PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolay Grigoriev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Bajramaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bajramaj comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Godsmack - I Stand Alone kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Grigoriev
vs
Bajramaj

185 cm
29
210 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

194 cm
25
215 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

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 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikolay Grigoriev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Erik Bajramaj!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bajramaj uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Grigoriev.
Grigoriev pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bajramaj is out of range and Grigoriev settles back down.
Grigoriev throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Grigoriev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bajramaj tries to close the distance and clinch up but Grigoriev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Grigoriev throws a leg kick but Bajramaj sees it coming and moves out of range.
Bajramaj takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Grigoriev pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bajramaj blocks the body kick.
Bajramaj scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Grigoriev throws a leg kick but Bajramaj sees it coming and moves out of range.
Grigoriev tries to clinch but Bajramaj moves out of range.
Bajramaj misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Grigoriev throws a jab but it's blocked by Bajramaj.
Grigoriev throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A head kick misses from Grigoriev.

Oooooh!!! Bajramaj has knocked Grigoriev down with a huge combo! Bajramaj steps away and waves a wobbly Grigoriev back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bajramaj tries to clinch there but Grigoriev circles away.
Grigoriev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Grigoriev fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bajramaj tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bajramaj wants to clinch.
Grigoriev scoring well with a low kick there.
Grigoriev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bajramaj takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Grigoriev scores with a leg kick.
Bajramaj tries to clinch up but Grigoriev circles away and keeps his distance.
Bajramaj swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Grigoriev.
Grigoriev slips a jab and a cross from Bajramaj.
Grigoriev turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Bajramaj swats away the attempt to clinch by Grigoriev.
Bajramaj blocks a leg kick.

Bajramaj moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grigoriev swings wildly with an uppercut but Bajramaj uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grigoriev swings wildly with an uppercut but Bajramaj uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grigoriev goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bajramaj prevents it.
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!
Grigoriev swings wildly with an uppercut but Bajramaj uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grigoriev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bajramaj has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Grigoriev throws a punch but it's blocked by Bajramaj.
Grigoriev prevents Bajramaj from breaking the clinch.
Grigoriev throws an elbow but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bajramaj pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Grigoriev thumps Bajramaj with a low kick.

Bajramaj pushes Grigoriev up against the cage in a clinch.

Bajramaj breaks from the clinch.
Grigoriev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Grigoriev goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bajramaj tries to clinch but Grigoriev moves out of range.
Bajramaj tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Grigoriev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grigoriev is looking to score with low kicks.
Bajramaj tries to clinch up but Grigoriev circles away and keeps his distance.

Grigoriev closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bajramaj to the mat! Bajramaj manages to get full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Grigoriev tries to free his leg and advance position but Bajramaj is retaining full guard.
Grigoriev passes Bajramaj's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bajramaj is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grigoriev is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Bajramaj reverses the position - he's now on top in Grigoriev's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Grigoriev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bajramaj is aware though and is defending well.
Bajramaj works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bajramaj wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grigoriev keeps working.

Grigoriev is defending against the submission attempts here by Bajramaj.
Bajramaj wants to stand up but Grigoriev has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bajramaj passes to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fight stays on the outside here - Grigoriev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bajramaj checks a low kick from Grigoriev.

Grigoriev shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bajramaj's guard.
Grigoriev wants to pass the guard but Bajramaj is keeping the position.
Grigoriev trying to control the position from guard on top but Bajramaj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grigoriev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Bajramaj is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Grigoriev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bajramaj works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Grigoriev slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grigoriev stalling away here and it's allowed Bajramaj to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Grigoriev is pushing down on Bajramaj's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bajramaj is fighting to maintain full guard but Grigoriev has managed to sneak the leg through.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grigoriev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bajramaj does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Grigoriev stops Bajramaj from getting back to his feet.
Grigoriev controlling the pace.
Bajramaj wants to get back to full guard.
Bajramaj avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Grigoriev.
Nikolay Grigoriev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Grigoriev is keen to just control but Bajramaj is a slippery customer.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Grigoriev throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Bajramaj to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bajramaj wants to sweep but no luck.
Bajramaj preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Grigoriev lands a couple of elbows.
Grigoriev sitting in guard here, content to control.
Grigorievis looking to pass into half guard but Bajramaj pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Bajramaj is in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grigoriev wants to improve his position but instead Bajramaj has moved into half guard.
Grigoriev gets full guard.
Bajramaj forces his way into half guard.
Grigoriev is pressing down on Bajramaj's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bajramaj postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Bajramaj gets to his feet - Grigoriev follows without any prompting.
Bajramaj swats away the attempt to clinch by Grigoriev.

Bajramaj forces Grigoriev back against the cage and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Bajramaj's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Grigoriev throws an elbow that misses.

Bajramaj breaks the clinch.
Grigoriev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bajramaj tries to avoid it but Grigoriev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bajramaj to the ground. Bajramaj escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Grigoriev is looking to score with low kicks.
Bajramaj doesn't manage to clinch there - Grigoriev circles away.
Erik Bajramaj is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bajramaj has Grigoriev up against the cage in a clinch.
Grigoriev misses with an elbow over the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bajramaj avoids a wild elbow strike from Grigoriev.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Grigoriev.
Bajramaj dodges an elbow strike from Grigoriev.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bajramaj.

Bajramaj breaks from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grigoriev tries to clinch there but Bajramaj circles away.
Bajramaj tries to close the distance and clinch but Grigoriev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Grigoriev misses with a leg kick.
Bajramaj checks a low kick from Grigoriev.
Bajramaj lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Grigoriev keeps the fight on the outside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bajramaj drops Grigoriev with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Grigoriev looks back up at him and smiles so Bajramaj waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Grigoriev is rocked!
Bajramaj batters Grigoriev with a massive right followed by a huge left! Grigoriev is out on his feet looking like a zombie as Bajramaj lands a final crushing right hand to drop Grigoriev to the mat with a gruesome thud! Bajramaj is running around like a mad man after that fight and for good reason!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Erik Bajramaj!
Our winner, Erik Bajramaj, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.