PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Kent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Groes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nick Groes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kent
vs
Groes

182 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marcus Kent!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nick Groes!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Fujiwara and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Groes blocks a head kick by Kent.
Groes shoots in for a takedown but Kent shows good takedown defense.
Kent looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kent misses with a wild combination.
Kent shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Groes counters with a head kick. That will keep Kent thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Groes misses with a wild body shot.
Groes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kent manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Groes shoots and misses
and Kent counters with a left and a right that stings Groes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kent pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Groes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groes tries to clinch but Kent moves out of range.

Kent closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Groes's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Groes trying to control the position.
Kent controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kent stops Groes from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Marcus Kent wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Groes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nick Groes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kent shoots in for a takedown but Groes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Kent. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Groes misses with a series of wild punches.
Groes fails with the takedown

and Kent holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kent tries to break free but Groes pushes him back against the cage.
Groes tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kent just stands there and leans against the cage.

Groes turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Groes manages to end up in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kent is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kent is breathing heavily.
Groes is looking to take a break and control but Kent is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Groes misses with the ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Groes tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kent is not content to let Groes control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nick Groes wasn't active enough on the ground.
Groes throws the left hand but Kent avoids the punch easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kent tries to clinch but Groes moves out of range.
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 Marcus Kent will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Groes with a poor takedown
and Groes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kent!

It looks like Nick Groes has been cut.

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

Groes breaks the clinch.
Groes fails with the takedown

and Kent counters with a crisp one two that drops Groes! Kent thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Groes to his feet! Groes is in big trouble!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kent misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Groes shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kent manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Groes wants to control from the top but Kent keeps moving.
Groes is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Groes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kent is proving hard to escape from.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nick Groes hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Kent closes the distance and clinches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Groes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Marcus Kent has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Groes.
Groes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kent walks away with a smile on his face. Groes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kent closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Groes's guard.
Kent wants to get up but he can't break Groes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kent sitting in guard here, content to control.
Groes 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.
Kent has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Groes is proving hard to escape from.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Marcus Kent just wasn't active enough.
Kent defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Groes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kent has a takedown stuffed.
Groes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Groes dodges the punch combination from Kent.
Groes fails to land the takedown.
Groes fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kent closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Groes tries to improve position but can't.
Groes is trying to work for a sweep but Kent has mounted him!
You get the feeling that Groes really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Kent controlling the pace for now.
Kent knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Groes on the ground.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Kent dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nick Groes's cut.
That's time! Kent's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Groes shoots in and drives through. Kent sprawls well.

Kent clinches with his opponent.
Kent has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kent wants to get back to striking at distance but Groes won't allow it.
Kent tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Groes's elbow.
Groes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kent is defending well for now.
Kent gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Groes.
Kent has had enough of the clinch but Groes keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kent has hold of one of Groes's legs. Groes is fighting the takedown attempt but Kent gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Kent avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Groes looking to control.
Marcus Kent overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Groes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Groes is on top in guard.
Kent wants to get back to his feet but Groes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kent is looking to sweep but instead, Groes has passed into half guard.
Groes content to control rather than advance.
Groes slips a nice elbow through Kent's hands, connecting with Kent's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groes controlling the pace.

Groes seems to be working for a kimura but Kent defends the submission attempt.
Groes with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nick Groes.
Groes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kent throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Groes feints and as Kent raises his hands in defense, Groes changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Groes trying to control the position from guard on top but Kent is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nick Groes hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Groes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Groes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kent has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Marcus Kent!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Marcus Kent!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Marcus Kent!

Marcus Kent wins by unanimous decision!
Marcus Kent decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.