PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Benjamin Miles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kendall Grove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kendall Grove told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Miles
vs
Grove

177 cm
30
197 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

198 cm
24
190 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Benjamin Miles !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kendall Grove!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miles fails with a takedown attempt.
Miles tries to clinch up.
Miles tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Grove swivels and escapes.
Miles has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Miles keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Grove shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Miles napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miles is trying to get back to half guard.
Grove has control of an arm but Miles manages to advance to Grove's back!
Miles knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Grove on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grove is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Miles .
Miles has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
You can see the frustration on Grove's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Miles biding his time, looking for the opening.
Grove is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miles really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Grove.
Grove is in bad spot here.
Miles controlling from the back.
Miles avoiding Grove 's attempts to control his hands.
Miles trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Grove doesn't escape.
Grove is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Miles controlling well, preventing Grove from escaping the position.
Grove keeps trying to improve his position.
What can Grove do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Miles 's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Grove has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Miles seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Grove for as long as he can get away with.
Grove is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
You can see the frustration on Grove's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
I would not like to be Grove right now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Miles continues to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Miles dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Miles slaps away a takedown attempt from Grove, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Miles fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Miles stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Miles wants it to stay on the feet.
Miles half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Grove stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Grove wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Grove feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Miles tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Miles bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Grove's guard.

Miles has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Miles sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Grove's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miles is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Grove trying to control from the bottom.
Miles controlling the action here.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Miles .
Grove trying to hold on to Miles 's head to control him but Miles postures up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Miles in particular looking to stall.
Grove is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Miles perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Grove wants to improve his position but Miles is controlling well.

Miles looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Grove moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Grove not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miles controlling from the top position.
Further stalling from Miles .
Grove bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Miles 's guard.

Grove prevents Miles from getting back to his feet.
Miles on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Miles tries to get out of the position.
Miles wants to sweep here but Grove controlling him for the moment.
Miles is working hard here to advance position.
Grove trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Miles looking to hit a scissor sweep but Grove is one step ahead there.
Miles wants to improve his position but instead Grove has moved into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miles tries to roll over but Grove keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miles is trying to control but can't.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Grove in particular looking to stall.
Grove wants to control but Miles is keeping him busy.
Miles tries to roll over but Grove keeps him under control.
Miles makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Miles .
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Miles wants to sweep but no luck.
Grove stands and throws Miles 's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Miles is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendall Grove showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Grove shoots in but no luck this time.
Grove fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Miles avoids it really well and circles away.
Miles takes a swing at Grove's ribcage but misses.
A slow jab from Miles misses its intended target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miles slaps away a takedown attempt from Grove, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Miles appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Benjamin Miles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kendall Grove.
Grove closes this distance looking for a takedown but Miles circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miles shoots in looking for a takedown. Grove tries to sprawl out of it but Miles keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Grove manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Grove. No joy for Miles on that attempt.
Grove fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Grove circles away from the clinch attempt.

Grove shoots in and gets a takedown into Miles 's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grove trying to control but Miles is working from the bottom.
Miles 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.

Miles looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Grove trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Miles has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Grove has passed into side control.
Grove gets to mount! Miles was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Grove tries to control but Miles wriggling away.
Miles is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grove controlling from the full mount.
Miles is squirming around, avoiding Grove's attempts to control the action.
Grove is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Miles is in real trouble.
Miles tries to escape but Grove has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Miles is keeping busy.
Miles is really stuck here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grove biding his time, controlling Miles .
Grove wants to control but Miles is keeping busy.
Miles can't escape the position.
Grove tries to keep control of the position but Miles is staying busy.
Benjamin Miles overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Miles wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Grove has the hooks in. Miles is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Miles is trying to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kendall Grove comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Grove 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kendall Grove!