PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marco Chaves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cory Groves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cory Groves will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Chaves
vs
Groves

172 cm
22
142 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

185 cm
19
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marco Chaves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cory Groves!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Groves throws a good cross that connects.
Groves fails to land with a series of punches.
Groves is looking to clinch but Chaves is avoiding it.
Groves avoids the head kick by Chaves.

Groves gets caught flat footed, as Chaves shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Chaves trying to control but Groves is working from the bottom.

Groves looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Groves throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Groves keeping moving, preventing Chaves from controlling successfully.
Groves is striking but Chaves is not phased and passes to half guard.
Groves gets full guard.
Chaves showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Groves looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chaves postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Groves has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Chaves can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Chaves preventing the sweep.
Chaves thows a big elbow that misses.
Chaves keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Groves's head.
Chaves wants to control from the top but Groves keeps moving.
Chaves stopping the sweep attempt from Groves.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Groves throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Groves throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Chaves throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Groves swinging wilding here.

Chaves shoots in and bounces Groves off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Groves tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Chaves 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.
Chaves passes Groves's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Chaves stands up and beckons Groves to join him on the feet.
Chaves is breathing heavily.
Chaves tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Groves swivels and escapes.
Groves wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Chaves slips a jab and a cross from Groves.

Groves fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Chaves sprawls well initially but Groves persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groves tries to pass the half guard into mount. Chaves knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Groves is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Groves seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Groves uses his free foot to push down on Chaves's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Chaves.
A nice elbow there by Groves.
Chaves is looking to improve his position but Groves isn't that keen on the idea.
Groves landing strikes from the mount.
Groves landing strikes from the mount and Chaves is in trouble!
Chaves might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Groves lands a big elbow.
Groves lands a heavy elbow.
Groves looking to finish Chaves with some ground and pound. This is bad for Chaves!

Groves is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Chaves is surviving well by controlling Groves's body position as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chaves keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Chaves is bucking up trying to escape but Groves cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Groves is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Chaves is surviving well by controlling Groves's body position as best he can.
Chaves is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Groves cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cory Groves will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Groves misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Marco Chaves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Groves looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Groves throws a leg kick but Chaves sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Groves misses with a takedown

and Chaves counters with a single leg into guard. Groves didn't expect that.
Groves wants to sweep but no luck.
Chaves lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Groves wants to sweep here but Chaves controlling him for the moment.
Chaves trying to control but Groves is working from the bottom.
Chaves with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chaves stopping the sweep attempt from Groves.
Groves is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Chaves has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Groves.
Groves lands with a nice combination. Chaves backs away looking to recover.
Groves lands a head kick!
Groves doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Chaves counters with a nice double leg into side control. Groves won't be happy with that.
Groves tries to buck Chaves off but Chaves is having none of it.
Chaves trying to control the action but Groves is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Groves is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Chaves is looking for a kimura here.
Chaves wants to get back to his feet.
Groves punching from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Groves manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Groves punching from the bottom - just letting Chaves know he's still in a fight.
Groves manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Chaves manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chaves has momentary wrist control but Groves slips an elbow through the middle.
Groves advances to half guard.
Chaves tries to kick Groves off but Groves keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Chaves is in trouble now - Groves has advanced to mount!
Groves unloading with bombs!
Chaves really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Groves landing punches.
Chaves can't escape the position.
Groves lands with some strikes.
Chaves really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groves lands a heavy elbow.
Groves scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Chaves?
Chaves takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Chaves throwing hammer fists to the chest of Groves. What's that going to do exactly?
Marco Chaves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chaves is working to get back to half guard.

Groves looking for a guillotine from mount but Chaves is having none of it.

Groves goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Chaves turns into him and now he's in Groves's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Chaves 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Groves misses with a takedown

and Chaves counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Chaves.

Groves looking for a guillotine here but Chaves defends easily.
Groves trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Chaves drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Chaves jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Groves lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Chaves!
Groves putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Chaves is looking to improve his position but Groves isn't that keen on the idea.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Groves.
Chaves tries to reverse the position but Groves maintains control.
Groves lands a nice shot to the head.
Groves breaks from Chaves's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Groves scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Chaves?
Chaves is working to get back to half guard.
Groves lands a heavy elbow.
Chaves is looking to improve his position but Groves isn't that keen on the idea.
Chaves taking shots to the head.
Groves pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Chaves is in all sorts of trouble here.
Groves landing strikes from the mount.
Groves landing strikes from the mount.
Chaves in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Chaves gets back to half guard.
Groves wants to free his trapped foot but Chaves is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Chaves is refusing to be controlled, as Groves sits in half guard.
Groves throwing shots but Chaves is blocking nicely.
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. Groves connects with a nice short shot to Chaves's temple.
Groves with the ground and pound but Chaves uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Chaves has momentary wrist control but Groves slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chaves tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Groves throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Groves has Chaves up against the cage in a clinch.

Chaves has clasped his hands together around Groves's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Groves tries to improve position but can't.
Chaves working the head with strikes.
Groves manages to work his way to half guard, despite Chaves's best efforts.
Groves gets back to full guard.
Groves keeping moving, preventing Chaves from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groves wants to stand but Chaves is controlling the position.
Groves thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Groves looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Chaves has picked Groves up and slammed him! Groves can't keep hold of the triangle and Chaves manages to pass to side control!
Groves tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Groves tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Groves manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Chaves trying to control the action but Groves is working from the bottom.
Groves throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Chaves showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Chaves has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Chaves!