PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sean Gratton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reed Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reed Richards will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Gratton
vs
Richards

193 cm
22
265 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

215 cm
22
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sean Gratton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reed Richards!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards misses with a double jab.
Richards misses with a series of wild punches.

Richards has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gratton wants a takedown but no success here.
Gratton is trying to drag Richards to the mat but Richards just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gratton drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Richards gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Gratton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Richards blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gratton goes for a takedown attempt but Richards pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gratton has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards misses with the combination.
Richards swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Gratton changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Richards looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Gratton.
Richards struggling a bit here.
Gratton lands a few punches from side control.
The strikes coming from Gratton are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Gratton in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Richards can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gratton working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Richards is trying to buck Gratton off.
Gratton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gratton working away.
Gratton connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Richards some visible discomfort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gratton is controlling him well.
Richards really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gratton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gratton scores with a couple of short elbows.
Richards gets back to half guard.
Richards is looking to escape.
Gratton is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gratton is breathing heavily.
Gratton throws a strike but Richards avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Gratton postures up in Richards's guard and throws a big left but Richards blocks it.
Gratton scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gratton stops Richards from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Gratton postures up and lands a big shot to Richards's brow.
Richards pulls Gratton in to control the position.
Gratton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Richards working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gratton.
Richards wants to stand but Gratton is controlling the position.
Richards working a defensive guard but Gratton manages to pass into side control anyway.
Gratton scoring with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gratton asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Gratton misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Gratton working the body and head with strikes.
Gratton in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Gratton misses with the ground and pound.
Gratton creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Richards sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gratton misses with the ground and pound.
Richards sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Gratton dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Decent striking displayed by Richards there.
Gratton fails to land the takedown.
A lazy left from Richards finds it's target.
Gratton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Richards scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Richards misses with a double jab.
Richards comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Gratton avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gratton takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Richards clinches.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Richards as Gratton tries to tie him up.
Richards wants to get back to striking at distance but Gratton won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Richards tries to break the clinch but Gratton is controlling the position.
Gratton tries to score a body lock takedown but Richards shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Gratton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards wants to break the clinch but can't.
Richards wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gratton wants a takedown.
Richards managing to block the knees to the body from Gratton.

Richards breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sean Gratton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Richards throws a series of punches but Gratton avoids them all with ease.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Richards is looking to clinch but Gratton is avoiding it.
Richards keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Richards keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Left hook, right uppercut from Richards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Richards.
Richards is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Richards closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Richards stops a takedown attempt from Gratton.
Richards is trying to break the clinch but Gratton has him pressed against the cage.
Richards stops a takedown attempt from Gratton.
Richards wants to get back to striking at distance but Gratton won't allow it.
Richards can't break the clinch.
Gratton changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Richards fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Richards closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Gratton showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Richards.
Gratton shoots in and drives through. Richards sprawls well.
Richards throws a combination. Gratton tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gratton tries to move into range but Richards moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards scores with a jab.
Richards lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gratton backs up against the cage.
Some wild striking there from Richards.
Richards looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Richards tries to clinch but Gratton moves out of range.

Richards gets a clinch.
Gratton has Richards pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Richards manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gratton is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Richards gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Richards wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gratton has him pressed against the cage.
Richards is looking to break free of the clinch but Gratton has double underhooks.
Richards is trying to break free.
Richards is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gratton wants a takedown but no success here.
Gratton is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Richards pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Richards looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Richards fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Richards misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gratton.
Gratton misses with a takedown attempt - Richards sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jab from Richards.
Richards doesn't manage to clinch there - Gratton circles away.
Gratton looks for a takedown but Richards sprawls well.
Reed Richards is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gratton avoids a kick to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Richards looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gratton fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Richards!

Richards fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gratton, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reed Richards 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! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Richards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Richards is looking to land body kicks.
Gratton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gratton shoots in for a double leg but Richards sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Richards throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gratton fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Richards clinches.
Richards wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Richards is looking to break free of the clinch but Gratton has double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Gratton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Richards is trying to break free.
Richards tries to break the clinch but Gratton is controlling the position.
Richards tries to break the clinch but Gratton is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards wants to break free but Gratton has control.
Richards is trying to break free.
Come on Gratton - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Richards wants to get back to striking at distance but Gratton won't allow it.
Gratton drops down looking for an ankle pick but Richards pulls his leg out and moves away.
Richards lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gratton circles away quickly and effectively.
Richards lands with a nice body punch.
Richards throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Richards has Gratton up against the cage in a clinch.
Gratton is trying to drag Richards to the mat but Richards just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Richards breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gratton shoots for a double leg takedown but Richards sprawls well. He's pushed Gratton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Richards scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Nice body punch from Richards.
Gratton blocks a head kick by Richards.
Richards tries to bum rush Gratton with a series of wild strikes but Gratton uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gratton avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gratton tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Richards swivels and escapes.
Richards fails to land with a series of punches.
Richards throws a right and a left that Gratton avoids nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Richards. No joy for Gratton on that attempt.
Richards lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gratton backs up against the cage.
Richards throws a right and a left that Gratton avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards stuffs the takedown.
Gratton moves forwards but Richards connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gratton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Richards looks to land a combination but Gratton avoids it well.
Horrible takedown by Gratton or perhaps it was just good defense by Richards which made him look bad.
Danga de danga de dang - Richards scores with a four punch combination!

Gratton closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gratton lands in his opponent's guard.

Richards pushes Gratton off and gets back to his feet.

Gratton closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gratton lands in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards wants to stand and escape but Gratton is having none of it.
Richards working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gratton.
Gratton with a nice head shot there.
Gratton throws a big right hand that misses.
Sean Gratton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gratton won't allow Richards to get back to his feet.
Gratton is looking to work some ground and pound but Richards has wrist control.
Gratton throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reed Richards comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Richards has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reed Richards!