PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Grigorenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pawel Pawlak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grigorenko kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Aerosmith feat. Run DMC - Walk This Way. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Grigorenko
vs
Pawlak

166 cm
26
177 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

182 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

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 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Sergei Grigorenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pawel Pawlak!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Grigorenko moves into range and clinches up with Pawlak.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Pawlak just misses with a elbow thrown towards Grigorenko's brow.
Pawlak lands an elbow inside.

Grigorenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pawlak tries to clinch

and Grigorenko counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Grigorenko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Grigorenko wants to pass the guard but Pawlak is keeping the position.

Pawlak has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Grigorenko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grigorenko controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Pawlak working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Grigorenko has passed into half guard!
Grigorenko is controlling the pace.

Pawlak actively working from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grigorenko wants to pass to mount but Pawlak is defending the position.

Pawlak looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Grigorenko with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Pawlak actively working from the bottom here.

Pawlak with the active half guard here but Grigorenko passes nicely into side control.
Grigorenko is looking to take a break and control but Pawlak is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pawlak sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Grigorenko slows the pace down in half guard.
Grigorenko moves nicely into side control.
Grigorenko is looking to take a break and control but Pawlak is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Grigorenko tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grigorenko lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Pawlak down.
Pawlak tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee asks Grigorenko politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Grigorenko prefers to stall for the moment though.
Pawlak gets back to half guard.

Pawlak is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Grigorenko pulls his head out easily.
Grigorenko prevents Pawlak from improving his position.

Grigorenko moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Pawlak.
Pawlak tries to buck Grigorenko off but Grigorenko is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grigorenko is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Pawlak will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Pawlak is trying to improve his position.
The referee asks Grigorenko politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Grigorenko prefers to stall for the moment though.
Grigorenko's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pawlak gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grigorenko wants to pass to mount but Pawlak is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Grigorenko dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Grigorenko shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Grigorenko was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Pawlak tries to bench press Grigorenko off him but Grigorenko keeps the position.
Grigorenko advances to mount.
Pawlak slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Pawlak is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Grigorenko pulls his head out easily.
Grigorenko tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Pawlak is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Grigorenko pulls his head out easily.
Grigorenko controlling the action here.

Pawlak actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Grigorenko in particular looking to stall.

Pawlak is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Grigorenko pulls his head out easily.
Grigorenko with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sergei Grigorenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Grigorenko prevents Pawlak from improving his position.

We're going to have a standup here because Sergei Grigorenko wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Grigorenko moves into range and clinches up with Pawlak.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pawlak tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Grigorenko just stands there and leans against the cage.

Grigorenko decides to pull guard.

Grigorenko has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Pawlak has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Grigorenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Grigorenko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pawlak with a lazy takedown attempt
and Grigorenko counters with a nice uppercut.
Pawlak is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pawlak tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Grigorenko holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Grigorenko blocks an elbow strike from Pawlak.
Grigorenko avoids the elbow strike from Pawlak, against the cage.
Pawlak lands a nice elbow.

Grigorenko jumps into guard, dragging Pawlak to the mat.
Grigorenko seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Pawlak wants to control from the top but Grigorenko keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Grigorenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sergei Grigorenko wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Pawlak has his takedown stuffed

and Grigorenko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sergei Grigorenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pawel Pawlak.
Grigorenko performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Grigorenko has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Pawlak is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grigorenko stalling.

Sergei Grigorenko has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Pawlak gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Grigorenko counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grigorenko pushes down on Pawlak's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Grigorenko is pressing down on Pawlak's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pawlak is holding on for now.

Pawlak looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grigorenko is nestled in close to Pawlak, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Grigorenko controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Grigorenko dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Grigorenko closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pawlak's guard.

Pawlak is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Grigorenko rolls with it to try and escape but Pawlak cranks on the arm and Grigorenko is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Pawel Pawlak!