PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Adam Rabago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luka Groff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rabago
vs
Groff

188 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Adam Rabago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Luka Groff!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rabago doesn't manage to clinch there - Groff circles away.

Rabago pushes Groff up against the cage in a clinch.
Groff prevents Rabago from breaking the clinch.
Rabago wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Groff has him pressed against the cage.

Rabago breaks from the clinch.
Groff displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rabago throws out the jab.
Groff keeps the fight on the outside.
Rabago misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Groff tries to clinch up.
Rabago cracks Groff with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Groff has a takedown stuffed.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Groff.
Groff tries a head kick but it misses.
A clash of legs there as Rabago blocks the low kick.

Groff shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Groff working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Groff won't allow Rabago to get back to his feet.
Groff pushes down on Rabago's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rabago on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rabago tries to get out of the position.
Groff is looking to advance position but Rabago won't allow it.
Groff looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabago wants to get back to his feet.
Rabago avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Groff.
Groff tries to pass to full mount but Rabago defends it.
Rabago is trying to stand back up but Groff is controlling him

Rabago makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Groff rushes Rabago and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rabago wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rabago has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rabago is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Groff tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Adam Rabago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luka Groff.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Groff pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Groff swinging wildly here.
Rabago thuds a left hand into Groff's body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rabago tries to clinch there but Groff circles away.
Groff shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rabago pinned against the cage. Rabago gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A combination from Rabago does no damage.
Groff closes the distance and clinches up with Rabago, looking for a takedown. Groff pushes Rabago against the cage but Rabago circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Rabago does no damage.
Rabago fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rabago misses with a series of wild punches.

Rabago fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Groff, pushing him back against the cage.
Rabago has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rabago is trying to force a seperation but Groff has the dominant position.
Groff fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabago looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Groff's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rabago lands a slapping body shot.
Rabago tries to clinch
and Groff counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rabago displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Groff.
Adam Rabago is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Groff swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rabago counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rabago looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Groff takes one on the button.
Groff wants to clinch up but Rabago keeps it at a distance.
Groff throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rabago is looking to clinch.
Rabago is looking to clinch.
Groff shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rabago as he jumps to the side.
Groff throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rabago counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Groff thinking.
Rabago wants to clinch up but Groff keeps it at a distance.
Rabago looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Groff moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rabago is trying to break the clinch but Groff has him pressed against the cage.
Groff keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rabago's efforts to push away.
Rabago wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Groff working Rabago over with knees to the body.
Rabago working aggressively here.
Groff creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rabago's defenses.
A right hook to the body lands for Groff.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
A frustrated look appears on Rabago's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Groff keeps control of Rabago as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Groff goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rabago prevents it.
Rabago tries to break free but Groff pushes him back against the cage.

Groff breaks from the clinch.
Rabago falls off balance throwing a combination
and Groff counters with a thumping low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Rabago dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rabago closes the distance and clinches.
Rabago pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rabago has had enough of the clinch but Groff keeps him there for the moment.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rabago.
Groff has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rabago is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Rabago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rabago throws a right and a left that Groff avoids nicely.
Rabago swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Groff looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rabago is fending him off so far but Groff persists. Nope, Rabago circles away and we're back to standing.
Rabago throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A combination from Groff does no damage.
Rabago closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rabago misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Groff misses with a double jab.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groff fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Adam Rabago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luka Groff.
Groff tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rabago's elbow.
Rabago is trying to push Groff away but Groff has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Groff has Rabago pressed against the cage, preventing Rabago from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Groff jumps guard but Rabago stands there with Groff around his waist. Groff gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rabago wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rabago throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rabago has had enough of the clinch but Groff keeps him there for the moment.
Rabago wants to get back to striking at distance but Groff won't allow it.
Rabago is looking to break free of the clinch but Groff has double underhooks.
Rabago is trying to push Groff away but Groff has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rabago is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Groff unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rabago lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rabago is trying to break the clinch but Groff is controlling him.
Groff is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

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.
Rabago is trying to break free.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Groff.
Rabago is trying to break free.

Groff pulls Rabago into guard.

Rabago decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Groff closes the distance and clinches.

Rabago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Adam Rabago is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Good leg kick by Groff there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rabago lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Groff backs up against the cage.
Groff will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rabago tries to close the distance and clinch up but Groff swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Groff throws a good cross that connects.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabago tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Groff counters with an inside leg kick.
Groff shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rabago sprawls well. Rabago wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Groff gets slowly back to his feet.
Rabago tries to clinch but Groff moves out of range.
Groff tries to clinch up.
Groff misses with a few strikes there.
Rabago misses with a series of wild punches.
Groff throws a head kick that misses.
Groff showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rabago.
Groff throws a head kick that misses.
Rabago on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Groff. Groff obviously looking to wear him down.
Rabago lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Groff backs up against the cage.
Groff looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rabago thows a left - swing and a miss!
Groff tries to clinch but Rabago moves out of range.
Rabago fails with an attempt to clinch.
Groff fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rabago avoids it really well and circles away.
Rabago wants to clinch but Groff slips to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
No joy there for Rabago, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rabago with a hook.

Groff gets a clinch.
Rabago has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Rabago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rabago displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Groff.
Rabago is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rabago wants to clinch

and Groff counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rabago is pressed up against the cage. Groff has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rabago down to the mat. Rabago avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rabago looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Rabago moves into range and clinches up with Groff.
Rabago displaying some good clinch control by pressing Groff up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Rabago dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rabago!
Groff fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rabago avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rabago misses with the combination.
Rabago displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Groff.
Rabago swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Groff.
Some wild striking there from Rabago.
Rabago fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Groff throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Groff throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rabago.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A right-left combo lands from Rabago.
Groff staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabago fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rabago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Groff tries to bum rush Rabago with a series of wild strikes but Rabago uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rabago misses with a few strikes there.
Jab from Groff.

Groff changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rabago looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Rabago explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Groff displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rabago doesn't manage to clinch there - Groff circles away.
Groff fails to land with a series of punches.
Rabago lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Groff backs up against the cage.
No joy there for Groff, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Rabago has taken the fight to the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Rabago's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Groff has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rabago uses from the top position.
Rabago knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Groff on the ground.
Rabago wants to stand and escape but instead Groff has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Groff wants to control from the top but Rabago keeps moving.
Groff is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rabago is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Groff dives into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Rabago parries the strikes from Groff easily there. Groff is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rabago to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Groff has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Groff bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rabago's head backwards.
Rabago tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Groff manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rabago throws a right and a left that both miss.
Groff throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rabago counters with a two punch combo.
Rabago moves in looking to clinch but Groff pushes him off.
Rabago misses with a jab, cross combination.
Groff scores with a three punch combo!

Rabago gets a clinch.

Rabago manages to break the clinch.
Groff lands a slapping body shot.
Groff misses with a double jab.
A punch combination from Rabago misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groff changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rabago tries to avoid it but Groff manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rabago to the ground. Rabago escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Adam Rabago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luka Groff.
Rabago wants to clinch.
Groff tries to clinch but Rabago is having none of it.
Rabago throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Groff looks for a takedown but Rabago sprawls well.
Rabago displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Groff swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rabago counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Rabago forces Groff back against the cage and clinches.
Rabago wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Groff pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Groff misses with a double jab.
Luka Groff has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rabago swinging wildly here.
Rabago is looking to clinch but Groff is avoiding it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Luka Groff.
I think Rabago 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adam Rabago!