PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Grey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Tal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Grey
vs
Tal

175 cm
22
153 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
153 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Grey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Tal!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grey drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nice jab there from Tal.
Grey ducks under a wild hook from Tal.
Grey takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Grey slips under a jab.
Grey keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Grey misses with a body shot.
Grey walks into a left hand.
Tal darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Grey is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Grey gets a double leg takedown into Tal's guard.
Oh Grey is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Grey stays in close to Tal's body and controls the position.
Grey seems to have got his legs back now.
Grey stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tal swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Tal had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Grey defends it easily.
Grey is looking to work some ground and pound but Tal has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grey trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Grey trying to control but Tal is working from the bottom.
Grey is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tal is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Grey is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Tal is trying to keep Grey in close.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tal throws a hook but Grey blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tal throws a body punch but Grey moves out of range.
Tal defending well as Grey loads up on a big left hand.
Tal lands with a straight right. Grey didn't see that one coming.
Tal throws a hook but Grey avoids it easily.
Tal avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tal throws a big shot that misses.
A punch combination from Grey misses.
Grey swings for the body but Tal moves out of range.
Tal wants to clinch.
Grey just misses with a punch to the body.
Grey closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Grey waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tal.
Grey missing with a left hand there. Tal was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Grey shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tal uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Grey has time to react.
Tal missing with a left hand there. Grey was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Grey just misses with a punch to the body.
Grey moves away from the strike by Tal.
Mikhail Tal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tal tries to clinch there but Grey circles away.
A left lands for Tal.

Grey closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Grey lands in his opponent's guard.
Tal working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Grey.
Grey content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tal keeping moving, preventing Grey from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tal not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Grey accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grey working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Grey trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Grey throws a big right hand that misses.
Grey trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Grey is in close to Tal's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tal working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Grey.
Grey looking to sit in guard and control but Tal gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Grey looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mikhail Tal will probably get the nod.
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.

Grey throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tal displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Grey throws out the jab.
Tal throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The fighters circling - Tal throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Some wild striking there from Grey.
Grey throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A cross from Tal lands.
Tal moves in looking to clinch but Grey pushes him off.
Tal displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Grey throws out the jab.
Grey ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tal moves away.

Grey closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Grey controlling the pace.
Tal trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grey performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Grey is looking to take a break and control but Tal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tal wants to clinch up but Grey keeps it at a distance.
Tal doesn't manage to clinch there - Grey circles away.
Grey uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tal.
Grey throws a lazy uppercut
and Tal counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Grey thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tal swings for the body but Grey moves out of range.

Grey closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tal did well to prevent Grey getting side control.
Grey working over Tal with some ground and pound. Tal looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tal is trying to control but can't.
Tal is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Grey is staying active.
Grey looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Grey takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Grey trying to control the action but Tal is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Grey working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Tal's thigh. Tal counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Grey controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Grey accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Grey postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Grey content to stall in guard here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Grey ducks under a wild hook from Tal.
Mikhail Tal seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Good shot there by Tal.
Tal lands with a straight right. Grey didn't see that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tal ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tal uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Grey.
Tal pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tal throws a jab when Grey was well out of range.
Tal avoids the body shot from Grey.
Tal lands a slapping body shot.
Tal throws a hook to the side of Grey's head but Grey sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tal with a nice cross.
Grey slips under a jab.
Tal lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A jab from Tal misses.
The fighters circling - Grey throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tal defending well as Grey loads up on a big left hand.
Tal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tal tries to clinch but Grey is having none of it.
Grey looks to throw the jab but Tal is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mikhail Tal will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tal moves in looking to clinch but Grey pushes him off.
Tal misses with a looping right.
Tal throws a hook but Grey avoids it easily.

Grey looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Tal!
The referee warns Tal that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Tal takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Grey wants to control but instead Tal manages to regain half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Grey lands a nice short elbow.
Grey frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Grey scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Tal?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tal wants to control but Grey is having none of it.
Grey 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.
Grey with the ground and pound from mount.
Grey looking to control and managing it successfully.
Grey lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grey lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Grey dominating with strikes here.
Grey lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Tal hang on?
Grey working the ground and pound effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grey trying to control but Tal is having none of it.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Grey cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Grey controlling the pace for now.
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!
Grey lands a big shot there that rocks Tal but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Grey landing punches.
Grey with a couple of short strikes.
Grey lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Tal that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Grey cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Tal wants to control but Grey is having none of it.
Tal in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Mike Grey overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Grey fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
BOOM! Grey connects with a massive shot to the dome!
BOOM! Grey connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Grey lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Tal hang on?
Grey sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Grey is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Tal can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grey in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grey sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Grey landing strikes from the mount and Tal is in trouble!
Grey with a couple of short strikes.
Grey pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grey is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Tal can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Grey controlling from mount.
Tal tries to hold on but Grey pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Grey showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tal 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Mike Grey!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Mike Grey!
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Mike Grey!

Mike Grey wins by unanimous decision!