PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dane ONeill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Grimaldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). ONeill comes into the arena with Ninja Turtles blaring out of the sound system. Mike Grimaldi has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Dane ONeill's chin.

ONeill
vs
Grimaldi

190 cm
27
273 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

194 cm
29
263 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dane ONeill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Grimaldi!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Viktor Lagutenko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
ONeill with a lazy takedown attempt
and Grimaldi counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Dane ONeill has been cut.
Grimaldi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and ONeill decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Grimaldi's guard.

Grimaldi has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes ONeill off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
ONeill uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Grimaldi.

Grimaldi clinches up with ONeill and pushes him back against the cage.

Grimaldi turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Grimaldi manages to end up in side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Grimaldi stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Grimaldi throws a left and a right that both miss

so ONeill counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grimaldi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grimaldi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
ONeill throwing strikes from guard but Grimaldi blocks nicely.
Grimaldi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from ONeill.

Grimaldi kicks ONeill off and gets to his feet.
Grimaldi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
ONeill is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
ONeill shoots in for a double leg but Grimaldi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Grimaldi lands a jab-cross combination.
ONeill shoots and misses
and Grimaldi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dane ONeill. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grimaldi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and ONeill counters with a takedown into side control.
Grimaldi regains half guard there - taking advantage of ONeill's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Grimaldi is trying to stand up here but ONeill is controlling him well.

ONeill wants to work for an arm triangle but Grimaldi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ONeill is looking to stall here but Grimaldi recovers full guard.
ONeill stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Grimaldi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
ONeill with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four 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.
ONeill is looking to stand up but Grimaldi won't let him.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Grimaldi can do anything to dispel that myth.
ONeill stops Grimaldi from standing up.
ONeill throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Grimaldi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
ONeill wanted to stand there but Grimaldi had control of the position.
ONeill distracts Grimaldi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
ONeill throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Grimaldi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dane ONeill's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Grimaldi looks to land a combination but ONeill avoids it well.
ONeill tests Grimaldi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Grimaldi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Grimaldi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and ONeill counters with a right hand to the body.

Grimaldi has closed the distance and engaged ONeill in a clinch.
ONeill tries to pull guard but Grimaldi holds him up against the cage and eventually ONeill drops back down to his feet.
ONeill has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Grimaldi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ONeill goes for a takedown attempt but Grimaldi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dane ONeill. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grimaldi throws a looping overhand right but ONeill ducks down to avoid it.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Grimaldi!

Grimaldi clinches with his opponent.

Grimaldi has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but ONeill regains guard immediately.
Grimaldi stopping the sweep attempt from ONeill.

Grimaldi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ONeill shoots in for a double leg but Grimaldi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Grimaldi throws a right hand that misses

and ONeill decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Grimaldi's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Grimaldi is looking to stand back up but ONeill counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Grimaldi.
Grimaldi is breathing heavily.
Grimaldi tries to kick ONeill off but ONeill keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

ONeill seems to be working for a kimura but Grimaldi defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ONeill thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Grimaldi's head.
ONeill has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
ONeill throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
ONeill misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

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.
You get the feeling that Grimaldi really doesn't like being in this position too much.
ONeill lands a nice shot to the head.
Grimaldi is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
ONeill lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Grimaldi hang on?
Grimaldi is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
ONeill throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dane ONeill will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dane ONeill's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

ONeill dives in and grabs Grimaldi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Grimaldi pushes down on ONeill's head and hops out.
ONeill doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Grimaldi counters with a series of strikes. ONeill will be more careful next time no doubt.
Grimaldi misses with a combination
and ONeill counters with a lovely shot to the body.
ONeill doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Grimaldi counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dane ONeill. That's going to take a lot out of him.
ONeill gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Grimaldi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Dane ONeill's cut is getting worse.
Grimaldi moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Dane ONeill is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Grimaldi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as ONeill backs up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ONeill misses with a takedown attempt
and Grimaldi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Dane ONeill's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
ONeill shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Grimaldi counter with a right hand.
Grimaldi blocks a head kick by ONeill.
The fighters circling - Grimaldi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
ONeill shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Grimaldi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mike Grimaldi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Grimaldi lands a lovely overhand right.
Grimaldi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract ONeill.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grimaldi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Grimaldi might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
ONeill bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Grimaldi stuffs the takedown.
Grimaldi shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. ONeill eats them both and turns towards Grimaldi to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Dane ONeill seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grimaldi throws a lazy uppercut

and ONeill counters with a single leg into guard. Grimaldi didn't expect that.
ONeill stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Grimaldi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
ONeill slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from ONeill crashes against the mat.
ONeill in side control, throwing shots but Grimaldi defends.
ONeill throwing shots but missing, from side control.

ONeill tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no ONeill has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Grimaldi is not content to let ONeill control the position.
ONeill 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 getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Grimaldi is pushing ONeill's head away, looking to escape. ONeill manages to hold on to the position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grimaldi is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Grimaldi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Grimaldi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Grimaldi!