PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between David Grunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Avanesov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Grunt
vs
Avanesov

169 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, David Grunt!
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, Eric Avanesov!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Ivan Kurochkin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grunt fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Avanesov checks it well.
Grunt is looking to clinch but Avanesov is avoiding it.
Avanesov tries to clinch there but Grunt circles away.
Avanesov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Avanesov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Grunt pinned against the cage. Grunt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Grunt fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Grunt clinches.
Grunt blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Grunt blocks an elbow strike.
Grunt can't break the clinch.
Grunt tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Avanesov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Grunt pulls his leg out and moves away.
David Grunt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Avanesov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Avanesov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Grunt gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Avanesov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Avanesov instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Avanesov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Grunt shoots in for a double leg but Avanesov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Avanesov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Avanesov wants to clinch

and Grunt moves into the clinch.
Grunt prevents a takedown attempt there.
Avanesov wants to break free but Grunt has control.

Avanesov breaks the clinch.

Avanesov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Grunt looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Avanesov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Grunt is trying to get back to half guard.

Grunt explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Grunt shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Avanesov pinned against the cage. Avanesov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Grunt clinches.
Grunt scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Grunt pulls guard.
Grunt really is a fat lump.

Avanesov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Avanesov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Grunt on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Grunt tries to get out of the position.
Avanesov looks gassed!

Grunt working for a triangle but Avanesov defends it easily.

Grunt pushes Avanesov off and gets back to his feet.
Grunt doesn't manage to clinch there - Avanesov circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grunt scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Avanesov wants to get back to his feet.
Grunt is looking to take a break and control but Avanesov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Avanesov is trying to escape the position but Grunt is controlling the position.
Grunt tries to move into full mount but can't pass Avanesov's legs.
Avanesov is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grunt decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Grunt closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Grunt 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.

Avanesov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Avanesov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grunt trying to control the position from guard on top but Avanesov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Avanesov striking off his back but it's not causing Grunt any problems.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Grunt dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Avanesov. No joy for Grunt on that attempt.

Grunt has managed to clinch.
Grunt can't break the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Avanesov.

Grunt decides to pull guard.
Grunt knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Avanesov on the ground.
Avanesov wants to stand but Grunt is controlling his posture from full guard.
Grunt pulls Avanesov in to control the position.
Avanesov won't allow Grunt to sweep him here.
Avanesov trying to control the position from guard on top but Grunt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grunt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avanesov trying to control but Grunt is working from the bottom.
Avanesov preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grunt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Grunt tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Avanesov counters with a nice kick to the body.
Avanesov misses with a takedown attempt

and Grunt counters with a takedown into side control.
Grunt trying to control the position but Avanesov is working away.
Avanesov is looking to get back to his feet here but Grunt is keeping cool and he's managed to take Avanesov's back.
Grunt keeps control of the position easily here as Avanesov tries to buck him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grunt trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Grunt cracks Avanesov with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Avanesov from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Grunt slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Avanesov trying to control but not successfully.
You can see the frustration on Avanesov's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grunt controlling the position well here. Avanesov rolled but Grunt kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Grunt connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Avanesov to escape the position.
Avanesov trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Grunt is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Grunt gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Grunt gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Grunt apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Avanesov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Avanesov avoids the head kick by Grunt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Grunt looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Grunt throws a quick inside leg kick.

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.
Grunt shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Avanesov as he jumps to the side.

Avanesov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Avanesov seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Grunt tries to roll over but Avanesov keeps him under control.
Avanesov is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Avanesov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Avanesov decides to stand and escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Grunt dominated that second round.
That's time! Grunt's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Avanesov throws a right hand that Grunt ducks under and follows up with a left that Grunt also avoids with ease.
David Grunt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Grunt shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Avanesov looking for a sweep. Not yet Avanesov, not yet.
Grunt might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Grunt works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Avanesov is looking to escape.
Grunt lands with a punch from half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Avanesov pushes Grunt off but Grunt dives into side control.
Avanesov trying to remain calm as Grunt controls from the top position.

Grunt stands up.
Avanesov misses with a takedown

and Grunt counters with a shoot takedown. Avanesov fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Avanesov looking for a guillotine here but Grunt defends easily.
Grunt has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Avanesov looking to control.
Grunt wants to stand but Avanesov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Avanesov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Grunt is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Avanesov doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Grunt trying to control the position from guard on top but Avanesov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Avanesov is trying to control the position but Grunt postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Grunt throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Avanesov's waist but Avanesov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Grunt off to one side.
Avanesov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Grunt swivels and escapes.
Avanesov tries to clinch but Grunt moves out of range.
Eric Avanesov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Avanesov circles away from the clinch attempt

and Avanesov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avanesov lands a damaging elbow.
Grunt blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Avanesov wants a takedown but no success here.
David Grunt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Avanesov.
Grunt is trying to break the clinch but Avanesov has him pressed against the cage.
Grunt tries for a takedown but Avanesov manages to get underhooks.

Avanesov manages to pull guard.
Avanesov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Grunt stopping the sweep attempt from Avanesov.
Avanesov seems keen to control Grunt's posture.
Grunt trying to control but Avanesov is working from the bottom.

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.
Grunt thows a big elbow that misses.
Grunt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Avanesov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Grunt is pushing down on Avanesov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Avanesov is fighting to maintain full guard but Grunt has managed to sneak the leg through.
Grunt sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Avanesov won't allow Grunt to pass to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Grunt showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Grunt, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Grunt!