PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Stepan Grachev (ranked 2892 p4p, 2021 weight class) and Rudolf Meine (ranked 319 p4p, 249 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Grachev
vs
Meine

175 cm
25
165
3 - 1 - 0

163 cm
24
155
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stepan Grachev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rudolf Meine!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Anthony Taglia and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Grachev checks a leg kick.
Grachev just misses with a punch to the body.
Meine works the jab nicely.
Meine looks to score with a jab to the body but Grachev is just out of range.
Grachev takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Grachev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Meine moves away.
Grachev fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Meine.
Stepan Grachev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Meine throws a leg kick but Grachev moved away.

Grachev instigates a clinch.
Meine throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Meine.
Meine throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Grachevs head.
Meine fails to pull guard.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Grachev.
Nice body punch from Grachev - that landed with a thud.
Grachev working aggressively here.
Grachev misses with a punch on the inside.
Meine throws a head punch that misses.
I was talking to Grachev's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Meine lands with a short punch from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Grachev misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Grachev.
Meine gets through Grachev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Grachev cracks Meine with a nice body shot.
Grachev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Meine's elbow.
Meine tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Meine blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Grachev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Meine blocks an uppercut.
Grachev is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Grachev misses with a punch to the body.
A short left from Meine.
Meine blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Meine working aggressively here.
A short left from Meine.
Meine misses with a hook from the clinch.
Meine working aggressively here.
Grachev stalls.
Meine jumps guard but Grachev stands there with Meine around his waist. Meine gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Meine as Grachev tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meine tries to work over Grachev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Meine working aggressively here.
Meine lands a body shot in the clinch.
Grachev lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Meine lands a left hand.
Meine wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Grachev has him pressed against the cage.
Meine blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Grachev lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Grachev trying to stall but Meine improves his position.
Grachev misses with some punches.
Grachev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Meine jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Grachev walks away with a smile on his face. Meine gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stepan Grachev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rudolf Meine.
A jab from Grachev misses.
A leg kick checked by Grachev.
Meine has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Grachev.
Grachev looks to land a right hand but Meine moved out of range.
Meine misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meine tried to score with a low kick but Grachev checks it.
Grachev was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Meine slips under a jab.
Meine lands a nice shot that snaps Grachev's head back.
Meine lands a really nice looking cross but Grachev seems unphased.
Meine throws out a loose jab but Grachev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Meine lands a jab-cross combination.
Grachev slips a straight right by Meine.
Meine takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Meine lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Meine feints and then cracks Grachev's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Grachev down.
Grachev tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Meine is able to avoid easily.
Meine tries to counter with a clinch but Grachev shakes him off and moves away.
Grachev throws a big shot that misses.
Grachev staying out of range there.
Meine thows a body kick. Grachev tries to catch it but that hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Meine scores with a hook to the body. Grachev takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Meine throws a right hand that Grachev ducks under and follows up with a left that Grachev also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grachev darts in and clinches Meine up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Grachev.
Meine tries to work over Grachev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Meine working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Grachev manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Grachev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Meine throws a poor cross that misses
and Grachev counters with a nice uppercut.
A low kick lands for Grachev.
Both fighters circling a little - Grachev finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Meine lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Grachev circles away quickly and effectively.
Grachev uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Meine has time to react.
Meine misses with a double jab.
Meine has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Meine there as he acknowledges the shot.
Danga de danga de dang - Meine scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Grachev has Meine up against the cage in a clinch.
A short right from Grachev on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rudolf Meine will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Meine throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Grachev rushes Meine and presses him up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Grachev misses with a body punch.
Meine jumps guard but Grachev turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Grachev misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Meine.
Meine blocks an uppercut.

