PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yeovil Tiger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Grove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tiger kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Delilah by Tom Jones. Yeovil Tiger has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tiger
vs
Grove

194 cm
21
211 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

MMA Pro Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Yeovil Tiger!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 1, fighting out of London, Alex Grove!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tiger rushes Grove and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Tiger jumps guard and drags Grove to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Tiger had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Grove is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Tiger Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Grove's back instead.

Grove defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Grove has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tiger misses with a punch to the head.
Will Tiger go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tiger looking to break Grove's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Grove remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Tiger will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Tiger trying to control momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grove holding both Tiger 's hands and preventing any damage.

Grove preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Tiger.
Tiger punches the canvas rather than the man.
Tiger tries to get the hooks in deep but Grove pushed the leg off.
Grove controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

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.

Tiger is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Grove has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Tiger has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Grove's body.
Grove trying to get back to his feet but Tiger is in full control for now.
Grove looks gassed!
Tiger trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Grove has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Tiger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiger trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Tiger missing with strikes from the back.
Tiger missing with punches from the back.
Grove has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Grove really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tiger. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Grove covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Tiger misses with an elbow to the head.
Grove is trying to get back to his feet but Tiger has full control of the position and if anything, Grove has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's four 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.
Tiger lands a shot to the head.
Tiger throwing sloppy strikes.
Grove trying to get back to his feet but Tiger is in full control for now.
Grove covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Grove showing good submission defense here.

Grove fending off the submission attempt from Tiger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yeovil Tiger dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tiger closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tiger tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Grove smiles and moves away.
Tiger shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Grove as he jumps to the side.
Grove throws a right and a left that Tiger avoids nicely.

Tiger gets the takedown into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Grove can do anything to dispel that myth.
Grove is breathing heavily.

Tiger decides to stand up, so the ref orders Grove to his feet.
Tiger fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yeovil Tiger. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tiger drives through and clinches with Grove against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tiger turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Tiger manages to end up in side control.
Tiger throws an elbow but Grove slips to the side and avoids it well.

Tiger stands up.
A big left from Grove misses.
Grove tries to bum rush Tiger with a series of wild strikes but Tiger uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tiger closes this distance looking for a takedown but Grove circles away.

Tiger 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.
Grove keeping moving, preventing Tiger from controlling successfully.

Grove pushes Tiger off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tiger moves into the clinch.
Grove gets underhooks to prevent Tiger's takedown attempt.
Tiger has Grove pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Grove manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Grove wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tiger has him pressed against the cage.
Grove stops a takedown attempt from Tiger.
Tiger prevents Grove from breaking the clinch.
Grove wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tiger has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Grove is trying to keep an underhook but Tiger manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Tiger stops Grove from getting back to his feet.

Tiger is looking for a kimura but Grove is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tiger to get the leverage.
Tiger looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Grove is trying to stand back up but Tiger is controlling him
Tiger trying to control the action but Grove is working from the bottom.
Grove wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiger content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Yeovil Tiger overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Some wild striking there from Grove.

Tiger scores a takedown into full mount!
Tiger controlling his opponent.
Grove wants to try and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yeovil Tiger 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.

Tiger fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Grove looks to land a combination but Tiger avoids it well.
Tiger shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tiger tries for a takedown but Grove sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yeovil Tiger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grove throws the left hand but Tiger avoids the punch easily.
Tiger slips a jab and a cross from Grove.
Grove throws a right and a left that Tiger avoids nicely.

Tiger decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Tiger moves nicely into side control.
Grove parries the strikes from Tiger easily there. Tiger is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Grove to escape.
Grove is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Tiger asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tiger wants to control but Grove is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tiger in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Grove is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Yeovil Tiger!
Yeovil Tiger retains his light heavyweight title!