PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kulma Rauta (ranked 1970 p4p, 3308 weight class) and Phil Graves (ranked 264 p4p, 414 weight class). Graves is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by I Bring The Darkness.. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rauta
vs
Graves

190 cm
20
178
4 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
174
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kulma Rauta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Phil Graves!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Chad Campbell and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graves throws a body shot but no joy.
Rauta throwing a counter right hand but Graves manages to avoid it.
Graves fails with an attempt to clinch.
It looked like Rauta wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Rauta is looking to chop away at Graves's legs.
Rauta checks a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Graves.
Rauta scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Phil Graves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graves stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rauta swats away the attempt to clinch by Graves.
Rauta fires out a quick counter leg kick but Graves just manages to avoid it.
Graves fails in his attempt to clinch.
Graves slips a jab and a cross from Rauta.
Graves wants to counter with a clinch but Rauta pushes him away.

Graves moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rauta blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rauta misses with some punches.
Rauta slows down the pace here.
A right hand to the body from Rauta.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves blocks an uppercut.
Graves throws a head punch that misses.
Rauta taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Graves letting Rauta take a breather here.
Rauta blocking some punches.
Rauta misses with a punch on the inside.
Rauta misses with a punch to the body.
Rauta has Graves pressed against the cage.
Graves works on Rauta's body with a couple of short punches.
Rauta prevents a body shot from Graves.
Rauta lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rauta holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rauta misses with the head strike.
Rauta has a couple of punches blocked by Graves.
Graves throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves tries to throw a body punch but Rauta avoids it by throwing Graves back against the cage.
Rauta lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Graves swings wildly with an uppercut but Rauta uses good head movement to avoid it.
Graves scores with a hook to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Graves.
Graves misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Graves lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rauta backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Graves misses with some punches.
Rauta working aggressively here.
Graves lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rauta's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Graves.
Rauta swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rauta has a couple of punches blocked by Graves.
Rauta lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Graves throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Graves.
A nice right hand lands inside from Graves.

It looks like Kulma Rauta has been cut.
Rauta lands with a right to the head.
A short right from Graves.
Rauta scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rauta lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Graves backwards.
Rauta tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Graves's coach down at Combat Wombat Burrow was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Graves's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Rauta throws a punch but it's blocked by Graves.
A head punch on the inside from Graves fails to land.

Rauta breaks from the clinch.
Graves swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Rauta to counter with a crisp jab.
Graves misses with the combination.
We've been told by Rauta's head coaches at Jorzi GYM that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Rauta getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Graves scores with a jab to the body.

Graves instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rauta.
Rauta scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rauta pressing his opponent against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Graves.
Graves has a couple of punches blocked by Rauta.
Rauta blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rauta scores with a shot to the side of Graves's head.
Graves throws a punch but it's blocked by Rauta.
Graves tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Graves fails to land.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Graves.
Rauta is pushing Graves up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Graves lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rauta backwards.
Graves struggles to land a body shot inside as Rauta controls his hands.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Phil Graves will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kulma Rauta's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A big left from Rauta misses.
Graves with a jab.

