PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Gruzdev (ranked 497 p4p, 66 weight class) and Eddie Gelfen (ranked 1039 p4p, 125 weight class). Eddie Gelfen acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Gruzdev
vs
Gelfen

190 cm
34
220 lbs
26 - 19 - 0

195 cm
30
275 lbs
22 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HGH Nutrients Q160 Tycoons Best Quality supps

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 19 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexander Gruzdev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eddie Gelfen!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid leg kick lands there for Gruzdev.
Gelfen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gruzdev throws a hook to the side of Gelfen's head but Gelfen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice defenses there by Gruzdev.
Gelfen throws the left hand but Gruzdev avoids the punch easily.
Gelfen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Gelfen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Gelfen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gelfen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gruzdev. That did some damage!
A head kick misses from Gruzdev.
Gruzdev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice body punch from Gelfen.
Gruzdev lands the left hand.
A left lands for Gelfen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gelfen throws a jab when Gruzdev was well out of range.
Gruzdev swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gruzdev swings widly with a right hand
and Gruzdev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Eddie Gelfen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gruzdev takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gelfen misses with a series of wild punches.
Gruzdev slips under a jab from Gelfen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gelfen throws a poor cross that misses
letting Gruzdev counter with a right hand.
Gelfen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gruzdev.
Gelfen throws a body kick that misses.
Gruzdev looks to land a combination. Gelfen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Gruzdev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A big left from Gruzdev misses.
Gelfen defending well as Gruzdev loads up on a big left hand.
Gruzdev looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gelfen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gruzdev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gelfen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gelfen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gruzdev is out of range and Gelfen settles back down.
A big right from Gruzdev misses.
Gelfen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gelfen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Gruzdev finds it's way round the side to connect with Gelfen's head.
Gelfen takes a swing at Gruzdev's ribcage but misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gruzdev throws a body shot but no joy.
Gelfen throws a nice looking combination but Gruzdev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gruzdev is looking to counter punch.
Gruzdev looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gelfen moves out of range as Gruzdev strikes.
Gelfen misses with a hook.
An attempted straight right counter from Gruzdev misses the target.
Gelfen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A lazy left from Gelfen finds it's target.
Gelfen misses with a double jab.
Gruzdev defending well as Gelfen loads up on a big left hand.
Gruzdev throws a head kick that misses.
Gelfen throws a jab when Gruzdev was well out of range.
A shot to the liver by Gelfen. Beautiful body shot.
Gruzdev thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gelfen slips under a jab from Gruzdev.
Gruzdev moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gruzdev misses with a shot to the body
enabling Gelfen to counter with a crisp jab.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gelfen.
Gruzdev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gelfen throws out the jab.
Gelfen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Gelfen misses with a hook to the body
and Gruzdev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gelfen connects with a looping right hand.
Gelfen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gruzdev moves away from the strike by Gelfen.
Gelfen throws a lazy right hand but Gruzdev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gruzdev throws a right hand that Gelfen ducks under and follows up with a left that Gelfen also avoids with ease.
Gruzdev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gruzdev looks to land a combination but Gelfen avoids it well.
Gruzdev cracks Gelfen with a good jab.
Gelfen throws a head kick but Gruzdev moves out of range.
Gelfen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gelfen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gelfen tries to clinch but Gruzdev is having none of it.
Gruzdev moves out of range of the body kick.
Gruzdev throws a sloppy head kick and Gelfen moves out of range easily.
Gelfen throws a hook to the side of Gruzdev's head but Gruzdev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gruzdev thinks about countering with a head kick.
Gruzdev on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gelfen. Gelfen obviously looking to wear him down.
Gruzdev moves out of range of the leg kick from Gelfen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gelfen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gruzdev moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gruzdev slips a jab from Gelfen.
It looked like Gruzdev wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gelfen's corner calls for a 1-2. Gelfen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Gruzdev scores with a jab.

Gelfen clinches.
Gelfen misses with some punches.

Gruzdev manages to break the clinch.
Gelfen sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Gruzdev stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gelfen.
Gruzdev is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Gruzdev throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Gelfen tried to score with a low kick but Gruzdev checks it.
The fighters circling - Gruzdev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gelfen works the jab nicely.
Gelfen blocks a head kick by Gruzdev.
Gelfen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Danga de danga de dang - Gelfen scores with a four punch combination!
A swing and a miss from Gruzdev.
Gruzdev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eddie Gelfen will probably get the nod.
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.