Meine jumps into guard, dragging Grachev to the mat.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Meine not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Grachev wanted to stand there but Meine had control of the position.
Grachev wants to stand and escape but instead Meine has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meine slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Grachev keeping full guard, as Meine tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meine is looking to advance position but Grachev has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Grachev stands up from mount. Strange move.
Meine misses the shot to the body.
Grachev takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Meine takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Meine's jab looks to have found its range, popping Grachev under the eye.
Meine throws a hook but Grachev blocks it.
Meine bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Grachev's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from Grachev, right into the meat of the thigh.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grachev. Meine does a little dance to reset his feet.
Grachev with the inside leg kick.
Meine scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grachev lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Grachev looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Meine pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Grachev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Good work by Grachev as he checks the leg kick.
Meine throws a shot from downtown. Grachev moves away and avoids it.
Grachev misses with a wild body shot.
Meine avoids a punch combination nicely.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Meine.
Meine keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Meine tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grachev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Grachev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Meine misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Meine misses with a low kick.
Grachev misses with an uppercut.
Grachev lands a nice shot to the body.
Grachev misses with an uppercut.
Grachev takes one on the button.
Meine swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Grachev slips under a jab from Meine.
Rudolf Meine seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Meine moves out of range of the body kick.
Meine scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Meine with a hook.
Grachev takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Meine with the inside leg kick.
Grachev lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Meine finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Meine ducks under a wild hook from Grachev.
Grachev looks to score with a jab to the body but Meine is just out of range.
Meine ducks under a wild hook from Grachev.
Grachev swings for the body but Meine moves out of range.
Meine throws a series of punches but Grachev avoids them all with ease.
Meine with a jab.
Grachev throws a jab when Meine was well out of range.
Meine tries to counter with a clinch but Grachev shakes him off and moves away.
Meine scores with a one two! Grachev had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Grachev throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Meine chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Grachev tries to land a leg kick but Meine saw it coming and moves away.
Meine misses with a hook.
Grachev throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Grachev throws a head kick but Meine moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rudolf Meine will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Grachev scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Meine walks into a straight right hand from Grachev.

Grachev closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Grachev.
Grachev working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Meine.
Meine blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Grachev.
Grachev misses with the head strike.
Meine doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Meine doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short uppercut from Meine.
Meine blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Meine creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Meine fails to land.
Stepan Grachev has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Meine taking a breather.
Meine working aggressively here.
Meine scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Meine misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meine working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Good body shot from Meine.
Grachev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Grachev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The referee is keeping an eye on Grachev - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Meine lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Grachev.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Meine creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Meine throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Grachevs head.
Grachev lands a body shot.
Meine working aggressively here.
A left hand lands to the body for Meine.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Meine scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Grachev blocks a body shot from Meine.
Meine throws a punch but it's blocked by Grachev.
Meine lands a shoulder strike.
Meine misses with a punch to the body.
Meine digs a right hand into Grachev's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Grachev's gas tank.
Meine blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Meine working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rudolf Meine is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grachev throws a punch but it's blocked by Meine.
Grachev tries to throw a body punch but Meine avoids it by throwing Grachev back against the cage.
Meine blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Grachev's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Grachev lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Grachev slowing the pace effectively.
Grachev throws a punch but it's blocked by Meine.
Grachev taking a breather.
Grachev tries a body shot but Meine blocks it.
Grachev trying to control the position but instead, Meine has worked for underhooks and has pushed Grachev into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grachev lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Grachev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Grachev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short left from Grachev.
Meine is working Grachev over against the cage.
Grachev is stalling here.
Grachev content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Grachev leaning against his opponent.
Stepan Grachev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grachev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Grachev has a couple of punches blocked by Meine.
Meine blocks an uppercut.
Grachev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Meine throws a punch but it's blocked by Grachev.
Meine blocks a body shot from Grachev.
A short right from Grachev.
Meine blocks an uppercut.
Meine tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Meine blocks an uppercut.
Grachev has a couple of punches blocked by Meine.
Meine misses with a punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rudolf Meine.
Well Meine 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rudolf Meine!