Graves has taken the fight to the clinch.
Graves swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rauta lands with a short shot to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Graves fails to land.
Rauta throws a head punch that misses.
Phil Graves seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A head punch on the inside from Graves fails to land.
Rauta lands with a light punch inside.
Graves lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rauta backwards.
Rauta throws a punch but it's blocked by Graves.
Rauta will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Graves up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves misses with a hook from the clinch.
Graves lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rauta.
Rauta makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rauta blocks an uppercut.
Rauta lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Rauta working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rauta misses with the head strike.
A right hand to the body from Rauta.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rauta.
Still in the clinch, Graves scores with a nice short uppercut.
Graves misses with some punches.
Rauta displaying some good clinch control by pressing Graves up against the cage.
Rauta misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short uppercut from Graves.
Rauta is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Graves blocks a body shot from Rauta.
Rauta scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rauta fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rauta lands a shoulder strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Graves as Rauta tries to tie him up.
Graves blocking some punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rauta working aggressively here.
Graves lands with a light punch inside.
Rauta taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rauta lands a right hand that snaps the head of Graves backwards.
Graves misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rauta lands a shoulder strike.
A short left from Graves.
Graves misses with a hook to the ribs.
Graves lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rauta backwards.
Graves has a couple of punches blocked by Rauta.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Graves.
A short body shot lands from Rauta as the two fighters clinch.
Graves lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rauta lands with a light punch inside.
Graves lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rauta.
Rauta blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Graves tries to work over Rauta's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Graves.
Rauta stalls.
Rauta misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rauta just leaning against Graves, taking a breather.
The referee calls for Rauta to work.
Graves lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rauta backwards.
Graves struggles to land a body shot inside as Rauta controls his hands.
Rauta blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rauta lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Graves working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Graves.
Rauta blocks a body shot from Graves.
Rauta taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rauta lands with a short punch from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rauta lands with a short shot to the head.
Rauta blocks an uppercut.
Graves misses with a body punch.
Rauta fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Graves fails to land.
Rauta swings wildly with an uppercut but Graves uses good head movement to avoid it.
Graves misses with a body punch.
Rauta avoiding damage.
Rauta lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rauta misses with the head strike.
Rauta scores with a hook to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Graves as Rauta tries to tie him up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kulma Rauta will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kulma Rauta's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Graves throws an off balance right hand
and Rauta counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Graves throws a big shot that misses.
Graves lands a jab to the head.
Graves slips a straight right by Rauta.
Rauta walks into a jab.
Nice defenses there by Rauta.
Rauta was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Graves thows a left - swing and a miss!
A slow jab from Rauta misses its intended target.
Graves misses the jab.
Graves moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Graves moves into range and clinches up with Rauta.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rauta stalls.
Graves throws a punch but it's blocked by Rauta.
Graves is working Rauta over against the cage.
Rauta is struggling to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rauta throws a punch but it's blocked by Graves.
Graves swings wildly with an uppercut but Rauta uses good head movement to avoid it.
Graves misses with a hook from the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Graves scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rauta blocking some punches.
Graves working aggressively here.
Rauta throws a head punch that misses.
Rauta swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rauta pressing his opponent against the cage.
Graves misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rauta throws a head punch that misses.
Rauta is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Graves is keeping busy.
Rauta goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves working aggressively here.
Graves lands a hook that snaps the head of Rauta backwards.
Graves tries a body shot but Rauta blocks it.
Rauta misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rauta tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rauta lands a left hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rauta.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rauta.
Rauta throws a punch but it's blocked by Graves.
Rauta working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Graves lands a body punch in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch on the inside from Graves fails to land.
A hook to the body from Rauta.
Graves lands a hook that snaps the head of Rauta backwards.
Rauta scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rauta swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rauta blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves has a couple of punches blocked by Rauta.
Graves doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rauta is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rauta lands with a left to the head.
Graves tries to throw a body punch but Rauta avoids it by throwing Graves back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rauta.
Rauta stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Graves blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Graves.
Graves throws a punch but it's blocked by Rauta.
A short right from Rauta.
Graves is working Rauta over against the cage.
Rauta is trying to maintain a safe position but Graves gets an underhook and turns Rauta into the cage.
Rauta scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rauta is trying to maintain a safe position but Graves gets an underhook and turns Rauta into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves misses with the head strike.
Graves can't find room to land a body shot as Rauta controls the action.
Rauta stalling the fight.
Graves misses with some punches.
Rauta is stalling here.
Rauta struggles to land a body shot inside as Graves controls his hands.
Rauta has a couple of punches blocked by Graves.
Graves has a couple of punches blocked by Rauta.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rauta.
Rauta misses with a hook to the ribs.
Good body shot from Graves.
Graves scores with a shoulder strike.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Graves has a couple of punches blocked by Rauta.
Rauta blocks an uppercut.
Graves working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Graves lands with a left to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phil Graves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Graves 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!