PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Gronholm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juhani Kontiovaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gronholm kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Eeppinen biisi. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Gronholm
vs
Kontiovaara

188 cm
29
280 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

193 cm
29
267 lbs
8 - 13 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcus Gronholm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juhani Kontiovaara!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gronholm throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kontiovaara counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Marcus Gronholm has been cut.
Kontiovaara shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice defenses there by Kontiovaara.
Gronholm throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gronholm misses with a combination
and Kontiovaara counters with a left and a right that stings Gronholm.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kontiovaara loads up on a big right hand but Gronholm slips the punch.
Sloppy strikes from Gronholm. Those never looked like landing.
Gronholm misses with a double jab
and Gronholm takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gronholm throws a series of punches but Kontiovaara moves out of range.
Gronholm uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kontiovaara.
Gronholm lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Juhani Kontiovaara has been cut.
Kontiovaara throws a right and a left that Gronholm avoids nicely.
Marcus Gronholm seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kontiovaara digs a good hook to Gronholm's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Gronholm. Those never looked like landing.
Kontiovaara lands the left hand.
Gronholm throws a right hand that Kontiovaara ducks under and follows up with a left that Kontiovaara also avoids with ease.
Gronholm throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kontiovaara counters with a three punch combo that has Gronholm backing up. Gronholm nods at Kontiovaara to acknowledge the strikes.

Kontiovaara has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gronholm misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kontiovaara drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Gronholm decides to pull guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gronholm keeping moving, preventing Kontiovaara from controlling successfully.
Kontiovaara slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gronholm blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kontiovaara.

Kontiovaara is working for a kimura but Gronholm is defending it quite comfortably.

Kontiovaara is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kontiovaara throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Kontiovaara is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Kontiovaara is working for a kimura but Gronholm is defending it quite comfortably.
Kontiovaara is looking to advance position but Gronholm won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kontiovaara is looking for a kimura but Gronholm is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kontiovaara to get the leverage.

Kontiovaara is trying to work for a kimura but Gronholm is defending well.

Kontiovaara is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gronholm sees it coming and defends easily.
Kontiovaara missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Kontiovaara is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gronholm defends it well.
Gronholm wants to get back to his feet.

Kontiovaara looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gronholm wants to control but Kontiovaara is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kontiovaara trying to control from half guard but Gronholm is working away.
Gronholm manages to get to full guard.
Kontiovaara passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Kontiovaara is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gronholm has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juhani Kontiovaara dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gronholm circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kontiovaara shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Some wild striking there from Gronholm.
Gronholm fails to land with a series of punches.
Kontiovaara throws a jab but it's blocked by Gronholm.
Gronholm looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gronholm misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kontiovaara scores with the left hand. Gronholm knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice defenses there by Kontiovaara.
Marcus Gronholm is winning the standup battle so far.
Gronholm misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gronholm misses with an uppercut. Kontiovaara saw that one coming.

Kontiovaara looking to score a takedown here. Gronholm is defending well but Kontiovaara drives through and ends up in Gronholm's guard.
Kontiovaara tries to free his leg and advance position but Gronholm is retaining full guard.
Kontiovaara won't allow Gronholm to get back to his feet.

Kontiovaara postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Gronholm is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kontiovaara, into his guard.
Gronholm tries to stand but Kontiovaara is controlling from the bottom.
Gronholm has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kontiovaara is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gronholm wants to control from the top but Kontiovaara keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kontiovaara is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Kontiovaara looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Gronholm is defending well. Kontiovaara quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Gronholm has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Kontiovaara celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Juhani Kontiovaara!