PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between CJ Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Grigorenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grigorenko has chosen Aerosmith feat. Run DMC - Walk This Way as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Davis
vs
Grigorenko

182 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

166 cm
25
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, CJ Davis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sergei Grigorenko!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grigorenko shoots in looking for a takedown. Davis tries to sprawl out of it but Grigorenko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Davis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown by Grigorenko or perhaps it was just good defense by Davis which made him look bad.
Grigorenko slaps away a takedown attempt from Davis, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Davis throws a shot from downtown. Grigorenko moves away and avoids it.
Grigorenko leaves Davis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Grigorenko shoots in but no luck this time.
CJ Davis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergei Grigorenko.

Davis closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Grigorenko did well to prevent Davis getting side control.
Grigorenko regains full guard. Nicely done.
Davis has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Grigorenko wants to sweep but no luck.
Grigorenko pulls Davis in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grigorenko is trying to control the position but Davis postures up.
Davis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Davis throwing strikes but missing.

Sergei Grigorenko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Davis scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Grigorenko sneaks back into half guard.
Grigorenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Davis.
Grigorenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Davis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Davis lands with a punch from half guard.
Davis scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Grigorenko is pressing down on Davis's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Davis throws a strike but Grigorenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grigorenko sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Grigorenko postures up in Davis's guard and throws a big left but Davis blocks it.
Davis on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Davis tries to get out of the position.
Davis wants to hit a switch here but Grigorenko passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Davis there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Grigorenko punching from mount but Davis doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Davis is trying to escape the mount.
Grigorenko trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grigorenko has hold of Davis's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Davis manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grigorenko punching from mount but Davis doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Grigorenko looking to secure an arm triangle but Davis defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sergei Grigorenko will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Davis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Grigorenko thumps Davis with a low kick.
Grigorenko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Davis sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Grigorenko somewhat.
CJ Davis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Davis fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Davis misses with a takedown attempt - Grigorenko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for CJ Davis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grigorenko fails with a takedown attempt.
Davis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Davis is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Grigorenko.

It looks like CJ Davis has been cut.
Davis closes the distance and clinches up with Grigorenko, looking for a takedown. Davis pushes Grigorenko against the cage but Grigorenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Davis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis scoring with punches from side control.
Davis scores with a couple of short elbows.
CJ Davis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Davis cracks Grigorenko with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Grigorenko sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Grigorenko regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Davis.
Davis knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Grigorenko on the ground.
Grigorenko trying to keep a closed guard but Davis is proving a slippery customer.
Grigorenko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Davis manages to get himself to full guard.
Grigorenko is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grigorenko postures up.
Grigorenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Davis is keeping the position for now.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Grigorenko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Davis as he jumps to the side.
Davis has a takedown stuffed.
Davis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Grigorenko circles away.

Grigorenko gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Davis has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Grigorenko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grigorenko pulls guard effortlessly.
Grigorenko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Grigorenko trying to control from half guard but Davis is working away.
Grigorenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Grigorenko prevents Davis from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Grigorenko is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sergei Grigorenko hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Davis misses with a left hand

and Grigorenko counters with a nice double leg into side control. Davis won't be happy with that.
Davis tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Grigorenko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Check out the look on Grigorenko's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Grigorenko happy to just control the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davis is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Grigorenko has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Grigorenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on CJ Davis's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Davis misses with a lunging right hand
and Grigorenko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Grigorenko shoots in and drives through. Davis sprawls well.
Grigorenko stalks Davis and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Davis's face. Davis staggers backwards, shaken.
Davis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Grigorenko.
Davis stuffs the takedown.
CJ Davis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergei Grigorenko.
Davis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Davis throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Grigorenko was covering up waiting for the punch and Davis finishes the takedown easily into 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!
Davis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Grigorenko is trying to control the position but Davis postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Grigorenko is on top in guard.
Grigorenko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Grigorenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sergei Grigorenko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Davis throws a right hand that misses
and Grigorenko counters with a head kick. That will keep Davis thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Sergei Grigorenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Davis shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Davis lands strikes from half guard.
Grigorenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Davis lands with a punch from half guard.
Davis is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Davis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Davis throwing shots but Grigorenko is blocking nicely.
Grigorenko is concentrating on defense, preventing Davis from advancing position.
Davis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Grigorenko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grigorenko trying to control the position here.
Davis throwing strikes from guard but Grigorenko blocks nicely.
Grigorenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Davis throws an elbow that misses. Grigorenko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Davis's guard. Nice move by Grigorenko!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grigorenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sergei Grigorenko hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Davis shoots in for a takedown but Grigorenko shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Grigorenko throws a head kick but Davis moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis fails to land the takedown.
Grigorenko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Davis defends it nicely.
Davis closes the distance and clinches up with Grigorenko, looking for a takedown. Davis pushes Grigorenko against the cage but Grigorenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Davis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Grigorenko swivels and escapes.
Grigorenko shoots for a takedown but Davis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Davis shoots in for a double leg but Grigorenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Grigorenko tries to sprawl but Davis drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Davis is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Davis lands a nice short elbow.
Davis throwing shots but Grigorenko is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis with the ground and pound but Grigorenko uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Davis scoring with some ground and pound.
Grigorenko is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Davis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Davis wants to pass the guard but Grigorenko is keeping the position.
Davis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Grigorenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Grigorenko is trying to control the position but Davis postures up.
CJ Davis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sergei Grigorenko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sergei Grigorenko hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Grigorenko shoots in but no luck this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sergei Grigorenko.
Well Grigorenko 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!