PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blade Runner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ignat Grenovsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Runner's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, New Millennium Cyanide Christ by MESHUGGAH. The crowd seem to be enjoying Grenovsky's choice of entrance music: Harry Axe-Our people. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Runner
vs
Grenovsky

200 cm
26
275 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
270 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Blade Runner!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ignat Grenovsky!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grenovsky misses with a hook. Runner ducked under it nicely.
Grenovsky stuns Runner with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Runner slips a jab from Grenovsky.
Grenovsky checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Runner tries to bum rush Grenovsky with a series of wild strikes but Grenovsky uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Runner has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Nordic Top Team in the buildup to the fight.
A jab from Grenovsky misses.
Grenovsky scores with a jab to the body.
Grenovsky throws a jab when Runner was well out of range.
Grenovsky ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Grenovsky scores with a jab to the body.
Grenovsky ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ignat Grenovsky seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circle momentarily. Grenovsky darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Grenovsky lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Runner scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Runner scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Grenovsky doesn't seem bothered though.
Runner throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Runner throws a nice looking combination but Grenovsky bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Runner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Grenovsky slips a jab and a cross from Runner.
Grenovsky scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Runner doesn't seem bothered though.
Grenovsky throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Runner tries to counter by clinching up but Grenovsky breaks away and moves out of range.
Grenovsky swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Runner closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Runner does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Runner lands a nice shot to the body.
Runner feints and then cracks Grenovsky's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Grenovsky down.
Runner closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Runner avoids the body shot from Grenovsky.
Runner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A telegraphed right hand from Grenovsky misses the target.
Runner throws a left and a right that both miss
and Runner takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
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!
Grenovsky ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Runner moves away.
Grenovsky checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Runner throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Grenovsky.
Grenovsky misses with an uppercut.
Runner on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Grenovsky throws a body punch but Runner moves out of range.
Grenovsky is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Runner.
Runner slips under a jab.
Runner scores with a body shot.

Runner clinches up with Grenovsky and pushes him back against the cage.
Runner has Grenovsky pressed against the cage, preventing Grenovsky from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Runner with a knee to the head.
Runner lands a left hand that snaps the head of Grenovsky backwards.
Grenovsky working hard to break the clinch.
Runner lands a body punch.

Runner pulls guard effortlessly.
Grenovsky tries to stand but Runner is controlling from the bottom.
Runner will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Runner pulls Grenovsky in close to his closed guard and prevents Grenovsky from doing any damage or advancing position.
Grenovsky preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Runner pulls Grenovsky in close to prevent any damage.

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.
Grenovsky wanted to stand there but Runner had control of the position.
Runner pulls Grenovsky in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Runner uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Grenovsky.
Runner seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Runner slips a jab and a cross from Grenovsky.
Grenovsky has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Grenovsky goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Grenovsky keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Runner lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Grenovsky at a distance.
Grenovsky looks winded!
Runner looks to land a combination but Grenovsky avoids it well.
Grenovsky fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Runner bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Grenovsky's head.
Grenovsky checks a low kick from Runner.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Blade Runner will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Runner drives through and clinches with Grenovsky against the cage.
Runner has Grenovsky pressed against the cage, preventing Grenovsky from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Grenovsky tries to break free but Runner pushes him back against the cage.
Grenovsky gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Runner.

Runner manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Grenovsky with a flurry of punches that miss.
Grenovsky has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Runner is proving hard to escape from.
Grenovsky looking to sit in guard and control but Runner gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Runner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Runner postures up and lands a big shot to Grenovsky's brow.

Grenovsky pushes Runner off and gets back to his feet.
Runner throws a leg kick
letting Grenovsky counter with a right hand.
Grenovsky stuffs the takedown attempt from Runner. Runner gets slowly back to his feet.
Runner doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Grenovsky counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blade Runner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grenovsky scores with a shot to the body.

Runner feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Grenovsky wants to sweep but no luck.
Runner wants to stand but Grenovsky has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Grenovsky keeping full guard, as Runner tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grenovsky is trying to keep Runner in close.
Runner not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Grenovsky has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Runner is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
A frustrated look appears on Grenovsky's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Runner ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Runner no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Grenovsky gets to his feet. Runner looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Runner slips a straight right by Grenovsky.
Grenovsky ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Runner moves away.
Runner appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Runner ducks under a wild hook from Grenovsky.
Left hook, right uppercut from Grenovsky.
Runner is looking to wear down Grenovsky with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Runner takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Grenovsky throws a body shot but no joy.
Grenovsky throws an overhand right that lands on Runner's shoulder, as Runner tries to avoid the shot.
Grenovsky is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Runner.
Grenovsky cracks Runner with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Runner swings for the body but Grenovsky moves out of range.
Grenovsky lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grenovsky works over Runner's head and body with a nice combination.
Grenovsky avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ignat Grenovsky is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Grenovsky goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grenovsky misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Runner.
Runner bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Runner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Grenovsky closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Runner on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Grenovsky connects with a body shot that sends Runner's belly button to the back.
Nice straight punches there by Grenovsky. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Grenovsky.
A left lands for Runner.
Runner lands a two punch combo.
Runner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Grenovsky throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Grenovsky misses with a right hand
and Runner counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Runner takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ignat Grenovsky showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Grenovsky works Runner's body with a nice hook.
Grenovsky ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Runner moves away.

Runner forces Grenovsky back against the cage and clinches.
Runner keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Grenovsky's efforts to push away.
Grenovsky is trying to break free.

