PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stew Grif (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Spear (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Grif
vs
Spear

198 cm
20
181 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

178 cm
21
173 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Stew Grif!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kenny Spear!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Seu Braga and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grif shoots in and drives through. Spear sprawls well.
Grif really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Grif throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Spear was covering up waiting for the punch and Grif finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Spear preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Spear is on top in guard.
Grif will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Spear advances to half guard.

Spear is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Grif doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Spear.
Spear performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spear is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Spear wants to work for an arm triangle but Grif is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Spear wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grif keeps working.
Grif wants to get back to full guard.

Spear is looking for a kimura here.
Grif is trying to stand back up but Spear is controlling him
Spear not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grif wants to improve his position but Spear is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Spear circles away from the clinch attempt.
Spear stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Spear wants it to stay on the feet.

Grif shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Spear is looking to improve his position but Grif isn't that keen on the idea.
Grif misses with a head shot.
Spear can't escape the position.

Grif is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Spear to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Spear shrugs it off.
Spear tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Grif raining down shots from the mount!
Spear is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spear swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Grif wants to control the action but instead Spear gets a body lock and reverses into Grif's guard! Nice work!
Grif trying to strike off his back.
Grif wants to get back to his feet but Spear passes into half guard.

Spear is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Grif has managed to free his arm - good work.
Spear looks gassed!
Grif throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Grif looking for submissions off his back.

Grif looking for submissions off his back.
Grif knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Spear on the ground.
Grif gets back to full guard.

Grif is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Spear defends well.
Spear slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Spear trying to control but Grif is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Stew Grif will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Spear instigates a clinch.

Grif pulls guard.
Grif looking to control.
Spear working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Grif's head.
Spear trying to control the position from guard on top but Grif is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Spear decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Stew Grif seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grif shoots for a takedown but Spear saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Spear displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Grif.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grif closes the distance and clinches up with Spear, looking for a takedown. Grif pushes Spear against the cage but Spear circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stew Grif. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Spear closes the distance and clinches.
Grif stalling in the clinch but Spear improves position.
Spear pressing his opponent against the cage.
Spear trying to control the position but instead, Grif has worked for underhooks and has pushed Spear into the cage.
Still in the clinch, Spear scores with a nice short uppercut.
Spear's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Stalling in the clinch from Grif.

Spear pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Grif throws a nice looking combination but Spear bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Spear tries to clinch there but Grif circles away.
Grif dives in and grabs Spear's left leg, looking for a takedown. Spear pushes down on Grif's head and hops out.

Grif feints and as Spear raises his hands in defense, Grif changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Spear had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Grif defends it easily.
Grif looking to pass the guard.
Grif postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Spear has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Spear can't keep his opponent in guard - Grif advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grif prevents Spear from improving his position.
Spear trying to control here.

Grif is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Spear moves into full guard.

Spear looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Spear is breathing heavily.
Spear working a defensive guard but Grif passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grif scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Spear avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Grif.
Grif tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Spear.

Spear looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Grif seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Grif is looking for a kimura but Spear is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Grif to get the leverage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Spear actively working from the bottom here.

Grif is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Spear is just riding it out for now. Grif eventually gives up the hold.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Grif tries for a takedown but Spear sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Spear showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Grif gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Spear to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Spear postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Grif is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Spear, into his guard.
Grif postures up in Spear's guard and throws a big left but Spear blocks it.
Spear keeping moving, preventing Grif from controlling successfully.

Spear has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Grif can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Grif wants to pass the guard but Spear is keeping the position.
Spear takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spear looking to control.
Grif working some strikes from top position.
Spear is trying to keep Grif in close.
Grif stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Spear swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Grif postures up in Spear's guard and throws a big left but Spear blocks it.
Grif tries to stand but Spear is controlling from the bottom.
Kenny Spear has got the better of the ground game so far.

Spear looking for a triangle here. Grif is fighting it but it looks tight! Spear pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Grif is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Kenny Spear!