PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Mantle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrzej Grzesiuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Craig Mantle has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mantle
vs
Grzesiuk

190 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
24
208 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Craig Mantle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Andrzej Grzesiuk!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Colin Fotheringham and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mantle lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Grzesiuk fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mantle sprawls well initially but Grzesiuk persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mantle keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Grzesiuk is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Mantle is looking to escape.
Grzesiuk thows a huge punch but Mantle dodges it nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Grzesiuk is looking for a kimura but Mantle is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Grzesiuk to get the leverage.
Grzesiuk misses with a head shot. Mantle uses the momentum to regain guard.
Mantle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantle keeping moving, preventing Grzesiuk from controlling successfully.
Grzesiuk must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mantle is looking to stand up but Grzesiuk isn't so interested in that idea.
Grzesiuk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Grzesiuk trying to control but Mantle is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Mantle is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Grzesiuk is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grzesiuk trying to control the position from guard on top but Mantle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Andrzej Grzesiuk was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Mantle gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Grzesiuk trying to control the position from guard on top but Mantle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mantle wants to stand but Grzesiuk is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Grzesiuk.
Grzesiuk throwing strikes from guard but Mantle blocks nicely.
Grzesiuk is looking to work some ground and pound but Mantle has wrist control.
Mantle wants to get back to his feet but Grzesiuk is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Grzesiuk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Grzesiuk stands and steps away. Mantle gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mantle fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mantle throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mantle is breathing heavily.
Grzesiuk connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grzesiuk shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mantle sprawls well. Mantle wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Grzesiuk gets slowly back to his feet.
Mantle shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Grzesiuk as he jumps to the side.
Grzesiuk tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mantle swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Grzesiuk clinches up against the ropes.
Grzesiuk has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mantle avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mantle is trying to drag Grzesiuk to the mat but Grzesiuk just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.

Grzesiuk's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Grzesiuk shoots in and bounces Mantle off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Mantle has a closed guard, preventing Grzesiuk from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrzej Grzesiuk dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mantle misses with a hook to the body
and Grzesiuk counters with a series of strikes. Mantle will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mantle tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Grzesiuk paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grzesiuk is looking to clinch but Mantle is avoiding it.
Mantle throws an overhand right that lands on Grzesiuk's shoulder, as Grzesiuk tries to avoid the shot.
Mantle misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mantle with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mantle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Grzesiuk is defended easily by Mantle.
Mantle throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mantle looks to throw a body kick

and Grzesiuk counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mantle!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grzesiuk throwing strikes here but Mantle is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mantle really wants to buck Grzesiuk off and get back to his feet.
Grzesiuk lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantle is trying to stand up.
Mantle takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Grzesiuk scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Grzesiuk lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Grzesiuk pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Andrzej Grzesiuk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Grzesiuk with shots to the head and body - Mantle looks very uncomfortable down there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grzesiuk lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Grzesiuk swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Mantle is now in Grzesiuk's guard. A big mistake from Grzesiuk there, giving up the dominant position!
Grzesiuk has control of Mantle's left arm, preventing Mantle from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grzesiuk looking to control.

Grzesiuk is looking for a triangle but Mantle pushes his legs off easily.

Mantle stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Mantle wants to clinch up but Grzesiuk keeps it at a distance.
Grzesiuk tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mantle sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Grzesiuk somewhat.
Mantle is looking to clinch.
Mantle swats away the attempt to clinch by Grzesiuk.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantle avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mantle throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Grzesiuk.
Grzesiuk fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mantle tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Grzesiuk manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Grzesiuk misses with the combination.
Mantle with a jab.
Mantle throws a head kick but Grzesiuk moves out of range.
Grzesiuk staying out of range there.
Grzesiuk is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mantle sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Craig Mantle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrzej Grzesiuk.
A punch combination from Mantle misses.

Mantle gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Grzesiuk to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mantle is looking to stand up but Grzesiuk isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grzesiuk postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Grzesiuk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Grzesiuk is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mantle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Grzesiuk trying to control the position from guard on top but Mantle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrzej Grzesiuk 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! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Grzesiuk looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Mantle manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Grzesiuk tries to clinch up.
Grzesiuk swats away the attempt to clinch by Mantle.
Mantle throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mantle looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Grzesiuk is fending him off so far but Mantle persists. Nope, Grzesiuk circles away and we're back to standing.
Mantle fails to land with a series of punches.
Mantle moves to clinch but Grzesiuk breaks away
and Grzesiuk counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Grzesiuk clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Grzesiuk wants the takedown. Mantle is fighting it off but Grzesiuk persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Mantle's guard against the ropes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grzesiuk is looking to work some ground and pound but Mantle has wrist control.
Grzesiuk trying to control but Mantle is working from the bottom.
Mantle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Grzesiuk is looking to work some ground and pound but Mantle has wrist control.
Grzesiuk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Grzesiuk missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Grzesiuk is working Mantle over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Craig Mantle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grzesiuk won't allow Mantle to get back to his feet.
Grzesiuk with a nice head shot there.
Grzesiuk throwing strikes from guard but Mantle blocks nicely.
Grzesiuk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Grzesiuk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Grzesiuk not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Grzesiuk is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Grzesiuk showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grzesiuk postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Grzesiuk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Grzesiuk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mantle works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Grzesiuk with a nice head shot there.
Grzesiuk wants to control from the top but Mantle keeps moving.
Grzesiuk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mantle is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Grzesiuk is aware though and is defending well.
Mantle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mantle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Grzesiuk drops back looking for a leg! Mantle is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mantle manages to kick Grzesiuk off! Grzesiuk jumps back into Mantle's guard.
Andrzej Grzesiuk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mantle tries to strike from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grzesiuk landing with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrzej Grzesiuk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Grzesiuk 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 William Gold scores the fight for Andrzej Grzesiuk!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Andrzej Grzesiuk!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Andrzej Grzesiuk!

Andrzej Grzesiuk wins by unanimous decision!