PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Graves (ranked 25080 p4p, 25076 weight class) and Ichigo Rui (ranked 746 p4p, 747 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Graves
vs
Rui

182 cm
18
179
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
164
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pablo Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ichigo Rui!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Michael Johnstone and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rui tries to clinch there but Graves circles away.

Rui gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Graves decides to pull guard.
Rui stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Graves swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Graves tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rui trying to control but Graves is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rui throws a big right hand that misses.
Rui wants to control from the top but Graves keeps moving.
Graves is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves has a closed guard, preventing Rui from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
A head kick misses from Rui.
Rui moves in looking to clinch but Graves pushes him off.

Graves pushes Rui up against the cage in a clinch.
Rui has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Graves is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rui tries to pull guard but Graves won't allow it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Rui jumps guard.
Graves won't allow Rui to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Graves looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rui keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Graves tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rui knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Graves is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Rui to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Graves stays in close to Rui's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Graves trying to control the position from guard on top but Rui is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Graves's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've been informed that Rui has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Rui looking for subs off his back but Graves has passed one foot through into half guard.

Rui actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Graves looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rui wants to control but Graves is keeping busy.
Rui wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Graves sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Graves circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Graves dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rui shoots in for a takedown but Graves shows good takedown defense.
Graves throwing a counter right hand but Rui manages to avoid it.
Rui with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Graves to counter with a crisp jab.

Graves clinches.

Rui jumps guard.

Rui has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Graves can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Graves drops back looking for a leg! Rui is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rui manages to kick Graves off! Graves jumps back into Rui's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rui is trying to control the position but Graves postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves passes into half guard.
Graves trying to advance position but Rui counters by regaining guard.
Graves has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Rui working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Graves doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Graves manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rui wants to stand and escape but Graves is having none of it.
Rui not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Graves showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Graves drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rui looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rui looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rui!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rui is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Graves is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Graves is not content to let Rui control the position.
Graves is trying to control Rui's posture but Rui avoids it.
Graves tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rui wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves wants to control but Rui postures up.
Graves is looking to regain half guard here but Rui keeps moving and retains side control.
Graves is working hard here to advance position.

Rui wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Graves, who protects the arm well.
Graves is not content to let Rui control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Graves tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rui wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Graves struggling a bit here.
Rui wants to stand but Graves is controlling his arm.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rui lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Graves circles away quickly and effectively.
Rui looks to clinch
enabling Graves to counter with a crisp jab.
Rui tries for a takedown but Graves circles away easily
and Graves counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rui thinking.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ichigo Rui will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rui closes the distance and clinches up with Graves, looking for a takedown. Rui pushes Graves against the cage but Graves circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Graves stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Graves wants it to stay on the feet.

Graves closes the distance and clinches.
Graves is trying to pull guard but Rui turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rui jumps guard but Graves stands there with Rui around his waist. Rui gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Pablo Graves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ichigo Rui.
Rui fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Graves manages to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rui trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Graves has control of Rui's left arm, preventing Rui from doing any damage.
Graves is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rui can do to turn this around?

Graves looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rui passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rui is looking to advance position but Graves won't allow it.
Rui seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Graves does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Graves wants to get back to full guard.
Graves wants to control but Rui is keeping busy.
Graves knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rui on the ground.
Rui content to control rather than advance.
Rui trying to control the action but Graves is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Graves looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ichigo Rui has got the better of the ground game so far.
Graves wants to improve his position but Rui is controlling well.
Graves is refusing to be controlled, as Rui sits in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rui tries for a takedown but Graves circles away easily
and Graves counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rui throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Graves's waist but Graves gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rui off to one side.
Rui takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rui with a poor takedown
and Graves counters with a stiff right hand.

Graves looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Graves trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Rui working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Graves doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Graves manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Graves showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Graves tries to free his leg and advance position but Rui is retaining full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Graves sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rui keeping full guard, as Graves tries to pass.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Graves showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Graves 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 David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Graves!