PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Valuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Gronholm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valuev's entrance music is Mala Dama - Kabat. A fine choice. Gronholm has chosen Eeppinen biisi as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Valuev
vs
Gronholm

194 cm
27
285 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

188 cm
32
280 lbs
13 - 12 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikolai Valuev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcus Gronholm!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gronholm tries to bum rush Valuev with a series of wild strikes but Valuev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Valuev throws the left hand but Gronholm avoids the punch easily.
Valuev connects with a body shot.
Nikolai Valuev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Gronholm.
Valuev shoots in and drives through. Gronholm sprawls well.
Valuev misses with a two punch combination.
A right-left combo lands from Valuev.

It looks like Marcus Gronholm has been cut.

Valuev throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gronholm was covering up waiting for the punch and Valuev finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Valuev scoring with some ground and pound.
Valuev works over Gronholm with some ground and pound from guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gronholm holds on and takes a little breather.
Valuev seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Gronholm has his foot on Valuev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Valuev works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valuev drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gronholm looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gronholm looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gronholm!
Gronholm trying to control the action but Valuev is working from the bottom.
Valuev regains half guard.
Valuev is refusing to be controlled, as Gronholm sits in half guard.
Gronholm is thwarting Valuev's attempts to control the position.
Gronholm is stalling here. Valuev is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gronholm seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Valuev has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Valuev working the head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valuev misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Gronholm is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gronholm misses with a strike from the bottom.
Gronholm really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Valuev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Valuev wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gronholm, who protects the arm well.
Gronholm throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valuev trying to control the action but Gronholm is working from the bottom.
Gronholm prevents Valuev from moving into mount.

Valuev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gronholm has escaped the position, nice work there.
Valuev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gronholm is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valuev scoring with punches and elbows.
Valuev grinds an elbow into Gronholm's temple.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valuev trying to control the action but Gronholm is working from the bottom.

Valuev is trying to get an arm triangle but Gronholm is defending well.

Valuev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gronholm is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gronholm can't do much from the bottom here.

Valuev tries for a kimura but Gronholm is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Valuev tries for a kimura but Gronholm is defending well.
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!

Valuev swings around for an armbar but Gronholm sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Valuev's guard.
Valuev manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Valuev prevents Gronholm from getting the reversal.
Gronholm taking shots to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gronholm is bucking up trying to escape but Valuev cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Valuev landing strikes from the mount and Gronholm is in trouble!
Gronholm tries to reverse the position but Valuev maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Valuev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Gronholm'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.

It's a brutal combination of punches from Valuev! Gronholm is backing up but he can't get away as Valuev lands with one final shot to the jaw that drops Gronholm and ends the fight. Great knockout.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Nikolai Valuev!
Nikolai Valuev is the new super heavyweight champion!