PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Grigory Filimonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Grufus (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.

Filimonov
vs
Grufus

164 cm
25
137 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Grigory Filimonov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rufus Grufus!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Filimonov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Filimonov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Filimonov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Grufus is trying to control Filimonov's posture but Filimonov avoids it.
Filimonov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Filimonov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Grufus is trying to control Filimonov's posture but Filimonov avoids it.
Grufus is letting Filimonov control him for a moment.
Filimonov trying to control the position but Grufus is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filimonov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Filimonov wants to control but Grufus is keeping him busy.
Grufus tries to improve position but can't.
Grufus is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Filimonov off and has taken his back!
Filimonov is covering up but some of the strikes from Grufus are getting through and doing damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Filimonov trying to control but not successfully.
Grufus lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Grufus scores with punches and elbows.
Filimonov is trying to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filimonov is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grufus struggling to keep hold of the position.
Grufus lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Filimonov.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Grufus wants to control but Filimonov is keeping busy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Filimonov grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Filimonov is trying to remain composed but Grufus is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Grufus loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Filimonov hold on?
Grufus throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Filimonov!
Grufus is punishing Filimonov with strikes - can he finish him?!
Grufus lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Filimonov hold on?!
Grufus scores with punches to the body.
Grufus is punishing Filimonov with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filimonov trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Grufus gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Filimonov tries to escape but Grufus has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Grufus lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Filimonov.
Filimonov trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Grufus throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Filimonov!
Grufus controls the position.
Grufus scores with punches from the back.
Filimonov prevents Grufus from getting a body triangle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Filimonov covers up after that shot from Grufus.
Grufus scores with punches from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grufus scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Filimonov is looking for a way out.
Grufus is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Filimonov. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Filimonov is keeping busy.
Grufus scores with punches to the body.
Grufus is punishing Filimonov with some ground and pound.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Grufus's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Grufus is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Filimonov is taking damage to the body and head.
Filimonov is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Grufus dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A looping hook to the body misses from Grufus. Filimonov does a little dance to reset his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Filimonov.
Grufus stops Filimonov from passing to mount.
Grufus is not content to let Filimonov control the position.
Grufus is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filimonov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Grufus gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Filimonov wants to take a breather but Grufus is having none of it.
Grufus works his way to full guard. Good work.
Grufus working a defensive guard here.
Filimonov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Grufus pulls Filimonov in close to his closed guard and prevents Filimonov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Filimonov wants to get up but he can't break Grufus's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grufus has Filimonov pulled in close to control his posture.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rufus Grufus hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Filimonov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Grufus.

Filimonov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Grufus napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
I wouldn't like to be where Grufus is right now.
Filimonov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grufus keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grufus looks to move to half guard but instead Filimonov has passed into mount! Damn!
Grufus is in all sorts of trouble here.
Filimonov is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Grufus is in real trouble.
Grufus tries to escape the position.
Grufus trying to control but not successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grufus covering up well under a barage of strikes.
You can see the frustration on Grufus's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Filimonov trying to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Filimonov looking for the RNC.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grigory Filimonov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Filimonov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Filimonov doesn't manage to clinch there - Grufus circles away.
Filimonov throws a right and a left that Grufus avoids nicely.

Filimonov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Grufus trying to control but Filimonov postures up.
Grufus wants to improve his position but Filimonov is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grufus moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Filimonov throws a big right hand that misses.
Grufus is adopting a defensive guard.

Filimonov stands up from Grufus's guard - Filimonov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Grufus throws an overhand right that lands on Filimonov's shoulder, as Filimonov tries to avoid the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filimonov closes the distance looking to clinch

and Grufus counters with a single leg into guard. Filimonov didn't expect that.
Grufus is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Grufus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Filimonov looking for a guillotine here but Grufus defends easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grufus trying to control but Filimonov is working from the bottom.
Rufus Grufus has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rufus Grufus was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Filimonov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Filimonov misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filimonov tries to clinch but Grufus is having none of it.

Filimonov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Grufus moves into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Grufus is controlling Filimonov's posture.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grufus wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rufus Grufus.
I think Grufus has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rufus Grufus!
Post fight, Rufus Grufus took to the microphone: 'Unga Bunga'.