Gelfen is looking to clinch but Gruzdev is avoiding it.
Gelfen throws a nice looking combination but Gruzdev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gruzdev throws a leg kick but Gelfen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Gelfen was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
A right-left combo lands from Gelfen.
Gruzdev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gelfen.
Gelfen throws a hook to the side of Gruzdev's head but Gruzdev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gelfen finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Gelfen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gruzdev doesn't seem bothered though.
Gelfen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gelfen throws a jab when Gruzdev was well out of range.
Gelfen avoids the head kick by Gruzdev.
An inside leg kick lands from Gelfen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch lands to the side of Gruzdev 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Gelfen misses with a hook. Gruzdev ducked under it nicely.
Gelfen lands with a cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gelfen moves out of range of the strikes.
Gelfen slips a straight right by Gruzdev.
Gruzdev misses with a right hand
and Gelfen counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gelfen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Gelfen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gruzdev is out of range and Gelfen settles back down.
Gelfen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gruzdev.
Gelfen dodges the punch combination from Gruzdev.
Gruzdev throws a low kick but Gelfen moves out of range easily.
Gelfen avoids the body shot from Gruzdev.
Gelfen misses with a low kick.
Gelfen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gruzdev.
Gruzdev's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gelfen under the eye.
Gelfen sizes up Gruzdev with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gruzdev just misses with a punch to the body.
Gruzdev needs to keep his hands up - Gelfen had a free shot at his head there.
A cross from Gelfen lands.
Gelfen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gelfen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gelfen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gruzdev throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gruzdev throws an overhand right that lands on Gelfen's shoulder, as Gelfen tries to avoid the shot.
Gelfen is looking to score with low kicks.
A left and a right from Gruzdev both land. Nice combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gruzdev is looking to score with low kicks.
Gruzdev backing away here, and Gelfen unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gelfen checks a leg kick.
Gelfen throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gruzdev's head.
Gruzdev looks to land a combination but Gelfen avoids it well.
Gruzdev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gelfen.
Gruzdev misses with a wild body shot.
Gruzdev swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gelfen.
Nice shot by Gruzdev.
Gruzdev throws a hook but Gelfen blocks it.
Gruzdev blocks a leg kick.
Gruzdev misses with a hook. Gelfen ducked under it nicely.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gelfen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gruzdev.
Gelfen punishes Gruzdev's body with a nice straight punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gruzdev tries a head kick but it misses.
Gruzdev lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Gelfen lands with a straight right. Gruzdev didn't see that one coming.
Gruzdev looks to throw the jab but Gelfen is out of range.
Gelfen thows a body kick. Gruzdev tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Gruzdev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gelfen.
Gelfen looks to throw the jab but Gruzdev is out of range.
The crowd cheers as Gelfen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gruzdev doesn't seem phased though.
Gelfen lands a body shot.
Gelfen lands a right hook to the body.
Gelfen lands a jab to the nose.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gelfen.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gruzdev throws a head kick but Gelfen moves out of range.
Gelfen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gelfen throws a leg kick but Gruzdev checks it.
Eddie Gelfen seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Gelfen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gruzdev is looking to break free of the clinch but Gelfen has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gelfen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gelfen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Gelfen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gruzdev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gelfen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Gelfen tries to clinch but Gruzdev is having none of it.
Gelfen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gelfen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Gruzdev's head backwards.
Gelfen sizes up Gruzdev with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gruzdev lands a really nice looking cross but Gelfen seems unphased.
Some wild striking there from Gruzdev.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gelfen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gruzdev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gelfen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gruzdev's head.
Gruzdev stuns Gelfen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Gelfen lands a nice shot that snaps Gruzdev's head back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Gelfen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gelfen scores with a shot to the body.
Gruzdev throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gelfen cracks Gruzdev with an open hand slap.
Gelfen throws out a loose jab but Gruzdev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gelfen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Gruzdev sizes up Gelfen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gruzdev lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Gruzdev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gruzdev tries a head kick but it misses.
Gelfen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gruzdev counters with a left to the body.
Gruzdev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gelfen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gruzdev looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gruzdev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gelfen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gruzdev.
Gruzdev takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Gruzdev moves out of range of the body kick.
Gruzdev appears to be looking for a big counter.
Gruzdev works over Gelfen's head and body with a nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gruzdev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gelfen throws a one two combo.
Nice body kick from Gelfen.
Gelfen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Gelfen closes the distance and clinches.

Gruzdev breaks the clinch.
Gelfen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gruzdev sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Gelfen moves into the clinch.

Gelfen manages to break the clinch.
Gruzdev throws a lazy right hand but Gelfen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice jab there from Gruzdev.
Gruzdev checks a leg kick.
Gruzdev swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gelfen misses with an uppercut
and Gruzdev counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Gruzdev throws a body shot but no joy.
A nice inside leg kick there by Gruzdev. That's going to slow Gelfen down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gelfen wants to clinch.
Gruzdev seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gelfen wants to clinch.
Eddie Gelfen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Gelfen lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gruzdev has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gruzdev and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Gelfen takes one to the chin there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gruzdev. Gelfen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gelfen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A quick step to the side and Gruzdev tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big right from Gelfen misses.
Gruzdev takes one to the chin there.
A right-left combo lands from Gruzdev.
Gelfen misses with a low kick.
A good leg kick by Gruzdev.
Gelfen moves away from the strike by Gruzdev.
Gruzdev throws a hook but Gelfen blocks it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Gelfen! But no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Gruzdev.
A jab from Gelfen misses.
Gruzdev throws a nice looking combination but Gelfen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gelfen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gruzdev cracks the inside of Gelfen's front leg.
Gruzdev has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gruzdev there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gruzdev throws a low kick but Gelfen moves out of range easily.
Gruzdev cracks Gelfen with an open hand slap.
Gelfen tries to land a leg kick but Gruzdev saw it coming and moves away.
A clash of legs there as Gelfen blocks the low kick.

Gelfen moves into the clinch successfully.
Gruzdev can't break the clinch.
Gruzdev is trying to break the clinch but Gelfen has him pressed against the cage.

Gelfen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gruzdev misses with a series of wild punches.
Gelfen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gruzdev scores with a hook to the body. Gelfen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A jab from Gruzdev misses.
Gelfen let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Gruzdev scores with a jab. Gelfen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Gelfen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gelfen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Gruzdev needs to keep his hands up - Gelfen had a free shot at his head there.
Gelfen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Gelfen misses with a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gruzdev throws a lazy right hand but Gelfen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gelfen cracks a nice hook into Gruzdev's ribs.
Gruzdev misses with a left hand
and Gelfen makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Gruzdev really felt that one!
Alexander Gruzdev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A jab from Gruzdev misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alexander Gruzdev.
Well Gelfen 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Eddie Gelfen!
Eddie Gelfen decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
The defeated Alexander Gruzdev had this to say: 'Damn! My face feels like it has been molded by bricks!'.