PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Valko Hai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ed Gruberman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Gruberman's choice of entrance music: Boot to the Head. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hai
vs
Gruberman

175 cm
28
163 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

177 cm
22
160 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Valko Hai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ed Gruberman!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gruberman avoids it really well and circles away.
Gruberman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hai.
Hai shoots in looking for a takedown. Gruberman tries to sprawl out of it but Hai keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gruberman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A big left from Hai misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hai misses with a wild body shot.
Hai throws a jab when Gruberman was well out of range.
Gruberman slips under a jab from Hai.
Hai misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gruberman avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Valko Hai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hai misses with an uppercut
and Gruberman counters with a two punch combo.
Gruberman displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hai throws out the jab.
Hai misses with a wild combination.
Hai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gruberman sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gruberman.
Hai fails with the takedown.
Hai with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ed Gruberman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hai missing with a left hand there. Gruberman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hai throws a lazy uppercut
and Gruberman counters with a straight right hand.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hai.
Gruberman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hai.
Hai throws an off balance right hand
and Gruberman counters with a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gruberman takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gruberman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Hai shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Hai seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gruberman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gruberman can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gruberman looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hai thows a huge punch but Gruberman dodges it nicely.
Gruberman has hold of Hai's hands but Hai slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hai in particular looking to stall.
Hai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gruberman keeps working.
Well, if Hai 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Valko Hai just wasn't active enough.
Gruberman avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice sprawl there from Gruberman as Hai shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valko Hai dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gruberman moves away.
Hai looks to score with a jab to the body but Gruberman is just out of range.
Hai throws an off balance right hand
and Gruberman counters with a stiff right hand.
Gruberman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hai.
Hai fails with a takedown attempt.
Hai throws a right hand that misses
enabling Gruberman to counter with a crisp jab.
Hai misses with a wild body shot.
Hai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gruberman.
Hai misses with a takedown attempt - Gruberman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gruberman ducks under a wild hook from Hai.
Hai misses with a straight left.
Hai misses with a double jab.
Hai throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gruberman counters with a stiff right hand.
Hai misses with a left hand
and Gruberman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hai shoots in looking for a takedown. Gruberman tries to sprawl out of it but Hai keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gruberman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Valko Hai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hai throws a right hand that misses
and Gruberman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gruberman blocks a jab.
Valko Hai is winning the standup battle so far.
Hai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gruberman.
Valko Hai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hai will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hai missing with a left hand there. Gruberman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hai misses with a jab to the body
enabling Gruberman to counter with a crisp jab.
Hai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gruberman manages to avoid it.
Hai looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gruberman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hai.
Hai throws a combination that misses
and Gruberman makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hai swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gruberman ducks under a wild hook from Hai.
Hai shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gruberman counters with a nice body kick.
Hai misses with a straight left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hai. Gruberman does a little dance to reset his feet.
A combination from Hai does no damage.
Hai misses with a hook
and Gruberman makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gruberman stuffs the takedown attempt from Hai. Hai gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hai misses with a looping left.

Hai scores with a takedown into Gruberman's guard.
Hai prevents Gruberman from getting back to his feet.
Hai looking to sit in guard and control but Gruberman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hai throws his legs up looking for a submission but Gruberman uses it to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valko Hai dominated that second round.
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. And we move into the final round!

Hai scores with a hook to the body. Gruberman takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ed Gruberman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gruberman leaves Hai with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hai fails with the takedown.
A big left from Hai misses.
Horrible takedown by Hai or perhaps it was just good defense by Gruberman which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Valko Hai. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gruberman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hai.
Hai misses the shot to the body.
Hai misses the shot to the body.
Hai throws a right hand that misses
and Gruberman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gruberman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hai.
Hai misses with a hook
and Gruberman counters with a slapping leg kick.
Hai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gruberman sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Valko Hai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gruberman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gruberman wants it to stay on the feet.
Hai misses the jab.
Hai shoots in for a double leg but Gruberman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hai misses with a body shot.
Hai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gruberman.
Hai fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hai misses with a hook
and Gruberman counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Valko Hai has been cut.
Hai misses with a left hand
and Gruberman counters with a head kick.
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!
Hai throws an off balance right hand
and Gruberman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hai misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Gruberman counters with a body kick.
Hai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gruberman circles away.
Hai lands with a good body shot.
A slow jab from Hai misses its intended target.
Hai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gruberman sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gruberman slips under a jab from Hai.
Hai fails to land the takedown.
Hai misses with a right hand
and Gruberman counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hai throws a jab when Gruberman was well out of range.
Hai shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gruberman avoids it really well and circles away.
Hai misses with an uppercut
and Gruberman counters with a nice kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hai shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gruberman but Gruberman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hai throws a body punch but Gruberman moves out of range.
Hai looks to throw the jab but Gruberman is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ed Gruberman.
Well Hai has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valko Hai!
A very excited looking Valko Hai made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.