PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Grunge (ranked 349 p4p, 54 weight class) and Flavio Lazzarini (ranked 2277 p4p, 303 weight class). Grunge's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Temple of the Dog - Say Hello To Heaven. 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.

Grunge
vs
Lazzarini

184 cm
41
192 lbs
37 - 3 - 1

185 cm
44
201 lbs
26 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
Blue Moon

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Grunge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Flavio Lazzarini!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Hirohito Nitta and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grunge throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Grunge scores with a sloppy right hand. Lazzarini should have avoided that one.

It looks like Flavio Lazzarini has been cut.
A shot to the liver by Grunge. Beautiful body shot.
Lazzarini takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Tommy Grunge seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lazzarini blocks the body kick.
Lazzarini is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Grunge misses the jab.
Lazzarini on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A jab from Grunge misses.
Lazzarini shoots in for a takedown but Grunge shows good takedown defense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grunge throws a head kick that misses.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Grunge.
Grunge lands with an uppercut that bounces Lazzarini off the cage and back into range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jab by Grunge.
Grunge moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazzarini takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Lazzarini slips under a jab from Grunge.
Grunge scoring well with a low kick there.
Grunge scores with a nice strike.

Lazzarini closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Grunge to the mat! Grunge manages to get full guard.
Grunge is trying to keep Lazzarini in close.
Grunge is looking to sweep but instead, Lazzarini has passed into half guard.
Lazzarini wants to control but Grunge is keeping him busy.
Lazzarini looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Grunge is defending against the submission attempts here by Lazzarini.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grunge wants to control but Lazzarini is keeping busy.
Grunge slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Grunge controlling the position.
Grunge tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Grunge escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lazzarini gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazzarini trying to control but Grunge is working from the bottom.
Lazzarini sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lazzarini trying to control the position from guard on top but Grunge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Grunge looks to land a body kick but Lazzarini moved away.
Lazzarini takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Lazzarini on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Grunge. Grunge obviously looking to wear him down.
Grunge looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Grunge connects with a single shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grunge misses with an uppercut. Lazzarini saw that one coming.
Grunge moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Lazzarini fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Grunge avoids it really well and circles away.
Grunge fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A left lands for Grunge.
Grunge throws a lazy right hand but Lazzarini sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lazzarini is defended easily by Grunge.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Grunge dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Flavio Lazzarini's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice sprawl there from Grunge as Lazzarini shoots in.
Grunge is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lazzarini can do to turn this around?
Grunge misses with a hook. Lazzarini ducked under it nicely.
Grunge throws a good cross that connects.
Grunge throws out a leg kick but Lazzarini moves out of range and Grunge only half commits.

Lazzarini looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Grunge!
Grunge can't do much from the bottom here.
Grunge gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grunge is trying to maintain the position but Lazzarini is very close to passing his half guard.
Still in half guard, Lazzarini seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grunge wants to improve his position but Lazzarini is controlling well.
Grunge is controlling Lazzarini's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Lazzarini is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Grunge wants to control but Lazzarini is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grunge moves into full guard.
Grunge keeping moving, preventing Lazzarini from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Grunge controls Lazzarini momentarily but Lazzarini frees himself.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lazzarini moves out of range as Grunge throws a body kick.
Lazzarini blocks a leg kick.
Lazzarini closes this distance looking for a takedown but Grunge circles away.
Grunge half committed to a counter leg kick.
Grunge catches Lazzarini with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Grunge wants to land a leg kick but Lazzarini is out of range.
Lazzarini throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Grunge's waist but Grunge gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lazzarini off to one side.
Tommy Grunge has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Flavio Lazzarini.
Crunch! Grunge slams his shin into Lazzarini's torso.
Lazzarini moves away from the strike by Grunge.
Tommy Grunge is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lazzarini.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Grunge misses the target.
Nice sprawl there from Grunge as Lazzarini shoots in.
Grunge lands with a kick to the temple. Lazzarini shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Grunge connects with a nice looking jab.

That has opened up Flavio Lazzarini's cut even more.
Grunge throws a body punch but Lazzarini moves out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Grunge, right into the meat.
Grunge misses with a body shot.
Lazzarini takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Grunge getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Lazzarini will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Grunge swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lazzarini tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lazzarini fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lazzarini misses with a takedown attempt
and Grunge counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grunge feints and then cracks Lazzarini's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lazzarini down.
Lazzarini avoids a kick to the body.
Lazzarini wants to counter the offense by Grunge and move into the clinch position.
Grunge misses with a low kick.
Grunge scores with the left hand. Lazzarini knows he should have avoided that one.
Lazzarini tries for a takedown but Grunge circles away easily
and Grunge counters with a stiff right hand.
Grunge throws a head kick that half lands.
Grunge keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Grunge dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Flavio Lazzarini's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lazzarini has a takedown stuffed.
Lazzarini keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jab by Grunge.
Grunge listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Grunge throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Lazzarini on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Grunge. Grunge obviously looking to wear him down.
Lazzarini shoots in looking for a takedown but Grunge manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lazzarini's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Grunge dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lazzarini. That did some damage!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donk. Grunge catches Lazzarini right on the button with a cross.

The cut above Flavio Lazzarini's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Tommy Grunge is winning the standup battle so far.
Grunge uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Lazzarini has time to react.
An inside leg kick lands from Grunge.
Grunge misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lazzarini takes one on the button.
Lazzarini with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Grunge to score with a decent uppercut.

Lazzarini is rocked!
Lazzarini seems to be squinting his left eye. Perhaps he got a poke in that previous exchange. Grunge shows no mercy and swarms him with a barage of strikes! Lazzarini is backing up but Grunge catches him with a final right hook that drops him! Lazzarini covers up and the referee steps in to end the fight! Grunge Jumps to his feet and flashes his guns to the crowd. Oh yeah, baby! How'd you like them apples?!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tommy Grunge!
Tommy Grunge thanked the fans post fight for their support.