Runner gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Runner sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Runner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Grenovsky does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grenovsky tries to roll over but Runner keeps him under control.
Grenovsky is trying to stand back up but Runner is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grenovsky is staying active underneath Runner, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Runner is looking for a kimura here.
Runner works his way into full mount!
Blade Runner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Grenovsky is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Runner has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Grenovsky's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grenovsky wants to try and get back to his feet.
Runner tries to control but Grenovsky wriggling away.
Runner fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Runner thowing shots but they're missing.
Runner scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Grenovsky?
Runner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Runner postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Grenovsky looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Runner thowing shots but they're missing.
Runner controlling the pace for now.

Runner looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Runner looking to ground and pound but Grenovsky is blocking nicely.
Grenovsky sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grenovsky is refusing to be controlled, as Runner sits in half guard.
Runner sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Grenovsky is looking to escape.
Runner wants to free his trapped foot but Grenovsky is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Runner stops Grenovsky from getting back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Runner is keen to just control but Grenovsky is a slippery customer.
Runner is taking a breather. Grenovsky says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blade Runner clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Runner rushes Grenovsky and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Grenovsky wants to break the clinch but can't.
Grenovsky working hard to break the clinch.
Grenovsky wants to break free but Runner has control.
Grenovsky prevents the takedown attempt.
A shot in the inside from Runner.
Grenovsky is trying to force a seperation but Runner has the dominant position.
Runner has Grenovsky pressed against the cage, preventing Grenovsky from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A frustrated look appears on Grenovsky's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Runner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Runner does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Runner's jab looks to have found its range, popping Grenovsky under the eye.
Runner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Grenovsky ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Runner avoids the body shot from Grenovsky.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grenovsky checks a leg kick.
Grenovsky cracks Runner with a good jab.
Grenovsky throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Runner stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Grenovsky throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ignat Grenovsky seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Grenovsky misses with a jab, cross combination.
Runner changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Runner slips a jab from Grenovsky.
Runner throws a right hand that Grenovsky ducks under and follows up with a left that Grenovsky also avoids with ease.
Grenovsky tries to counter by closing the distance.
Sloppy strikes from Grenovsky. Those never looked like landing.
Runner drops down looking for a counter takedown but Grenovsky sprawls and moves away.
Runner misses with a two punch combination.
Grenovsky throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Runner stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A combination from Runner does no damage.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
A punch combination from Grenovsky misses.
Runner shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Runner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Grenovsky lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grenovsky connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grenovsky fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Runner on the side of the head.
Runner looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Grenovsky throws a jab when Runner was well out of range.
Runner is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Runner keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Runner misses with a wild combination.
Grenovsky avoids a punch combination nicely.
Grenovsky uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Runner.
Runner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Grenovsky moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Grenovsky misses with a body shot.
Grenovsky jabs Runner right on the nose. Runner blinks but takes it well.
Blade Runner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Grenovsky displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grenovsky scores with a hook to the body. Runner takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sloppy strikes from Runner. Those never looked like landing.
Grenovsky connects with a body shot.
Runner takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Grenovsky lands with a shot to the body.
Grenovsky scores with a body shot.
Grenovsky lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Runner circles away quickly and effectively.
Runner takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Grenovsky misses with a series of wild punches.
Runner throws a series of punches but Grenovsky moves out of range.
Runner throws a low kick but Grenovsky moves out of range easily.
Grenovsky is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Runner.
Runner slips a jab and a cross from Grenovsky.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grenovsky throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grenovsky misses with a body shot.
Grenovsky misses with the combination.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Runner lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Grenovsky has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Grenovsky and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Grenovsky on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Runner throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Grenovsky was covering up waiting for the punch and Runner finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Runner forces his way into half guard.
Runner wants to advance to full mount but Grenovsky doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ignat Grenovsky dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Runner avoids the body shot from Grenovsky.

Runner moves into range and clinches up with Grenovsky.
Grenovsky is trying to break the clinch but Runner has him pressed against the cage.
Runner lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Runner lands a right hand that snaps the head of Grenovsky backwards.

Runner has Grenovsky pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Runner pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Grenovsky tumbling to the mat - Runner dives into Grenovsky's guard.
Runner wants to pass the guard but Grenovsky is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grenovsky can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Runner controls the pace.
Runner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grenovsky is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grenovsky wants to stand but Runner is controlling the position.
Runner engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Runner trying to control but Grenovsky is working from the bottom.
Runner controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Runner drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Runner moves away from the strike by Grenovsky.
Grenovsky swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Grenovsky takes a kick to the side of the head.
Runner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Grenovsky misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Runner closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Grenovsky is trying to work for a sweep but Runner has mounted him!
Grenovsky tries to lock up and control but Runner gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Grenovsky really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Grenovsky is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grenovsky is still trying to improve position.
Runner lands a couple of good shots and Grenovsky has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Runner keeps control of the position easily here as Grenovsky tries to buck him off.

Grenovsky showing good submission defense here.
Runner just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grenovsky staying busy and making it hard for Runner to control.
Runner slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Runner doesn't have the hooks in and Grenovsky manages to turn into his guard.
Grenovsky tries to stand but Runner is controlling from the bottom.
Runner wants to stand but Grenovsky is controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Runner has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Grenovsky has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blade Runner showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Runner 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 48:48
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 47:48
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 48:47

The fight is ruled a draw!
Blade Runner retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!