on but Smith postures up.
Groper tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Groper is working hard here to advance position.
Smith jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Groper manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Smith has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Groper or perhaps it was just good defense by Smith which made him look bad.
Smith with a poor takedown
and Groper counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.
Groper postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Smith is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Groper, into his guard.
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Groper is retaining full guard.
Smith thows a big elbow that misses.
Groper had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Smith is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Groper Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Smith's back instead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Groper has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Smith's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Gary Groper will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Nice takedown defense from Smith. No joy for Groper on that attempt.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Groper decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smith's guard.
Groper drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Groper jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith is looking for a triangle but Groper pushes his legs off easily.
Groper is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gary Groper overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Groper avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Groper manages to get himself to full guard.
Groper wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Groper is keeping the position.
Groper controlling Smith's posture.
Groper controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Groper is retaining full guard.
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.
Smith 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.
Groper is trying to keep Smith in close.
Groper looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt
and Groper counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Groper trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Groper doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Groper manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Groper passes Smith's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Groper has control of the leg.
Groper passes the guard and advances to mount!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groper seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Smith is holding on tight.
Smith is squirming around, avoiding Groper's attempts to control the action.
Smith gets back to half guard.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Groper is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Groper trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
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.
Smith is staying active underneath Groper, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Groper wants to pass the guard but Smith is defending well.
The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith shoots and misses
and Groper counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gary Groper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Smith.
Groper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith manages to get to full guard.
Groper controls from within his opponent's guard.
Groper trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith working for a triangle but Groper defends it easily.
Smith has his foot on Groper's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Groper works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Gary Groper dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!
Groper fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Smith sprawls well initially but Groper persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
Groper wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Groper is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Smith has managed to free his arm - good work.
Smith manages to get to full guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Groper from controlling successfully.
Groper stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith working for a triangle but Groper defends it easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Groper trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Groper trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Groper is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Smith Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Groper's back instead.
Groper defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Groper defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Smith's arms.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Groper is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Smith is looking for the choke from the back position but Groper is controlling his hands well.
Groper fending off the submission attempt from Smith.
Groper breaks Smith's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Groper avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groper controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Groper is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Smith keeping full guard, as Groper tries to pass.
Groper trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith is looking for a triangle but Groper pushes his legs off easily.
Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groper trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Groper has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Smith to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Groper is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Smith pulls down on the head and he's put Groper to sleep! This one is all over!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Steve Smith!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
83% |
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