PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rocket Man (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenan Groso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Groso has chosen Bosnian National Anthem as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Man
vs
Groso

189 cm
22
198 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

181 cm
19
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rocket Man!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kenan Groso!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Bruno Hogan and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Groso misses.
Man gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Groso.

It looks like Rocket Man has been cut.
Man tries to close the distance and clinch up but Groso swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Man fails to land with a series of punches.
Man showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Groso.
Groso misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Groso fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Man tries to clinch up.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Groso steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Man.
Man misses with a head kick.
Man wants to clinch up but Groso keeps it at a distance.
Man misses with a series of wild punches.
Rocket Man seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Groso fails to land with a series of punches.
Man pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Man throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Groso.
Man tries to clinch but Groso is having none of it.
Groso looks to land a combination. Man sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Groso looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Man is fending him off so far but Groso persists. Nope, Man circles away and we're back to standing.
Some wild striking there from Groso.
Groso misses with a series of wild punches.
Man lands a head kick. Groso smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Man goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Groso throws a solid leg kick but Man takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Groso.
Man keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Groso.
Man closes this distance looking for a takedown but Groso circles away.
Man tries to clinch but Groso moves out of range.
Man tries to clinch but Groso is having none of it.
No luck for Man with that takedown attempt.
Man doesn't manage to clinch there - Groso circles away.
Groso closes this distance looking for a takedown but Man circles away.
Rocket Man has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenan Groso.
Man checks the leg kick nicely there.
Man misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Groso misses with a double jab.
Groso looks gassed!

Man clinches.
Man tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Man is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Groso is keeping busy.
Man tries to pull guard but Groso holds him up against the cage and eventually Man drops back down to his feet.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Groso as Man tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Groso is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Man can't break the clinch.
Man tries for a takedown. No joy.
Man tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Groso just stands there and leans against the cage.
Man tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Groso smiles and moves away.
Groso throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Groso lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Man circles away quickly and effectively.
Man tries to close the distance and clinch but Groso swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Groso shoots in and drives through. Man sprawls well.
Groso misses with a double jab
and Man counters with a one-two to the body.
Man tries to clinch but Groso moves out of range.
Man is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Groso lands a jab-cross combination.
Man goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Man lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man tries to clinch but Groso is having none of it.
Man tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Groso paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Man is looking to clinch but Groso is avoiding it.
A combination from Groso does no damage.

Man moves into the clinch.
Groso wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Man is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Man goes for a takedown attempt but Groso pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Groso misses with a takedown attempt - Man sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Man closes the distance and clinches up with Groso, looking for a takedown. Man pushes Groso against the cage but Groso circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Groso looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A head kick from Man lands but Groso takes it in his stride.
Man tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Groso paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Groso circles away from the clinch attempt.
Man shoots in looking for a takedown. Groso tries to sprawl out of it but Man keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Groso manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Groso takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groso tests Man's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Groso thuds his right hand into Man's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Man fails with an attempt to clinch.

Man fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Groso, pushing him back against the cage.
Man has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Groso avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Groso prevents a takedown attempt there.
Man is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Groso gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Man wants to break the clinch but can't.
Man is pressed up against the cage. Groso has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Man down to the mat. Man avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Man avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Man misses with the combination.
Man tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Groso paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Man tries to clinch but Groso moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kenan Groso will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rocket Man's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Groso scores with a jab.
Man slips a straight right by Groso.
A head kick misses from Man.
Groso will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Groso throws a series of punches but Man moves out of range.
Groso circles away from the clinch attempt.
Man tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Groso paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Man moves in looking to clinch but Groso pushes him off.
Man is looking to clinch.
Groso avoids the head kick by Man.
Man displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Man throws a big shot that misses.
Man tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Groso swivels and escapes.
Groso circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Groso works the jab nicely.
Groso shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Man as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Man throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Groso.
Man tries to clinch but Groso moves out of range.
Man tries to close the distance and clinch up but Groso swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groso misses with a straight right.
Man doesn't manage to clinch there - Groso circles away.
Man throws a nice head kick!
A head kick from Man lands but Groso takes it in his stride.
Man is looking to clinch.
Man wants to clinch.
Groso shoots in for a double leg but Man sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rocket Man has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenan Groso.
Groso takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Man!
Rocket Man is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Groso avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rocket Man is winning the standup battle so far.
Groso loads up on a big right hand but Man slips the punch.
Man lands a head kick!
Groso shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Man fails with an attempt to clinch.
Groso misses with a series of wild punches.
Man connects with a right hand. Groso shakes it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Groso.
Man tries to clinch but Groso is having none of it.
Groso loads up on a big right hand but Man slips the punch.
A nice combination there by Man.
Groso circles away from the clinch attempt.
Groso walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Man tries to clinch but Groso moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Man looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Man misses with a head kick.
Groso throws a nice looking combination but Man bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Man throws a left and a right that both miss
and Groso makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Man fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Man!
Man misses with a few strikes there.
A punch combination from Groso misses.

