PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Groove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomas Baltrenas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Groove
vs
Baltrenas

210 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alexander Groove!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tomas Baltrenas!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baltrenas misses with a head kick.

Baltrenas clinches up with Groove and pushes him back against the cage.

Baltrenas ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Baltrenas no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Baltrenas working a defensive guard here.
Groove stopping the sweep attempt from Baltrenas.
Baltrenas is trying to hold Groove in close to prevent damage but Groove has managed to pass into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baltrenas is trying to control but Groove manages to pass to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baltrenas in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Groove throwing strikes here but Baltrenas is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Groove really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Baltrenas is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Groove landing shots from mount.
Baltrenas in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Baltrenas is looking to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baltrenas avoids a series of strikes thrown by Groove.
Baltrenas is working to get back to half guard.
Groove lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Baltrenas hang on?
Groove will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Groove working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Baltrenas is working to get back to half guard.
Baltrenas looks gassed!
Baltrenas in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Baltrenas is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Groove lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Groove dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Baltrenas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Groove pinned against the cage. Groove gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Baltrenas throws a head kick that misses.

Baltrenas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Groove to the mat! Groove manages to get full guard.
Groove wants to stand and escape but Baltrenas is having none of it.
Groove throws a couple of heel strikes.
Baltrenas is breathing heavily.
Baltrenas trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Groove manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groove works over Baltrenas with some ground and pound from guard.
Groove stands up over Baltrenas, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Groove scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Baltrenas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Groove. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Baltrenas wants to get back to his feet but Groove is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Baltrenas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Groove chips away with some ground and pound.

Baltrenas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Groove defends it easily.
Groove is looking to work some ground and pound but Baltrenas has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baltrenas has momentary wrist control but Groove slips an elbow through the middle.
Groove throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Baltrenas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Groove lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Groove is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Groove with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Baltrenas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Baltrenas is trying to control the position but Groove postures up.
Groove works over Baltrenas with some ground and pound from guard.
Groove is standing up over Baltrenas. Baltrenas looks to escape but Groove dives into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Baltrenas can do anything to dispel that myth.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Groove throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Groove dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

A telegraphed right hand from Baltrenas misses the target.
Baltrenas goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Alexander Groove has been cut.
Groove displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Baltrenas.
Baltrenas misses with a takedown attempt - Groove sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Groove shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Baltrenas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Groove darts in trying to clinch

and Baltrenas counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groove looking for a takedown.

Groove manages to break the clinch.
Groove with a lazy takedown attempt

and Baltrenas counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Groove. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Groove has one foot on Baltrenas's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Baltrenas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Groove counters with a single leg into guard. Baltrenas didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baltrenas has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Alexander Groove overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Baltrenas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Groove is one step ahead there.
Baltrenas wants to improve his position but instead Groove has moved into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baltrenas is trying to stand back up but Groove is controlling him
Groove not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Groove seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Groove has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four 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.
Baltrenas is trying to control but Groove manages to pass to mount!
BOOM! Groove connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Baltrenas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Groove avoids the attempt from Baltrenas to control.
Tomas Baltrenas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alexander Groove is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Groove blocks Baltrenas's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

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 Alexander Groove.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Groove, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Groove!