PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Janis Ozolins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grady Froelich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ozolins is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ozolins
vs
Froelich

178 cm
25
166 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
175 lbs
1 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Janis Ozolins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Grady Froelich!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Lou da Vinci and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Froelich throws a head kick but Ozolins moves out of range.
Ozolins is breathing heavily.

Ozolins closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Froelich quickly recovers to half guard.
Froelich avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ozolins.
Ozolins is trying to control. Froelich wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ozolins is thwarting Froelich's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Froelich is looking for a sweep. Ozolins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Froelich trying to control here.

Froelich manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ozolins gets tackled into the cage by Froelich. Froelich maintains the clinch.
Froelich wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Froelich wants to break free but Ozolins has control.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Froelich decides to pull guard.
Froelich pulls Ozolins in close to prevent any damage.

Froelich kicks Ozolins off and gets to his feet.
Ozolins looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Froelich shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ozolins sprawls well. Ozolins wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Froelich gets slowly back to his feet.

Froelich moves into the clinch successfully.
Froelich drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ozolins gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Froelich pulls guard effortlessly.
Froelich is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ozolins is fighting to break Froelich's control of his arms but Froelich is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Ozolins throwing strikes from guard but Froelich blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ozolins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ozolins won't allow Froelich to sweep him here.

Froelich is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ozolins defends well.
Froelich is trying to control the position but Ozolins postures up.

Froelich is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Ozolins jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Froelich walks away with a smile on his face. Ozolins gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Froelich works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Froelich tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ozolins stuffs the takedown.
Ozolins seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Janis Ozolins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grady Froelich.

Froelich clinches up with Ozolins and pushes him back against the cage.
Ozolins has Froelich pressed against the cage, preventing Froelich from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Froelich tries to pull guard but Ozolins forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Froelich manages to pull guard.

Froelich working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ozolins doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ozolins manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ozolins throwing strikes from guard but Froelich blocks nicely.
Froelich lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Froelich stands up from guard. Let's bang!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grady Froelich dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Froelich wants to clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Ozolins misses the target.
Froelich leaves Ozolins with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Froelich tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ozolins sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Froelich somewhat.
Ozolins defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Froelich.
Ozolins changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Ozolins stuffs the takedown attempt from Froelich. Froelich gets slowly back to his feet.
Janis Ozolins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grady Froelich.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Froelich goes for a double leg but Ozolins avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ozolins continues to drive forward.
Froelich throws a low kick, looking for Ozolins's leg but Ozolins calmly moves out of range.
Froelich fails to land the takedown.
Froelich has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ozolins blocks a head kick by Froelich.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Froelich shoots in looking for a takedown but Ozolins manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Froelich's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Froelich shoots in and drives through. Ozolins sprawls well.
Ozolins goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Froelich shoots in for a double leg but Ozolins sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ozolins stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ozolins wants it to stay on the feet.
It looked like Ozolins was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Ozolins feints a jab promting Froelich to slip. Ozolins then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Froelich slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Ozolins shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Froelich defends it nicely.
Ozolins misses the shot to the body.
Froelich goes for a double leg but Ozolins avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ozolins continues to drive forward.
Froelich closes the distance and clinches up with Ozolins, looking for a takedown. Froelich pushes Ozolins against the cage but Ozolins circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ozolins misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Froelich dives in and grabs Ozolins's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ozolins pushes down on Froelich's head and hops out.
Ozolins changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Ozolins closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Froelich quickly recovers to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ground and pound from Ozolins.
Froelich is looking to control Ozolins's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Froelich avoid being mounted?
Ozolins is nestled in close to Froelich, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ozolins trying to control the action but Froelich is working from the bottom.
Ozolins is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Froelich manages to get to full guard.
Ozolins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ozolins throws a strike but Froelich rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Froelich wants to control from the top but Ozolins keeps moving.
Froelich trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Froelich is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Froelich stands and steps away. Ozolins gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

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.

Froelich gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Froelich has Ozolins pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ozolins manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Froelich tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Froelich tries to score a body lock takedown but Ozolins shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Froelich breaks from the clinch.
Janis Ozolins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ozolins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Froelich swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Froelich shoots in for a takedown but Ozolins shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ozolins pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Froelich closes the distance and clinches up with Ozolins, looking for a takedown. Froelich pushes Ozolins against the cage but Ozolins circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Ozolins shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Froelich napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Froelich is not content to let Ozolins control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janis Ozolins dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Froelich enables Ozolins to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Froelich manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Froelich manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Ozolins leaves Froelich with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Froelich.
Froelich fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Janis Ozolins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grady Froelich.
Nice takedown defense from Ozolins. No joy for Froelich on that attempt.
Ozolins looks to land a combination but Froelich avoids it well.
Froelich shoots in looking for a takedown. Ozolins tries to sprawl out of it but Froelich keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ozolins manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Froelich has managed to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ozolins misses with a short punch on the inside.
Froelich changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ozolins fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ozolins misses the body punch
and Froelich counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The fight stays on the outside here - Froelich looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Ozolins clinches up with Froelich and pushes him back against the cage.
Froelich wants a takedown.
Ozolins comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ozolins wants to take the fight to the mat but Froelich manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ozolins wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ozolins prevents the takedown attempt.
Ozolins keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Froelich's efforts to push away.
Ozolins jumps guard but Froelich turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Ozolins pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Froelich moves into the clinch.
Froelich manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ozolins tries to pull guard but Froelich won't allow it.
Froelich is trying to break the clinch but Ozolins is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ozolins is working for takedown but Froelich is calmly controlling the position for now.
Froelich taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Good body shot from Froelich.
Froelich wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Froelich pulls guard.
Ozolins might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Froelich thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Froelich wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ozolins trying to control but Froelich is working from the bottom.
Ozolins is looking to work some ground and pound but Froelich has wrist control.

Froelich had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ozolins defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ozolins pushes down on Froelich's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Froelich keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ozolins missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ozolins throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ozolins trying to control from Froelich's half guard. Froelich has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ozolins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Froelich is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Grady Froelich.
I think Froelich 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grady Froelich!