Man clinches with his opponent.
Man tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Groso is trying to trip Man. He has hold of a leg but Man is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Groso persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Man keeping moving, preventing Groso from controlling successfully.
Groso won't allow Man to get back to his feet.

Man is working an open guard so Groso takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Groso throws a left and a right that both miss
and Man counters with a stiff right hand.
Man throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A right-left combo lands from Groso.
Man throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Man tests Groso's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Man tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Groso swivels and escapes.
Man stuffs the takedown attempt from Groso. Groso gets slowly back to his feet.
Groso takes a kick to the side of the head.
Man fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Groso fails to land with a series of punches.
Groso fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Man tries to clinch but Groso is having none of it.
Man fails with an attempt to clinch.
A punch combination from Groso misses.
Groso throws a series of punches but Man avoids them all with ease.
Man fails with an attempt to clinch.
Groso misses with a straight left.
Groso closes this distance looking for a takedown but Man circles away.
Man tries to clinch up but Groso circles away and keeps his distance.
Groso shoots for a takedown but Man saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Man tries to clinch but Groso moves out of range.
Man tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Groso paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Groso misses with a takedown attempt - Man sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Groso throws a right and a left that both miss.
Man throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Groso tries to bum rush Man with a series of wild strikes but Man uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Groso changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Man tries to avoid it but Groso manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Man to the ground. Man escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rocket Man will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rocket Man's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

The fighters circle momentarily. Man darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Groso shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Groso seems to be working for a kimura but Man defends the submission attempt.
Man tries to roll over but Groso keeps him under control.
Groso is looking to take a break and control but Man is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Man is trying to stand up here but Groso is controlling him well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groso is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Groso is trying to work for a kimura but Man is defending well.
Man is not content to let Groso control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Man shoots in for a double leg but Groso sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A swing and a miss from Groso.
Groso closes the distance and clinches up with Man, looking for a takedown. Groso pushes Man against the cage but Man circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Groso takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Man tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Groso keeps the fight on the outside.
Man wants to clinch.
Man tries to clinch there but Groso circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Groso will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jab, jab by Man - just one landing.
Man scores with a one two! Groso had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Man throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Groso misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Man tries to clinch there but Groso circles away.
Groso shoots in for a takedown but Man shows good takedown defense.
Groso throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Groso ducks right into an uppercut from Man.
Groso misses with a takedown attempt
and Man counters with a head kick.
Rocket Man has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenan Groso.
Groso throws a hook but Man avoids it easily.
Groso misses with a series of wild punches.
Man steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Groso.
Man tries to close the distance and clinch but Groso swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Groso looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Man is fending him off so far but Groso persists. Nope, Man circles away and we're back to standing.
Groso looks to land a combination but Man avoids it well.
Man is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Man darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Groso avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Man throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Groso.
A big right from Groso misses.
Groso throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Man lands a head kick!
Man is looking to clinch.
Man doesn't manage to clinch there - Groso circles away.
Nice shot by Groso.
A nice combination there by Man.
Man dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Groso. That did some damage!
Groso misses with a looping right.
Man fails with an attempt to clinch.
Man will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Groso moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A combination from Groso does no damage.

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.
Man fails in his attempt to clinch.
Man looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Groso cracks Man with an open hand slap.
Man pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Groso misses with a double jab
and Man counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Groso lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A combination from Man does no damage.
Man tries to clinch but Groso is having none of it.
Groso misses with a few strikes there.
Man tries to clinch up but Groso circles away and keeps his distance.
Groso throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Man.
Groso has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Man will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Man stuffs the takedown.
Man throws a series of punches but Groso moves out of range.
Groso lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kenan Groso.
I think Groso 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 29:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Kenan Groso!