PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kieth Grimes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Evan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Grimes
vs
Evan

218 cm
21
151 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kieth Grimes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brian Evan!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jonathan Paton and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Evan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Evan wants to control but Grimes is keeping him busy.

Evan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Evan tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Grimes defending against the ground and pound.
Grimes struggling a bit here.
Evan tries to stand but Grimes is controlling his head.
Grimes can't do much from the bottom here.
Grimes is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Evan off and has taken his back!
I really don't envy Evan right now.
Evan is still trying to improve position.
Evan is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Grimes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grimes not allowing Evan to control his hands.
Evan wants to escape the position but for the time being he's just trying to control the pace.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Evan wants to clinch but Grimes slips to the side

and Grimes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Grimes drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Evan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Grimes tries to pull guard but Evan holds him up against the cage and eventually Grimes drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evan tries to pull guard but Grimes won't allow it.
Evan slowing the pace effectively.
Grimes stops a takedown attempt from Evan.
Grimes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Grimes controlling the action here for a moment.
Grimes scores with a shoulder strike.
Evan keeps control of Grimes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Evan is trying to maintain a safe position but Grimes gets an underhook and turns Evan into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grimes is trying to push Evan away but Evan has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Grimes is trying to push Evan away but Evan has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Evan drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Grimes gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kieth Grimes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Evan.
Grimes leaning his opponent against the cage.
Grimes is looking to control Evan's arms but Evan gets an underhook and turns him. Now Grimes has his back to the cage.

Evan has hold of one of Grimes's legs. Grimes is fighting the takedown attempt but Evan gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Grimes wants to sweep here but Evan controlling him for the moment.
Grimes has his hands on Evan's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kieth Grimes wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Evan clinches with his opponent.
Grimes tries for a takedown but Evan manages to get underhooks.

Evan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Evan scores with a takedown into Grimes's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grimes keeping moving, preventing Evan from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Evan looking to pass the guard.
Evan looks winded!
Grimes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brian Evan will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Evan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Evan is defended easily by Grimes.
Brian Evan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Evan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Grimes is fending him off so far but Evan persists. Nope, Grimes circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Evan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Grimes swivels and escapes.
Kieth Grimes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Evan.
Grimes wants to clinch.
Evan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Grimes.
Evan is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Grimes pinned against the cage. Grimes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Grimes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Grimes manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Evan on his heels. He'll look to pass Evan's guard now, I'm sure.
Brian Evan has got the better of the ground game so far.

Evan is working an open guard so Grimes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Grimes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Evan sprawls well. Evan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Grimes gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Grimes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Evan shoots in looking for a takedown but Grimes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Evan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Evan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Grimes clinches up with Evan and pushes him back against the cage.

Grimes pulls guard effortlessly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grimes seems keen to control Evan's posture.
Evan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Grimes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Grimes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Grimes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Evan wants to control but Grimes passes into side.

Grimes decides to stand back up. Grimes steps back and let's Evan get back to his feet.
Grimes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Evan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grimes shoots in for a takedown but Evan shows good takedown defense.

Grimes closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grimes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Evan avoids it.
Evan is trying to drag Grimes to the mat but Grimes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Grimes successfully pulls guard.

Grimes is looking for a triangle but Evan pushes his legs off easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Evan preventing the sweep.
Evan is looking to stand up but Grimes won't let him.
Grimes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Evan postures up.
Grimes keeping moving, preventing Evan from controlling successfully.
Grimes has Evan pulled in close to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kieth Grimes dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Evan is looking to clinch but Grimes is avoiding it.
Evan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Evan misses with a takedown
and Grimes counters with a nice uppercut.
No luck for Evan with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Evan shoots in but no luck this time.
Kieth Grimes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Evan.
Evan fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evan doesn't manage to clinch there - Grimes circles away.
Evan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Grimes has closed the distance and engaged Evan in a clinch.
Grimes is leaning against Evan and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Grimes is stalling here.
Grimes gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Grimes connects with a knee to the head.
Grimes has a couple of punches blocked by Evan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Evan tries to throw a body punch but Grimes avoids it by throwing Evan back against the cage.
Evan has Grimes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Grimes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Grimes gets through Evan's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Evan wants a takedown.
Grimes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nice elbow from Grimes.
A short left from Grimes.
A frustrated look appears on Evan's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Grimes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Evan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Grimes gets underhooks to prevent Evan's takedown attempt.
Grimes is trying to break free.
Grimes is trying to force a seperation but Evan has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grimes is looking to control Evan's arms but Evan gets an underhook and turns him. Now Grimes has his back to the cage.

Grimes gets control of Evan's arms and successfully pulls guard. Grimes will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Grimes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Evan's guard.

Grimes stands up from Evan's guard - Grimes perhaps looking for a knockout.
Evan stuffs the takedown attempt from Grimes. Grimes gets slowly back to his feet.
Grimes leaves Evan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Grimes tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Evan defends well and Grimes ends up having to push Evan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evan is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Grimes to keep the fight standing.
Kieth Grimes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Grimes has Evan pushed against the cage.
Grimes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Grimes misses with some punches.

Grimes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Evan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Grimes did well to prevent Evan getting side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grimes works his way to full guard. Good work.
Grimes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Evan is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kieth Grimes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Grimes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kieth Grimes!