PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Markus Wilander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kendall Groove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Wilander
vs
Groove

190 cm
19
187 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

197 cm
23
190 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Markus Wilander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kendall Groove!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilander tries to clinch but Groove moves out of range.
No joy there for Groove, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wilander looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wilander moves in looking to clinch but Groove pushes him off.
Wilander tries to clinch there but Groove circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wilander looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wilander tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wilander wants to clinch up but Groove keeps it at a distance.
Groove throws a body punch but Wilander moves out of range.

Wilander fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Groove, pushing him back against the cage.

Groove breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Groove is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Wilander doesn't manage to clinch there - Groove circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Groove pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Groove closes the distance but Wilander moves to the side

and Wilander counters with a shoot takedown. Groove fights it but they end up in guard.
Wilander stays in close to Groove's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wilander gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Wilander tries to clinch but Groove is having none of it.

Wilander rushes Groove and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Wilander breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wilander tries to clinch up.
Groove tries to clinch up

and Wilander counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wilander working over Groove with some ground and pound. Groove looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wilander is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Groove actively working from the bottom here.
Wilander wants to control but Groove is keeping him busy.
Well, if Wilander 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.
Wilander seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Groove does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilander seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Groove tries to kick Wilander off but Wilander keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Wilander trying to control the pace.

Groove has one foot on Wilander's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Groove avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Groove throws a head kick that misses

and Wilander counters by moving into the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Groove throws an elbow but misses.
Groove avoids the elbow strike from Wilander, against the cage.
Groove wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Groove is trying to break free.
Knees in the clinch landing for Wilander.
Wilander connects with a knee to the head.

Wilander escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groove fails to land with a series of punches.
Groove throws a left and a right that both miss

and Wilander counters with a nice double leg into side control. Groove won't be happy with that.
Groove looks gassed!
Wilander is staying tight to Groove's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Groove tries to bench press Wilander off him but Wilander keeps the position.
Groove manages to get back to half guard.
Wilander is pressing down on Groove's thigh, looking to free his foot. Groove is holding on for now.
Wilander trying to control the pace.

Groove is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Wilander pulls his head out easily.

Groove actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Wilander 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.
Wilander scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Markus Wilander just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Groove throws a left and a right that both miss

and Wilander counters by clinching up.

Wilander pulls guard successfully.
Wilander is pulling down on Groove's head to control his posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Wilander is on top in guard.
Wilander controlling from the top position.
Wilander's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Wilander seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Groove for as long as he can get away with.
Groove wants to sweep here but Wilander controlling him for the moment.
Groove can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wilander controls the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Markus Wilander just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Wilander fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wilander looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nice defenses there by Wilander.
Groove throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Wilander wants to clinch up but Groove keeps it at a distance.
Kendall Groove seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Groove throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Groove pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Wilander clinches with his opponent.

Wilander manages to break the clinch.
Wilander tries to clinch but Groove moves out of range.
Groove throws a head kick but Wilander moves out of range.
Groove misses with a wild combination.
Groove misses with a combination

and Wilander counters by moving into the clinch.
Groove wants to get back to striking at distance but Wilander won't allow it.
Wilander looking to throw knees to the head but Groove is blocking nicely.
Wilander looking to throw knees to the head but Groove is blocking nicely.
Groove takes an elbow to the temple.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Wilander's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
With the fighters up against the cage, Wilander throws an elbow but misses.
Groove on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Wilander prevents Groove from breaking the clinch.
Wilander with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Groove managing to block the knees to the body from Wilander.
Wilander lands an elbow that stopped Groove in his tracks for a moment.
With the fighters up against the cage, Groove throws an elbow but misses.
Wilander lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Groove avoiding damage as Wilander throws knees to the body.
Wilander looking to throw knees to the head but Groove is blocking nicely.
Groove wants to break the clinch but can't.

Groove breaks the clinch.

Wilander clinches with his opponent.
Wilander landing knees to the body.

Wilander has picked Groove up - he's going for a ride! Wilander dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Groove pushes Wilander off looking to stand but Wilander dives back in and keeps control.

