PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Reza Karimi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Firmly Grasping (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Karimi
vs
Grasping

176 cm
25
190 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

172 cm
22
195 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reza Karimi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Firmly Grasping!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Karimi. Grasping does a little dance to reset his feet.
A shot to the liver by Karimi. Beautiful body shot.
Karimi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Grasping's waist but Grasping gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Karimi off to one side.
Karimi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Karimi dives in for a single leg takedown but Grasping sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Grasping lands with a short shot to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Grasping creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Grasping struggles to land a body shot inside as Karimi controls his hands.
A short uppercut from Grasping.

Grasping pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Reza Karimi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karimi has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
No joy there for Grasping, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Karimi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Grasping counters with a single leg into guard. Karimi didn't expect that.
Grasping postures up and lands a big shot to Karimi's brow.
Karimi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Grasping is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Karimi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Grasping controls the pace.
Karimi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Grasping has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karimi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Karimi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Karimi controls Grasping momentarily but Grasping frees himself.
Grasping lands a couple of decent looking shots.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Grasping working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grasping works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Grasping lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Karimi wants to sweep but Grasping has passed to side control!
Karimi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Karimi is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Grasping is controlling him well.
Karimi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karimi takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Grasping cracks Karimi with a big right hand but Karimi just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Karimi tries to bench press Grasping off him but Grasping keeps the position.
Grasping is looking to take a break and control but Karimi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Karimi is working to avoid the ground and pound but Grasping connects with a decent elbow.
Grasping scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Karimi to see if he's OK.
Grasping trying to control the position but Karimi is working away.
Karimi is trying to improve his position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Karimi is working hard here to advance position.
Grasping cracks Karimi with a big elbow. Oh, he's hurt! Grasping immediately mounts and start dropping bombs! Karimi is done! The referee jumps in and saves him from any more punishment - a quick and decisive finish by Grasping!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Firmly Grasping!