PBP Commentary

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

Reynolds
vs
Grimes

177 cm
27
191 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

182 cm
27
185 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Reynolds!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick Grimes !
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reynolds is looking to clinch but Grimes is avoiding it.

Reynolds closes the distance and clinches.
Grimes working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Grimes has clasped his hands together around Reynolds's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Reynolds manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
My spies in DUDES GYM...inc..CBK inform me that Grimes has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Grimes trying to control from half guard but Reynolds is working away.

Grimes is working for a kimura but Reynolds is defending it quite comfortably.
Reynolds slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Grimes wants to stand but Reynolds has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Grimes tries to free his leg and advance position but Reynolds is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Reynolds working for a triangle but Grimes defends it easily.
Grimes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Reynolds is keeping the position for now.
Reynolds working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Grimes .

Reynolds working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Grimes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Grimes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Grimes slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grimes is trying to control the action in half guard but Reynolds is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Reynolds looking for submissions off his back.
Grimes is thwarting Reynolds's attempts to control the position.
Grimes trying to advance position but Reynolds counters by regaining guard.
Grimes preventing the sweep.
Grimes throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds keeping full guard, as Grimes tries to pass.
Grimes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Reynolds utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Grimes 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Grimes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Reynolds's head.
Grimes is looking to work some ground and pound but Reynolds has wrist control.
Grimes looking to pass the guard.
Grimes slips nicely into half guard.

Grimes is looking for a kimura but Reynolds is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Grimes to get the leverage.
Grimes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grimes is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Reynolds is just riding it out for now. Grimes eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Grimes is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Grimes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Reynolds doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Grimes .
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Still in half guard, Grimes seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Grimes dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Grimes looks to score with a jab to the body but Reynolds is just out of range.

Grimes shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Grimes was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Reynolds gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Grimes is trying to work for a kimura but Reynolds is defending well.
Grimes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Grimes prevents Reynolds from improving his position.
Grimes passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Reynolds!
Reynolds is squirming around, avoiding Grimes 's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reynolds taking shots to the head.
Reynolds manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Grimes sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Reynolds gets back to full guard.
Grimes chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grimes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Grimes tries to stand but Reynolds is controlling from the bottom.
Reynolds wants to sweep but no luck.
Grimes is pushing down on Reynolds's leg trying to pass to half guard. Reynolds is fighting to maintain full guard but Grimes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Grimes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Reynolds defending well though.
Reynolds missing with punches from the bottom.

Grimes decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grimes connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Reynolds momentarily.
Rick Grimes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Reynolds tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Grimes closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grimes throwing shots but Reynolds is blocking nicely.
Reynolds is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Grimes wants to free his trapped foot but Reynolds is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Grimes prevents Reynolds from improving his position.
Grimes wants to take a breather but Reynolds is having none of it.
Grimes wants to pass the guard but Reynolds is defending well.

Reynolds looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grimes lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Grimes tries to stand and escape but Reynolds is controlling the position.
Grimes uses his free foot to push down on Reynolds's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Reynolds.
Reynolds wants to control but Grimes is having none of it.
Reynolds is trying desperately to improve position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grimes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Reynolds is looking to escape.
Grimes in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Grimes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Reynolds darts in trying to clinch
and Grimes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Reynolds tries to close the distance and clinch but Grimes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Reynolds showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Grimes .
Grimes paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Grimes fails to land with a series of punches.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Reynolds.

Grimes looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rick Grimes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Grimes wants to take a breather but Reynolds is having none of it.
Reynolds punching from the bottom.
Grimes is trying to control the action in half guard but Reynolds is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grimes trying to mount his opponent but Reynolds defends it.

Reynolds looking for submissions off his back.
Grimes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Reynolds is defending against the submission attempts here by Grimes .
Reynolds trying to control but Grimes postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grimes takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Reynolds gets full guard.
Grimes scoring with punches to the head and body.
Reynolds has a closed guard, preventing Grimes from standing up.
Grimes throws a big elbow that misses.
Grimes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Grimes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Grimes wants to pass the guard but Reynolds is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grimes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Reynolds has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Grimes has managed to get both his arms back between Reynolds's legs - danger averted.
Grimes trying to control but Reynolds is working from the bottom.
Grimes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Grimes advances position into side control!
Reynolds prevents Grimes from moving into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds is trying to get back to half guard.
Grimes laying and praying for a moment but Reynolds takes advantage and regains half guard.
Grimes looks to land a strike but Reynolds avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Grimes looking to pass the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grimes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
James Reynolds has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rick Grimes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Grimes trying to control but Reynolds is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Grimes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Grimes 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Grimes !