PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tony Miyazaki (ranked 9883 p4p, 798 weight class) and Reggie Grimdal (ranked 23271 p4p, 881 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.

Miyazaki
vs
Grimdal

191 cm
21
176 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
26
185 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tony Miyazaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reggie Grimdal!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grimdal checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Miyazaki has closed the distance and engaged Grimdal in a clinch.
Grimdal is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Miyazaki tries for a takedown. No joy.
Grimdal can't break the clinch.
Miyazaki wants a takedown.
A head punch on the inside from Grimdal fails to land.
Miyazaki is trying to break the clinch but Grimdal has him pressed against the cage.
Miyazaki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Grimdal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Miyazaki lands a takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miyazaki is looking to pass into half guard but Grimdal pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Grimdal is in guard.

Grimdal must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Miyazaki wants to sweep here but Grimdal controlling him for the moment.
Miyazaki is pulling down on Grimdal's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyazaki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Grimdal manages to get himself to full guard.

Miyazaki gets to his feet. Grimdal looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Grimdal connects with a high kick.

Miyazaki feints and as Grimdal raises his hands in defense, Miyazaki changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Grimdal keeping moving, preventing Miyazaki from controlling successfully.
Grimdal really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Miyazaki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Grimdal wants to stand but Miyazaki is controlling the position.

Miyazaki stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Miyazaki has been working on his boxing with his coaches at 3Band MMA ($500/week) in the buildup to the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyazaki tries for a takedown but Grimdal circles away easily
and Grimdal counters with a head kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Miyazaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Miyazaki shoots in for a double leg but Grimdal sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Miyazaki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Grimdal tries to avoid it but Miyazaki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Grimdal to the ground. Grimdal escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Miyazaki drives through and clinches with Grimdal against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Miyazaki ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Miyazaki no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Miyazaki throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Miyazaki throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Grimdal escapes and throws Miyazaki's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Grimdal stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyazaki shoots in for a double leg but Grimdal sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A nice side step and Grimdal releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Miyazaki darts in and clinches Grimdal up against the cage.

Miyazaki has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Grimdal uses from the top position.
Grimdal is looking to stand up but Miyazaki won't let him.

Miyazaki kicks Grimdal off and gets to his feet.

Grimdal moves into range and clinches up with Miyazaki.
Miyazaki fails to pull guard.
Miyazaki effectively controlling the action here.

Miyazaki breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miyazaki drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Grimdal throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Miyazaki moves into the clinch successfully.
Miyazaki dodges an elbow strike from Grimdal.
Miyazaki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Miyazaki blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Miyazaki has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Grimdal clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Miyazaki is throwing shots to the body but Grimdal manages to wriggle free. Miyazaki pounces on him again and ends up in Grimdal's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Reggie Grimdal will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Miyazaki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Miyazaki drives through with a takedown into guard.

Miyazaki postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Grimdal is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Miyazaki, into his guard.

Miyazaki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miyazaki trying to keep a closed guard but Grimdal is proving a slippery customer.
Miyazaki has Grimdal pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Miyazaki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Grimdal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Miyazaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miyazaki seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Miyazaki looking to control.

That's two 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.
Miyazaki is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Miyazaki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Grimdal can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Miyazaki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Grimdal is one step ahead there.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tony Miyazaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Miyazaki moves into range and clinches up with Grimdal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miyazaki successfully pulls guard.
Miyazaki wants to get back to his feet but Grimdal is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Miyazaki had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Grimdal defends it easily.
Miyazaki seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Miyazaki striking from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Miyazaki has his foot on Grimdal's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Grimdal works his way back into a safe position though.
Miyazaki controlling Grimdal's posture.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Miyazaki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Grimdal won't allow Miyazaki to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A head kick misses from Miyazaki.
Grimdal let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Miyazaki dominated that second round.
That's time! Miyazaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Miyazaki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Grimdal tries to counter with a clinch but Miyazaki shakes him off and moves away.

Miyazaki closes the distance and clinches.
Miyazaki has Grimdal pressed against the cage, preventing Grimdal from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The referee is keeping an eye on Miyazaki - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Grimdal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

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

Grimdal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Miyazaki has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miyazaki is pushing Grimdal up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Grimdal creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Miyazaki's defenses.
Miyazaki blocks an elbow strike from Grimdal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyazaki jumps guard but Grimdal stands there with Miyazaki around his waist. Miyazaki gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Grimdal wants to get back to striking at distance but Miyazaki won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Miyazaki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Miyazaki blocks an uppercut.

Grimdal manages to break the clinch.
Miyazaki fails with the takedown.
Miyazaki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Grimdal counters with a nice low kick that buckles Miyazaki's knee momentarily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Miyazaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Miyazaki drives through with a takedown into guard.
Miyazaki wants to pass the guard but Grimdal is keeping the position.
Miyazaki wants to control from the top but Grimdal keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Miyazaki gets to his feet - Grimdal follows without any prompting.
Grimdal tries to clinch up but Miyazaki circles away and keeps his distance.
Grimdal wants to clinch up but Miyazaki keeps it at a distance.
Miyazaki appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Miyazaki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Grimdal is fending him off so far but Miyazaki persists. Nope, Grimdal circles away and we're back to standing.

Grimdal moves into range and clinches up with Miyazaki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyazaki blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tony Miyazaki has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Miyazaki pulls guard effortlessly.
Grimdal is fighting to break Miyazaki's control of his arms but Miyazaki is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Miyazaki had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Grimdal defends it easily.

Miyazaki working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Grimdal has passed into half guard!
Miyazaki wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miyazaki trying to control here.
Tony Miyazaki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Miyazaki is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Grimdal prevents Miyazaki from improving his position.

Miyazaki looking for submissions off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tony Miyazaki.
I think Miyazaki 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Tony Miyazaki!