PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mattize Grovinsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Koopa Troopa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Troopa is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Koopa Troopa. Mattize Grovinsky had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 187.0lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Grovinsky
vs
Troopa

187 cm
32
205 lbs
15 - 3 - 2

180 cm
32
195 lbs
14 - 8 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Mattize Grovinsky!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Koopa Troopa!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grovinsky tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Troopa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Grovinsky's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grovinsky avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Grovinsky wants to stand up but Troopa is controlling him.
Troopa trying to control but Grovinsky is working from the bottom.
We've been hearing good reports from Grovinsky's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Troopa drops back looking for a leg! Grovinsky is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Grovinsky manages to kick Troopa off! Troopa jumps back into Grovinsky's guard.
Grovinsky is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Troopa is controlling him.
Troopa keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Grovinsky's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grovinsky keeping moving, preventing Troopa from controlling successfully.
Grovinsky wants to stand up but Troopa is controlling him.
Troopa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Troopa connects with a couple of short punches.
Grovinsky is looking to stand up but Troopa isn't so interested in that idea.
Troopa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Troopa prevents Grovinsky from getting back to his feet.
Troopa works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Grovinsky pushes Troopa off looking to stand but Troopa dives back in and keeps control.
Troopa trying to control the action but Grovinsky is working from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Grovinsky pushes Troopa off looking to stand but Troopa dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grovinsky keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Troopa is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Troopa is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grovinsky looks like he's trying to stand up.
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. Troopa connects with a nice short shot to Grovinsky's temple.
Grovinsky is trying to stand up here but Troopa is controlling him well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Troopa lands a nice short elbow.
Troopa trying to control from half guard but Grovinsky is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Troopa is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Grovinsky is trying to stand back up but Troopa is controlling him
Troopa is trying to control. Grovinsky wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grovinsky kicks Troopa off and gets back to his feet.
Grovinsky wants to clinch

and Troopa counters with a single leg into guard. Grovinsky didn't expect that.
Troopa slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Grovinsky takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Troopa looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Grovinsky is avoiding damage well.
Troopa wants to control but Grovinsky is keeping him busy.
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!
Grovinsky pushes Troopa away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Troopa gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Troopa moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Grovinsky is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Troopa asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Troopa works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Troopa lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Grovinsky down.
Troopa in side control lands a decent elbow.
Troopa in side control, throwing shots but Grovinsky defends.
Grovinsky is trying to get back to his feet.
Troopa scoring with punches from side control.
Grovinsky wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Troopa working the ground and pound from side control.
Check out the look on Troopa's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Grovinsky is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
A lull in the action here.
Grovinsky wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Grovinsky being controlled for a moment.
Troopa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Troopa sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Grovinsky is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koopa Troopa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Troopa feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Grovinskys jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Grovinsky has managed to clinch.

Troopa lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Troopa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Troopa in particular looking to stall.
Troopa is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Troopa wants to control but Grovinsky is keeping him busy.
Troopa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Troopa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Grovinsky looks like he's trying to stand up.

Troopa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grovinsky looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Troopa is trying to control. Grovinsky wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Troopa working the head and body with strikes.
Grovinsky pushes Troopa off looking to stand but Troopa dives back in and keeps control.
Troopa working the head and body with strikes.
Troopa trying to control the action but Grovinsky is working from the bottom.
Troopa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Grovinsky on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Grovinsky looks like he's trying to stand up.
Koopa Troopa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Troopa is pressing down on Grovinsky's thigh, looking to free his foot. Grovinsky is holding on for now.
Troopa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Grovinsky tries to kick Troopa off but Troopa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Troopa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Troopa scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grovinsky looks like he's trying to stand up.
Troopa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Troopa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Grovinsky's head.
Nice strikes from Troopa there.

Grovinsky pushes Troopa off and gets back to his feet.
Grovinsky closes the distance but Troopa moves to the side

and Troopa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Grovinsky is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Grovinsky pushes Troopa off and gets back to his feet.

