PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Josip Grubisic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey Klein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Grubisic
vs
Klein

170 cm
23
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

167 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Josip Grubisic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mickey Klein!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Klein throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Grubisic scores with a punch to the head.

Klein clinches up with Grubisic and pushes him back against the ropes.
Klein with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Grubisic creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Klein tries a knee to the head but Grubisic blocks it.
Klein tries a knee to the head but Grubisic blocks it.
Klein landing knees to the head.
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but Grubisic blocks with his arms.
Klein scores with a knee to the head.
Grubisic can't break the clinch.

Grubisic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Klein goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Grubisic falls off balance throwing a combination

and Klein counters by clinching up.
Grubisic throws a punch but it's blocked by Klein.
Grubisic lands a damaging elbow.
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Grubisic has had enough of the clinch but Klein keeps him there for the moment.
Klein throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Grubisic blocks it with crossed arms.
Grubisic using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Klein has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Grubisic is trying to break free.
Klein blocks an elbow strike.
Klein misses with a knee to the head.
Grubisic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Grubisic throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Klein has Grubisic pressed against the ropes, preventing Grubisic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klein scores with a knee to the head.
Grubisic wants to get back to striking at distance but Klein won't allow it.
Grubisic lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A knee to the head by Klein.
Grubisic creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Klein takes an elbow to the temple.
Klein misses with a knee to the head.
Klein with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Klein throws a knee to the head but misses.
Grubisic tries to land a knee to the head but Klein blocks with his arms.
Klein keeps control of Grubisic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Klein avoids the elbow strike from Grubisic, against the ropes.
Grubisic throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Klein blocks it with crossed arms.
Grubisic is breathing heavily.
Grubisic pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Grubisic pushes off an throws an elbow but Klein leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Klein blocks an elbow strike from Grubisic.
Grubisic is trying to force a seperation but Klein has the dominant position.
Klein tries a knee to the head but Grubisic blocks it.
Klein with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Grubisic misses with a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Grubisic just misses with a elbow thrown towards Klein's brow.
Grubisic lands an elbow inside.
Grubisic throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Klein landing knees to the head.
Klein connects with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Klein blocks an elbow strike.
A knee to the head by Klein.
Grubisic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Klein has him pressed against the ropes.
Klein with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Klein tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Klein connects with a nasty looking knee right to Grubisic's face.
Grubisic creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Klein looking to throw knees to the head but Grubisic is blocking nicely.
Klein misses with a knee strike.
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but Grubisic blocks with his arms.
Klein landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Klein with a knee to the head.
Klein connects with a knee to the head.
Klein has Grubisic pressed against the ropes, preventing Grubisic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Klein with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Grubisic tries to pull guard but Klein holds him up against the ropes and eventually Grubisic drops back down to his feet.
Grubisic will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Klein up against the ropes.
Klein with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A knee to the head by Klein.
Klein misses with a knee strike.
Klein misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klein with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Grubisic misses with an elbow strike.
Grubisic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Grubisic can't break the clinch.
Klein with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Klein misses with a knee to the head.
Klein looking to throw knees to the head but Grubisic is blocking nicely.
Klein throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Grubisic blocks it with crossed arms.
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but Grubisic blocks with his arms.
Klein tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Grubisic tries to break free but Klein pushes him back against the ropes.
Klein with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Klein dodges an elbow strike from Grubisic.
Klein prevents Grubisic from breaking the clinch.
Klein landing knees to the head.
Grubisic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Klein tries a knee to the head but Grubisic blocks it.
Grubisic takes a knee to the side of the body.
Klein keeps control of Grubisic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Klein lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Grubisic wants to get back to striking at distance but Klein won't allow it.
Grubisic wants to break free but Klein has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Klein with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Grubisic looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Klein misses with a knee to the head.
Klein scores with a knee to the head.
Grubisic is trying to force a seperation but Klein has the dominant position.
Grubisic pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Klein lands a good knee to the midsection. Grubisic won't want to take too many of those.
A knee to the head by Klein.
Grubisic is trying to break free.
Klein throws a knee to the head but misses.
Grubisic misses with an elbow strike.
Klein throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Grubisic blocks it with crossed arms.
Grubisic working hard to break the clinch.
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but Grubisic blocks with his arms.
Grubisic lands a nice elbow.
Klein blocks the elbow strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grubisic takes a knee right on the jaw!
Klein looking to throw knees to the head but Grubisic is blocking nicely.
Grubisic lands with a short shot to the head.
Klein prevents Grubisic from breaking the clinch.

Grubisic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Klein shoots in for a takedown but Grubisic shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Klein dominated that round.
That's time! Grubisic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Klein tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Grubisic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Josip Grubisic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grubisic misses with a combination

and Klein counters by clinching up.
Klein misses with a knee to the head.
Grubisic wants to get back to striking at distance but Klein won't allow it.

