PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gronk Groenhud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donnie O Brien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Groenhud kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Sometime Lonely by Kelly Chen. O Brien comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Rocky Road to Dublin kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Gronk Groenhud has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Groenhud
vs
O Brien

225 cm
23
135 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

172 cm
19
142 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

MMA's Best Nutrition
Fortitude Apparel

Red Moon Nutrition
Fighter Suplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Gronk Groenhud!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Donnie O Brien !
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by O Brien or perhaps it was just good defense by Groenhud which made him look bad.
O Brien avoids a kick to the body.
Groenhud throws a right and a left that both miss.
Groenhud misses with a head kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Groenhud.

O Brien darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
O Brien with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
O Brien wants to lay and pray for a moment but Groenhud keeps working.
O Brien sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groenhud is trying to control but can't.
Groenhud is looking to improve his position.
O Brien is pressing down on Groenhud's thigh, looking to free his foot. Groenhud is holding on for now.
O Brien stalling.
O Brien wants to take a breather but Groenhud is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Groenhud pushes O Brien off looking to stand but O Brien dives back in and keeps control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice sprawl there from Groenhud as O Brien shoots in.
Groenhud throws a series of punches but O Brien moves out of range.
Groenhud misses with a low kick.
O Brien shoots for a takedown but Groenhud saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gronk Groenhud has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie O Brien .
Groenhud throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

O Brien shoots in and bounces Groenhud off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Groenhud really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Groenhud looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but O Brien puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

O Brien is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Groenhud trying to get back to full guard but O Brien takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
O Brien looking to control and managing it successfully.
O Brien thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Groenhud gets back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Groenhud manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groenhud keeping moving, preventing O Brien from controlling successfully.

Groenhud looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Groenhud looking to hit a scissor sweep but O Brien is one step ahead there.
O Brien trying to control but Groenhud is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
O Brien wants to pass the guard but Groenhud is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Donnie O Brien will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Groenhud keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

O Brien shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Groenhud can't escape the position.
O Brien dominating with strikes here.
O Brien prevents Groenhud from getting the reversal.
Groenhud tries to lock up and control but O Brien gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
O Brien sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
O Brien wants to control the pace but Groenhud is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groenhud tries to hold on but O Brien pushes him away.
O Brien controlling the pace for now.
Groenhud is wriggling around trying to escape.
O Brien landing shots from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
O Brien is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Groenhud can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Groenhud really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
O Brien controlling from mount.
Groenhud can't escape the position.
O Brien unloading with bombs!
O Brien prevents Groenhud from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Groenhud defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from O Brien .
Groenhud is wriggling around trying to escape.
Groenhud is in a horrible position here. O Brien smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
O Brien lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Groenhud hang on?
O Brien scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groenhud tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Groenhud manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Groenhud wants to get back to full guard but O Brien has passed into side control.
Groenhud sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
O Brien keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnie O Brien showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

O Brien fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Groenhud sprawls well initially but O Brien persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Groenhud is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Groenhud is pressing down on O Brien 's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Groenhud being controlled here, momentarily.
O Brien wants to control from the top but Groenhud keeps moving.
O Brien is stalling in the full guard.
Groenhud wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groenhud keeping moving, preventing O Brien from controlling successfully.
O Brien is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
O Brien slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
O Brien thows a huge punch but Groenhud dodges it nicely.
Groenhud is trying to control but can't.
O Brien wants to control but Groenhud is keeping him busy.
O Brien works his way into side control.
O Brien wants to control but Groenhud is keeping him busy.
O Brien is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Despite being in the dominant position, Donnie O Brien just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

O Brien shoots in and bounces Groenhud off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Brien trying to control but Groenhud is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Groenhud is on top in guard.
O Brien lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Groenhud!
Groenhud tries to reverse the position but O Brien maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
O Brien is landing with some decent strikes but Groenhud is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
O Brien putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
O Brien controlling from the full mount.
O Brien landing strikes, looking to finish!
Groenhud in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnie O Brien really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Groenhud will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A jab from O Brien misses.

O Brien closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Groenhud to the mat! Groenhud manages to get full guard.
O Brien won't allow Groenhud to sweep him here.

Groenhud has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but O Brien can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Groenhud has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but O Brien can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Groenhud keeping moving, preventing O Brien from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brien is looking to work some ground and pound but Groenhud has wrist control.
Groenhud will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
O Brien sitting in guard here, content to control.
Groenhud looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
O Brien checks a leg kick nicely.
Gronk Groenhud is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Groenhud misses with a head kick.
Groenhud looks to score with a jab to the body but O Brien is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
O Brien shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Groenhud as he avoids it easily.

O Brien scores a takedown into full mount!
O Brien connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
O Brien trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Groenhud bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Groenhud stopping the sweep attempt from O Brien .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Brien is trying to keep Groenhud in close.
Groenhud stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. O Brien swivels though and keeps the full guard.
O Brien controls Groenhud momentarily but Groenhud frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Groenhud wants to get up but he can't break O Brien 's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Groenhud wants to control from the top but O Brien keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Groenhud throws a quick head kick that skims the top of O Brien 's head.
Groenhud connects with a high kick.
O Brien misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

O Brien shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Groenhud's guard.
O Brien is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Groenhud seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Donnie O Brien will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Groenhud lands a head kick!

O Brien looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Groenhud bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in O Brien 's guard.
O Brien is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
O Brien can't keep his opponent in guard - Groenhud advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Groenhud passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groenhud throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for O Brien because Groenhud loaded up on that one.
O Brien is working to get back to half guard.
O Brien is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
O Brien tries to control the position but Groenhud now has his back.
Groenhud missing with punches from the back.

Groenhud looking for the choke but no joy.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Groenhud has the hooks in. O Brien is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Groenhud is trying to stick to O Brien 's back but O Brien is turning into Groenhud. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Groenhud's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by O Brien .
O Brien stopping the sweep attempt from Groenhud.

Groenhud is looking for a triangle but O Brien pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Brien looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Groenhud throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
O Brien lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Donnie O Brien has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
O Brien pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Groenhud is keeping the position for now.
Groenhud is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gronk Groenhud has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Donnie O Brien is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
O Brien sitting in guard here, content to control.
O Brien works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Groenhud is looking to improve his position.
O Brien keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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 Gronk Groenhud.
I think O Brien has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 46:50
Judge William Gold scores the fight 45:50
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Donnie O Brien !
Donnie O Brien is the new bantamweight champion!