Troopa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Troopa lands in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Troopa keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Grovinsky's head.
Troopa is in close to Grovinsky's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Grovinsky is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Troopa is controlling him.
Troopa wants to control from the top but Grovinsky keeps moving.
Grovinsky is looking to stand up but Troopa isn't so interested in that idea.
Troopa cracks Grovinsky with a solid left hand.
Troopa controlling from the top position.
Troopa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Grovinsky wants to stand but Troopa is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Troopa is working Grovinsky over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Grovinsky wants to stand but Troopa is controlling the position.
Troopa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Grovinsky has momentary wrist control but Troopa slips an elbow through the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Troopa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Grovinsky keeping full guard, as Troopa tries to pass.
Troopa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Troopa stops Grovinsky from standing up.
Troopa 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!
Check out the look on Troopa's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Troopa trying to control the action but Grovinsky is working from the bottom.
Troopa lands some shots froms side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koopa Troopa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Troopa lands with a straight right. Grovinsky didn't see that one coming.
Grovinsky wants to clinch

and Troopa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Grovinsky tries to kick Troopa off but Troopa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Grovinsky is refusing to be controlled, as Troopa sits in half guard.
Grovinsky wants to get back to his feet.
Grovinsky blocking the ground and pound attempt from Troopa.
Troopa seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Grovinsky pushes Troopa off looking to stand but Troopa dives back in and keeps control.
Troopa throwing shots but Grovinsky is blocking nicely.
Troopa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Troopa trying to control the action but Grovinsky is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Troopa lands with a punch from half guard.
Troopa working over Grovinsky with some ground and pound. Grovinsky looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Troopa thows a huge punch but Grovinsky dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Troopa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Troopa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Grovinsky defends it well.

Grovinsky pushes Troopa off and gets back to his feet.
Troopa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Grovinsky doesn't manage to clinch there - Troopa circles away.
Grovinsky is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Grovinsky tries to close the distance and clinch but Troopa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Grovinsky takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Good exchange - Troopa coming out on top.
Grovinsky closes the distance looking to clinch
and Troopa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Both fighters circling a little - Troopa finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Mattize Grovinsky has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mattize Grovinsky is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Troopa wants to slow Grovinsky down by chopping away at his legs.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Grovinsky checks a leg kick.
Troopa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Grovinsky sprawls well. Grovinsky wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Troopa gets slowly back to his feet.
Mattize Grovinsky is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Grovinsky tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Troopa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grovinsky doesn't manage to clinch there - Troopa circles away.
Troopa throws a sloppy head kick and Grovinsky moves out of range easily.
Grovinsky tries to clinch there but Troopa circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Troopa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Troopa has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Grovinsky is landing a low percentage of strikes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Troopa has picked Grovinsky up - he's going for a ride! Troopa dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Grovinsky pushes Troopa off looking to stand but Troopa dives back in and keeps control.
Troopa wants to free his trapped foot but Grovinsky is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grovinsky wants to get back to his feet.
Troopa trying to control the action but Grovinsky is working from the bottom.
Troopa blocks the strikes from Grovinsky.
Grovinsky is trying to stand back up but Troopa is controlling him
Ground and pound from Troopa.
Grovinsky wants to get back to his feet.
Troopa is trying to control the action in half guard but Grovinsky is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Troopa throwing shots but Grovinsky is blocking nicely.
Troopa wants to free his trapped foot but Grovinsky is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Troopa wants to take a breather but Grovinsky is having none of it.

Grovinsky kicks Troopa off and gets back to his feet.
Grovinsky misses with a leg kick.
Grovinsky tries to clinch up.
Grovinsky is looking to clinch but Troopa is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grovinsky tries to clinch but Troopa moves away

and Troopa counters with a single leg into guard. Grovinsky didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Troopa throwing strikes but missing.
Troopa trying to control but Grovinsky is working from the bottom.

Grovinsky escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Troopa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Grovinsky avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Grovinsky can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Troopa controls the pace.
Troopa advances to half guard.
Troopa scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Troopa thows a huge punch but Grovinsky dodges it nicely.
Troopa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Troopa is looking to advance position but Grovinsky won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Koopa Troopa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Troopa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Koopa Troopa!
After winning the bout, Koopa Troopa thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.