PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bradford Waller (ranked 24561 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Gregoriev (ranked 5197 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Waller
vs
Gregoriev

159 cm
23
161 lbs
1 - 3 - 1

165 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bradford Waller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Gregoriev!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Viktor Lagutenko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Gregoriev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gregoriev defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Waller.

Gregoriev drives through and clinches with Waller against the cage.
Waller has Gregoriev pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gregoriev manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Gregoriev manages to break the clinch.
Waller goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Waller wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gregoriev fails to land with a series of punches.

Waller has taken the fight to the clinch.
Waller could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Waller tries to pull guard but Gregoriev holds him up against the cage and eventually Waller drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bradford Waller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Waller is working for takedown but Gregoriev is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregoriev tries to score a body lock takedown but Waller shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Waller is trying to break the clinch but Gregoriev has him pressed against the cage.

Gregoriev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Waller doesn't manage to clinch there - Gregoriev circles away.
Waller walks into a stiff left hand from Gregoriev.

It looks like Bradford Waller has been cut.
Gregoriev circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Waller looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gregoriev throws the kick towards the body but Waller avoids it.

Gregoriev has managed to clinch.
Gregoriev is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Waller tries to pull guard but Gregoriev won't allow it.

Gregoriev breaks from the clinch.

Waller scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregoriev is looking to improve his position.
Gregoriev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Waller thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gregoriev's head.
Waller not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gregoriev is looking to control Waller's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gregoriev avoid being mounted?
Waller throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Waller prevents Gregoriev from improving his position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Waller missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Waller is controlling the pace.
Waller looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waller throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Waller trying to control from half guard but Gregoriev is working away.
Gregoriev trying to control here.
Gregoriev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Waller.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Waller connects with a solid leg kick.
Waller tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Waller gets tackled into the cage by Gregoriev. Gregoriev maintains the clinch.
Waller is trying to pull guard but Gregoriev turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Gregoriev manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Gregoriev controlling Waller's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Waller postures up in Gregoriev's guard and throws a big left but Gregoriev blocks it.
Gregoriev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Waller postures up in Gregoriev's guard and throws a big left but Gregoriev blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Waller trying to control but Gregoriev is working from the bottom.
Gregoriev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Waller is looking to work some ground and pound but Gregoriev has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Gregoriev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bradford Waller's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Waller walks forward, straight into a front kick from Gregoriev.
Gregoriev fails with the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gregoriev.

Gregoriev forces Waller back against the cage and clinches.
Gregoriev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Waller gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bradford Waller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Gregoriev.
Gregoriev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Waller is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Waller manages to break the clinch.
Waller lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Waller slaps away a takedown attempt from Gregoriev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Waller really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waller shoots in looking for a takedown but Gregoriev manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Waller's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gregoriev shoots in looking for a takedown but Waller manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gregoriev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Gregoriev rushes Waller and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gregoriev tries to pull guard but Waller forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Waller goes for a takedown attempt but Gregoriev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Waller shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gregoriev defends it nicely.
Bradford Waller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Waller tries to clinch up but Gregoriev circles away and keeps his distance.
Alexander Gregoriev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Waller tries to keep at a distance but Gregoriev has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gregoriev prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waller is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gregoriev pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gregoriev's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Waller tries to pull guard but Gregoriev holds him up against the cage and eventually Waller drops back down to his feet.
Gregoriev keeps control of Waller as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Gregoriev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gregoriev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Waller wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Gregoriev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Waller fails with an attempt to clinch.
Waller tries to clinch but Gregoriev moves out of range.
Gregoriev let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gregoriev misses with a takedown attempt - Waller sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gregoriev is breathing heavily.
Waller is looking to chop away at Gregoriev's legs.
Waller tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gregoriev drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Waller defends it well.
Waller takes one to the side of the head.
Waller misses with a takedown attempt - Gregoriev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Waller shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gregoriev is trying to defend but Waller finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Gregoriev manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Waller keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Waller gets a trip takedown into half guard.
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!
Waller missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gregoriev keeping control of the position.
Gregoriev is trying to maintain the position but Waller is very close to passing his half guard.

Gregoriev makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Gregoriev fails with a takedown attempt.
Waller is looking for a counter combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Gregoriev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bradford Waller's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Waller moves in looking to clinch but Gregoriev pushes him off.
Gregoriev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Waller sprawls well. Waller wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gregoriev gets slowly back to his feet.
Gregoriev goes for a double leg but Waller avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Waller continues to drive forward.
Gregoriev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
As Gregoriev looks to move away, Waller throws a big counter combo but Gregoriev just gets out of the way.
Bradford Waller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Gregoriev.
Gregoriev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Waller connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Waller has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Gregoriev finds it's way round the side to connect with Waller's head.
Gregoriev has a takedown stuffed.
Gregoriev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregoriev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Waller tries to avoid it but Gregoriev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Waller to the ground. Waller escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gregoriev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Waller wants to clinch up but Gregoriev keeps it at a distance.
Waller is looking to clinch but Gregoriev is avoiding it.
Gregoriev steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Waller.
Waller tries to close the distance and clinch but Gregoriev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Waller is looking to clinch but Gregoriev is avoiding it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gregoriev checks a leg kick.

Gregoriev clinches up with Waller and pushes him back against the cage.
Gregoriev gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Waller.

Gregoriev manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waller is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Waller works over Gregoriev with some ground and pound from guard.
Waller throws an elbow that misses. Gregoriev uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Waller's guard. Nice move by Gregoriev!

Waller looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gregoriev sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Waller's guard.
Gregoriev thows a huge punch but Waller dodges it nicely.
Gregoriev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gregoriev is looking to stall here but Waller recovers full guard.

Waller working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gregoriev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gregoriev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waller working a defensive guard here.

Waller has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gregoriev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gregoriev controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Waller trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Waller scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.

Waller working for a triangle but Gregoriev defends it easily.
Alexander Gregoriev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gregoriev postures up in Waller's guard and throws a big left but Waller blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Gregoriev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gregoriev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Gregoriev!