PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Granville Fortier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damon Groft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Fortier
vs
Groft

200 cm
18
255 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

167 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Granville Fortier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Damon Groft!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Groft pushes Fortier up against the cage in a clinch.
Fortier can't get the takedown.

Groft manages to break the clinch.

Groft moves into the clinch.
Fortier with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Fortier lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Groft manages to get to full guard.
Groft wants to improve his position but instead Fortier has moved into half guard.
Fortier trying to pass the guard but Groft defending well.
Groft is concentrating on defense, preventing Fortier from advancing position.
Fortier knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Groft on the ground.
Groft is pressing down on Fortier's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fortier trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Groft manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Groft sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Groft lands a couple of digs.
Fortier will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Groft trying to control but Fortier is working from the bottom.

Groft got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fortier has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Groft has managed to get both his arms back between Fortier's legs - danger averted.
Groft wants to stand but Fortier is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Groft throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fortier works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Groft trying to control the position from guard on top but Fortier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Groft is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Fortier is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Fortier keeping moving, preventing Groft from controlling successfully.

Damon Groft has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fortier avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Groft.
Groft not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Groft keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Fortier pushes Groft off looking to stand but Groft dives back in and keeps control.
Groft prevents Fortier from improving his position.
Groft lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Groft in particular looking to stall.
Groft has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fortier keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Groft wants to control but Fortier is keeping him busy.
Groft stops Fortier from getting back to his feet.
Fortier trying to get back to full guard but Groft takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Groft lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Poor strikes thrown by Groft there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Groft with shots to the head and body - Fortier looks very uncomfortable down there.
Groft trying to control but he's not successful this time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damon Groft dominated that 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.

Fortier stuffs the takedown attempt from Groft. Groft gets slowly back to his feet.
Groft fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Granville Fortier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Groft misses with a takedown

and Fortier counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Groft's guard now.
Granville Fortier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damon Groft.
Fortier wants to stand and escape but instead Groft has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Groft wants to control from the top but Fortier keeps moving.
Fortier has his hands on Groft's head, controlling the position.
Fortier is trying to keep Groft in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groft sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Fortier's guard.
Groft trying to control the action but Fortier is working from the bottom.
Fortier on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Fortier tries to get out of the position.
Fortier tries to roll over but Groft keeps him under control.
Fortier is trying is best to control the position here.
Fortier wants to control but Groft is keeping busy.
Fortier tries to roll over but Groft keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Groft is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Fortier has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Groft is working away from the top position though.
Fortier tries to roll over but Groft keeps him under control.
Groft wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fortier keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Groft is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Groft looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Fortier wants to control but Groft is keeping busy.
Fortier tries to get to full guard but Groft has control of the leg.
Groft is thwarting Fortier's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groft trying to control the action but Fortier is working from the bottom.

Groft is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Fortier defends it well.
Fortier is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Groft tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fortier tries to get to full guard but Groft has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Granville Fortier dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Groft tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Fortier defends well and Groft ends up having to push Fortier into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Groft tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Groft decides to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Groft has a closed guard, preventing Fortier from standing up.
Fortier working some strikes from top position.

Groft working for submissions but it's allowed Fortier to get to half guard.
Groft is trying to maintain the position but Fortier is very close to passing his half guard.
Fortier wants to pass to mount but Groft is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groft is trying to stand.
Groft tries to roll over but Fortier keeps him under control.
Groft won't allow Fortier to pass to mount.
Fortier is thwarting Groft's attempts to control the position.
Groft is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Groft takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Groft wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Groft is defending against the submission attempts here by Fortier.
Groft trying to control here.
Groft taking some punishment here, with Fortier in his half guard.
Groft trying to control but Fortier postures up.
Fortier is looking to take a break and control but Groft is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fortier is really struggling to control Groft but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Groft tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Fortier defends well and Groft ends up having to push Fortier into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Granville Fortier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damon Groft.

Groft ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Groft no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Damon Groft has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fortier trying to control the position from guard on top but Groft is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Groft is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fortier trying to control but Groft is working from the bottom.
Fortier has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Granville Fortier has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Groft swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Fortier shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Groft is trying to maintain the position but Fortier is very close to passing his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Granville Fortier.
I think Fortier 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight for Damon Groft!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Damon Groft!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Damon Groft!

Damon Groft wins by unanimous decision!