Grubisic successfully pulls guard.
Grubisic controlling Klein's posture.
Grubisic is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Klein is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grubisic is trying to keep Klein in close.
Klein not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Josip Grubisic wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Klein moves into the clinch.
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Klein throws a knee to the head but misses.
Klein lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Grubisic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Klein has him pressed against the ropes.
Klein with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Klein misses with a knee to the head.
Klein blocks the elbow strike.
Klein with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Klein keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Grubisic's efforts to push away.
Grubisic misses with an elbow over the top.
Klein with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

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.
Grubisic throws an elbow that misses.
Klein throws a knee to the head but misses.
Klein lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Grubisic can't break the clinch.
Grubisic looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Klein connects with a nasty looking knee right to Grubisic's face.
Grubisic wants to get back to striking at distance but Klein won't allow it.
A knee to the head by Klein.
Klein tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Grubisic is trying to break the clinch but Klein is controlling him.
Grubisic looking to slow down the pace here.
Klein with a knee to the head.
Grubisic is trying to force a seperation but Klein has the dominant position.
Klein throws a knee to the head but misses.
Grubisic tries to break the clinch but Klein is controlling the position.
Klein lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but Grubisic blocks with his arms.
Klein misses with a knee strike.
Grubisic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Grubisic lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but Grubisic blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grubisic pushes off an throws an elbow but Klein leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Klein misses with a knee strike.
Klein blocks the elbow strike.
Grubisic throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Klein blocks it with crossed arms.
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but Grubisic blocks with his arms.
Klein keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Grubisic's efforts to push away.
Klein misses with a knee to the head.
Grubisic working hard to break the clinch.
Klein throws a knee to the head but misses.
Klein throws a knee to the head but misses.
Klein using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Grubisic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Klein keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Grubisic's efforts to push away.
Klein tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Grubisic working hard to break the clinch.
Klein misses with a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Grubisic.
A knee to the head by Klein.
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Grubisic trying to control the position but instead, Klein has worked for underhooks and has pushed Grubisic into the ropes.
Klein lands a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Klein throws a knee to the head but misses.
Grubisic is trying to break free.
Klein connects with a knee to the head.
Klein scores with a knee to the head.
Klein keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Grubisic's efforts to push away.
Klein misses with a knee strike.
Grubisic misses with an elbow strike.
Klein with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but Grubisic blocks with his arms.
Klein keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Grubisic's efforts to push away.
Klein using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Klein crunches a lovely knee into Grubisic's ribcage.
Klein throws a knee to the head but misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Grubisic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Grubisic tries to bum rush Klein with a series of wild strikes but Klein uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Klein fails with an attempt to clinch.

Grubisic tries to keep at a distance but Klein has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Klein showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Grubisic lands with a cross.
Grubisic wants to clinch

and Klein holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Grubisic takes a knee to the side of the body.
Klein with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Klein lands a knee to the head.
Grubisic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Klein throws a knee to the head but misses.

Grubisic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Klein fails with an attempt to clinch.
Grubisic with a hook.
Grubisic throws a nice looking combination but Klein bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grubisic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Klein.
Grubisic stuffs the takedown.
Grubisic throws an off balance right hand

and Klein holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Klein scores with a knee to the head.
Klein using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Grubisic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klein tries a knee to the head but Grubisic blocks it.
Klein connects with a nasty looking knee right to Grubisic's face.
Klein misses with a knee strike.
Klein lands a knee to the head.
Grubisic takes a knee right on the jaw!
Klein connects with a nasty looking knee right to Grubisic's face.
Grubisic throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Klein with an attempt at a knee that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Grubisic.
Grubisic misses with an elbow over the top.
Klein tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Grubisic wants to get back to striking at distance but Klein won't allow it.
A head punch on the inside from Grubisic fails to land.
Klein scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Grubisic throws an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Grubisic just misses with a elbow thrown towards Klein's brow.
Klein with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Grubisic throws an elbow but it misses.

Grubisic breaks the clinch.

Klein drives through and clinches with Grubisic against the ropes.
Klein connects with a nasty looking knee right to Grubisic's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Klein blocks the elbow strike.
Grubisic wants to get back to striking at distance but Klein won't allow it.
Grubisic wants to break free but Klein has control.
Klein looking to throw knees to the head but Grubisic is blocking nicely.
Grubisic tries to circle away but Klein has him pinned against the ropes.
Klein with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Klein with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Klein with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Klein misses with a knee to the head.
Klein using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Grubisic using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Klein has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Klein throws a knee to the head but misses.
Klein misses with a knee strike.

Grubisic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Grubisic swats away the attempt to clinch by Klein.
Grubisic moves to clinch but Klein breaks away

and Klein holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Klein using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Grubisic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Klein misses with a knee to the head.
Grubisic lands an elbow inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klein using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Grubisic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Grubisic is looking to break free of the clinch but Klein has double underhooks.
Grubisic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Klein with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but Grubisic blocks with his arms.
Klein with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Klein looking to throw knees to the head but Grubisic is blocking nicely.
Grubisic wants to break the clinch but can't.
Klein with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Klein misses with a knee strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Grubisic.
Klein using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Grubisic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Klein blocks an elbow strike.
Klein scores with a knee to the head.
Grubisic can't break the clinch.
Grubisic looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Grubisic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Klein gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Klein connects with a knee to the head.
Klein throws a knee to the head but misses.
Klein landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Grubisic lands an elbow inside.

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.
Klein with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Grubisic creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Klein crunches a lovely knee into Grubisic's ribcage.
Klein scores with a knee to the head.
Klein lands a knee to the head.
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Grubisic wants to break free but Klein has control.
Klein misses with a knee to the head.
Klein using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Grubisic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Klein tries to land a knee to the head but Grubisic blocks with his arms.
Klein looking to throw knees to the head but Grubisic is blocking nicely.
Grubisic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Klein using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Grubisic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Grubisic throws an elbow that misses.
Klein misses with a knee strike.
Klein throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Grubisic blocks it with crossed arms.
Grubisic fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Klein using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Grubisic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Klein with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Klein landing knees to the head.
Grubisic fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Grubisic is trying to push Klein away but Klein has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Grubisic tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey Klein comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Klein winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight for Mickey Klein!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Mickey Klein!
Judge James Atkins scores the fight for Mickey Klein!

Mickey Klein wins by unanimous decision!