PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Blachovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Gregory (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Blachovich might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Metallica - Enter Sandman. Gregory has chosen Chumbawamba - English Rebel Songs as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blachovich
vs
Gregory

188 cm
34
210 lbs
16 - 17 - 0

192 cm
27
205 lbs
10 - 12 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Powerful

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 16 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Blachovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Gregory!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gregory gets a double leg takedown into Blachovich's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Blachovich looking for subs off his back but Gregory has passed one foot through into half guard.
Gregory trying to control the action but Blachovich is working from the bottom.
Blachovich desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Blachovich is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gregory scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gregory thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gregory connects with a nice short shot to Blachovich's temple.
Blachovich is trying to get back to full guard.
Gregory is trying to control. Blachovich wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Blachovich wants to improve his position but Gregory is controlling well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gregory is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregory is thwarting Blachovich's attempts to control the position.
Gregory is taking a breather. Blachovich says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Paul Gregory wasn't active enough on the ground.
Gregory lands a lovely overhand right.
Gregory swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Blachovich counter with a right hand.
Gregory tries to clinch but Blachovich is having none of it.
Blachovich looks to land a left hand but Gregory moved out of range nicely.
Gregory tries to clinch but Blachovich is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Gregory.

Gregory throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Blachovich tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gregory is in Blachovich's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gregory throwing strikes from guard but Blachovich blocks nicely.

Blachovich looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Blachovich throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gregory wants to control from the top but Blachovich keeps moving.
Blachovich is trying to control the position but Gregory postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gregory is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Blachovich wants to hit a switch here but Gregory passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Blachovich there!
Blachovich tries to hold on but Gregory pushes him away.
Blachovich slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Blachovich is trying to get back to full guard.
Gregory is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gregory wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blachovich keeps working.
Gregory not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Gregory is looking for a kimura here.

Blachovich looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gregory decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
A right-left combo lands from Gregory.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gregory closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Blachovich to the mat! Blachovich manages to get full guard.
Blachovich wants to sweep here but Gregory controlling him for the moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gregory is looking to stand up but Blachovich won't let him.
Gregory in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Blachovich is trying to control the position but Gregory postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gregory closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Blachovich quickly recovers to half guard.

Blachovich is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gregory pulls his head out easily.
Gregory is keen to just control but Blachovich is a slippery customer.
Gregory perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Blachovich is holding on to half guard well.
Blachovich is pressing down on Gregory's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gregory would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Paul Gregory has got the better of the ground game so far.

Paul Gregory has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Gregory gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gregory breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Blachovich moves away from the strike by Gregory.

Gregory moves into range and clinches up with Blachovich.
Blachovich is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Gregory has Blachovich pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Gregory pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Blachovich tumbling to the mat - Gregory dives into Blachovich's guard.
Gregory postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gregory in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Blachovich has his foot on Gregory's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gregory works his way back into a safe position though.

Blachovich has an active guard here but Gregory has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregory looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Blachovich with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Blachovich wants to control but Gregory is keeping busy.
Blachovich is looking for a sweep. Gregory is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blachovich is not content to let Gregory control the position.
Blachovich is looking for a sweep. Gregory is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ground and pound from Gregory.
Gregory trying to control the pace.
It looks like Gregory is going to stand back up.
Blachovich keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blachovich trying to hold on to Gregory's head to control him but Gregory postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gregory throwing shots but Blachovich is blocking nicely.
Blachovich tries to get to full guard but Gregory has control of the leg.

Blachovich looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gregory looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gregory lands strikes from half guard.
Blachovich avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gregory.
Gregory prevents Blachovich from improving his position.

Blachovich is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gregory pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blachovich looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blachovich keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Blachovich is staying active underneath Gregory, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gregory takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Blachovich wants to get back to full guard.
Blachovich is refusing to be controlled, as Gregory sits in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gregory thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Blachovich's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Blachovich is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gregory pulls his head out easily.
Gregory sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Blachovich defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Gregory showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gregory misses with a body shot.
Gregory throws a right and a left that Blachovich avoids nicely.
Gregory throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Gregory closes the distance and clinches.

Gregory has picked Blachovich up - he's going for a ride! Gregory dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gregory in particular looking to stall.

Blachovich actively working from the bottom here.
Blachovich wants to control but Gregory is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Blachovich avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gregory.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Gregory is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Gregory is trying to control. Blachovich wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gregory lands with a punch from half guard.
Blachovich trying to hold on to Gregory's head to control him but Gregory postures up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gregory lands a nice short elbow.
Gregory thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Blachovich trying to control here.
Blachovich tries to get to full guard but Gregory has control of the leg.
Gregory scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gregory in particular looking to stall.
Gregory sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Blachovich defending well though.

Blachovich looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gregory missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gregory is trying to control the action in half guard but Blachovich is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
John Blachovich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blachovich manages to get to full guard.
Gregory working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Blachovich's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gregory scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gregory pushing down on Blachovich's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Blachovich is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gregory's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gregory's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blachovich is hanging on to Gregory's back as he tries to escape.

Blachovich is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blachovich punches the canvas rather than the man.

Blachovich is looking for a choke. Gregory gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Gregory manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Gregory lands a couple of elbows.
Gregory is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Blachovich looking to control.
Gregory working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blachovich swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gregory with a flurry of punches that miss.
Blachovich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gregory.

Blachovich is looking for a triangle but Gregory pushes his legs off easily.

Blachovich looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gregory throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blachovich works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blachovich keeping moving, preventing Gregory from controlling successfully.
Gregory postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gregory content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Blachovich keeping moving, preventing Gregory from controlling successfully.
Gregory trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Gregory comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gregory has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Gregory!
An out of breath Paul Gregory thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.