Groove looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Wilander passes to side control.
Wilander advances to mount.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Wilander takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Wilander get's back to his feet.
Groove throws a series of punches but Wilander moves out of range.
Wilander tries to clinch but Groove moves out of range.
Groove darts in trying to clinch

and Wilander counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Wilander.
Wilander throws a knee to the head but misses.

Wilander breaks from the clinch.
Groove tries to clinch but Wilander moves away

and Wilander counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Wilander.
Wilander has Groove pushed against the cage.
Groove managing to block the knees to the body from Wilander.
Wilander stalling in the clinch.
Wilander lands a damaging elbow.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Wilander misses with a knee to the head.
Wilander tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Wilander keeps control of Groove as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wilander is trying to stall.
Groove misses with an elbow strike.

Groove breaks the clinch.
Wilander is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wilander wants to clinch up but Groove keeps it at a distance.
Groove scores with a jab to the head.
Groove throws a combination that misses

and Wilander counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Wilander.
Groove has had enough of the clinch but Wilander keeps him there for the moment.
Wilander lands a nice knee to the body.
Wilander lands an elbow inside that Groove shrugs off.
Wilander stalling.
Wilander lands a knee to the head.

Wilander pulls guard effortlessly.
Wilander is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Wilander dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Groove throws a sloppy head kick

and Wilander moves into the clinch.
Groove is trying to break the clinch but Wilander has him pressed against the cage.
Groove wants to break the clinch but can't.
Wilander goes for a takedown attempt but Groove pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Wilander fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wilander moves in looking to clinch but Groove pushes him off.
Wilander tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Groove paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Groove closes the distance and clinches.

Wilander manages to break the clinch.
Groove falls off balance throwing a combination

and Wilander counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Wilander.
Wilander slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Groove is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilander wants to control from the top but Groove keeps moving.
Wilander advances position into side control!
Wilander just content to control the position.
Wilander has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Groove tries to bench press Wilander off him but Wilander keeps the position.
Wilander is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Groove will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Markus Wilander just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Groove misses with a few strikes there.
Groove throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Wilander counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Groove!
Wilander controlling from the full mount.
Groove working to try and regain half guard.
Wilander sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Groove is looking to get to half guard.
Wilander is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Groove can do to turn this around?
Wilander content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groove working to try and regain half guard.
Wilander takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Wilander wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Groove is looking to improve his position but Wilander isn't that keen on the idea.
Wilander controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Markus Wilander just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Wilander tries to clinch but Groove moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wilander misses with a knee to the head.
Wilander unloads a knee to the mid-section. Groove lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Wilander looking to throw knees to the head but Groove is blocking nicely.
Wilander with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Groove managing to block the knees to the body from Wilander.
Wilander throws a knee to the head but misses.
Wilander throws a knee to the head but misses.
Wilander has Groove pushed against the cage.
Groove is looking to break free of the clinch but Wilander has double underhooks.
Wilander leaning against his opponent.
Groove is looking to break free of the clinch but Wilander has double underhooks.
Wilander lands an elbow that stopped Groove in his tracks for a moment.
Knees to the body from Wilander.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Wilander has picked Groove up - he's going for a ride! Wilander dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Wilander seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Groove wants to get back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Wilander works his way into full mount!
Wilander content just to control the position here.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Wilander mounts Groove! Really nice guard pass there!
Wilander controlling from mount.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Markus Wilander just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Wilander tries to clinch there but Groove circles away.
Groove connects with a nice looking jab.
Groove swats away the attempt to clinch by Wilander.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Wilander changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Groove looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Wilander trying to control the position but Groove is working away.
Groove is trying to improve his position.
Groove sneaks back into half guard.
Groove tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Wilander has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Wilander controlling the position easily from mount.
Wilander putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Wilander controlling his opponent.

Wilander gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Wilander tries to clinch up but Groove circles away and keeps his distance.
Wilander tries to clinch there but Groove circles away.
Wilander is looking to clinch but Groove is avoiding it.
A head kick by Groove misses

and Wilander counters with a takedown into side control.
Groove tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wilander works to advance to full mount. Groove defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Wilander looking to isolate an arm here. Groove doesn't see it coming and as Wilander extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Wilander!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Markus Wilander!