PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Callaghan (ranked 6594 p4p, 609 weight class) and Marian Graves (ranked 3250 p4p, 393 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that John Callaghan has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily John Callaghan seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Callaghan
vs
Graves

172 cm
19
179 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Callaghan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marian Graves!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Callaghan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Graves to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Callaghan is looking to sweep but instead, Graves has passed into half guard.
Callaghan wants to get back to his feet.
Graves takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Graves looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Callaghan with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Callaghan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Graves scores with a couple of nice shots.
Graves slips a nice elbow through Callaghan's hands, connecting with Callaghan's forehead.
Graves thows a huge punch but Callaghan dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Callaghan is not content to let Graves control the position.
Graves prevents Callaghan from improving his position.
Graves passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Callaghan is looking to regain half guard here but Graves keeps moving and retains side control.
Graves tries to move into full mount but can't pass Callaghan's legs.
A lull in the action here as Graves stalls from top position.
Graves fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Graves throws an elbow but Callaghan slips to the side and avoids it well.
Graves creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Callaghan wants to control but Graves postures up.
Callaghan is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Callaghan taking punishment in the form of punches.
Graves lands a few punches from side control.
Callaghan is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Graves's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Graves working the head and body with strikes.
Graves lands with a punch from half guard.
Graves prevents Callaghan from standing back up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Graves lands a nice short elbow.
Callaghan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Graves is working away from the top position though.
Graves throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Callaghan to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves stopping the sweep attempt from Callaghan.
Callaghan trying to control the position.
Graves working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Callaghan's head.
Callaghan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Graves on the ground.
Graves throwing strikes but missing.
Graves throws a big elbow that misses.
Callaghan lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Callaghan wants to get up but he can't break Graves's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves seems keen to control Callaghan's posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Graves is on top in guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Graves cracks Callaghan with a solid left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marian Graves dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Callaghan throws a lazy right hand but Graves sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Callaghan swings away with a body shot that misses

and Graves counters with a takedown into side control.
Graves connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Callaghan some visible discomfort.
Graves landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Callaghan can't do much from the bottom here.
Graves creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Callaghan tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Graves wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Graves connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Callaghan some visible discomfort.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Graves goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Callaghan has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Graves but great work by Callaghan.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Callaghan wants to stand but Graves is controlling his arm.
Graves tries to buck Callaghan off but Callaghan is having none of it.
Graves has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Callaghan wants to stand but Graves is controlling his arm.

Callaghan decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Graves blocks the body kick.
Graves swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Callaghan lands a slapping body shot.
Callaghan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Graves moves away.

Graves drives through with a takedown into guard.
Callaghan wants to stand and escape but Graves is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Callaghan is pulling down on Graves's head. It's preventing any offense from Graves, at least for the moment.
Graves cracks Callaghan with a solid left hand.
Graves passes into half guard.
Callaghan is looking to control Graves's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Callaghan avoid being mounted?
Graves thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We've been informed that Graves has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Callaghan is staying active underneath Graves, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Callaghan is trying to control but can't.
Callaghan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Graves scores with a couple of nice shots.
Graves landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Marian Graves has got the better of the ground game so far.
Graves with the ground and pound but Callaghan uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Graves trying to control but Callaghan is working from the bottom.
Graves with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Graves content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Callaghan trying to keep a closed guard but Graves is proving a slippery customer.
Graves has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Graves landing some decent shots from guard.
Graves postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves lands a couple of elbows.
Graves makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Callaghan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Graves is working Callaghan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Graves accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Callaghan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Graves throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Callaghan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Graves landing some decent shots from guard.
Graves trying to control but Callaghan is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Callaghan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Callaghan thuds a left hand into Graves's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marian Graves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Callaghan misses with a hook. Graves ducked under it nicely.
We've been told by Callaghan's head coaches at St Petersburg MMA Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Graves doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Callaghan counter with a right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Callaghan. Graves does a little dance to reset his feet.
Callaghan misses with a few strikes there.
It seemed like Graves was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Callaghan throws a hook to the side of Graves's head but Graves sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Callaghan drops Graves with a beautiful combination! Graves stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Callaghan is looking for the KO!

Graves is rocked!

It looks like Marian Graves has been cut.
Graves fails with the takedown
and Callaghan counters with a crisp right that sends Graves to the canvas! Callaghan follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Callaghan!