PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Corky McGraw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by

target=blank>I dont like the look of it. McGraw has chosen Freebird - Lynard Skynard as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Smith
vs
McGraw

185 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricky Smith!
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, Corky McGraw!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
McGraw misses with a wild combination.
McGraw misses with a wild combination.
McGraw misses with a two punch combination.
McGraw throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
McGraw shoots in but no luck this time.
Smith with a poor takedown
and McGraw counters with a series of strikes. Smith will be more careful next time no doubt.
Corky McGraw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McGraw is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, McGraw circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McGraw defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.

Smith drives through and clinches with McGraw against the cage.
Smith tries for a takedown. No joy.
McGraw takes a knee to the side of the body.

Smith breaks the clinch.
McGraw throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
Smith gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Smith wants to clinch up but McGraw keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGraw loads up on a big right hand but Smith slips the punch.
McGraw misses with the combination.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McGraw throws a sloppy head kick and Smith moves out of range easily.
McGraw looks gassed!
McGraw misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith wants to clinch up but McGraw keeps it at a distance.
Smith scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Smith darts in and clinches McGraw up against the cage.
McGraw throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
Smith goes for a takedown in the clinch but McGraw prevents it.
Smith tries for a takedown. No joy.

Smith wants the takedown. McGraw is fighting it off but Smith persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in McGraw's guard against the cage.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Smith wants to control from the top but McGraw keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGraw keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Smith wants to stand but McGraw is controlling his posture from full guard.

McGraw uses the cage to get back to his feet.
McGraw lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Smith backs up against the cage.
McGraw's corner calls for a 1-2. McGraw obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is on the wrong end of a nice combination from McGraw.
McGraw moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
McGraw fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Smith looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Smith gets cracked there but stands up to it.
McGraw rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
McGraw throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smith moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nice cross by McGraw.
Smith takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Smith displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McGraw throws out the jab.
Smith throws a right and a left that McGraw avoids nicely.
McGraw lands with a shot to the body.
A combination from McGraw does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from McGraw as Smith shoots in.
Nice shot lands for McGraw.
McGraw swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
McGraw throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
A punch combination from McGraw misses.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McGraw.
No luck for Smith with that takedown attempt.
McGraw lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and McGraw counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Corky McGraw dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming McGraw to the mat! McGraw manages to get full guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but McGraw keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McGraw looking to control.
Smith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Smith throws and elbow that misses. McGraw uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by McGraw!
McGraw postures up.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
McGraw wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to pass to mount but McGraw is defending the position.

Smith is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McGraw is just riding it out for now. Smith eventually gives up the hold.
McGraw lands a couple of sideways elbows.
McGraw trying to control from the bottom.
Smith trying to control the pace.
McGraw wants to get back to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if McGraw can do anything to dispel that myth.

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.
Smith is pressing down on McGraw's thigh, looking to free his foot. McGraw is holding on for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McGraw misses with a double jab
and Smith counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ricky Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

McGraw scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
McGraw tries to stand and escape but Smith is controlling the position.
McGraw thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
McGraw trying to pass the guard but Smith defending well.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGraw stops Smith from getting back to his feet.

McGraw decides to stand and escape the position.
Smith shoots and misses
letting McGraw counter with a right hand.
McGraw misses with a wild combination.
Smith is looking to clinch.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McGraw but McGraw pushes him off and we're back to square one.
McGraw fails to land with a series of punches.
McGraw throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
No joy there for McGraw, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four 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.
Smith is looking to clinch.
McGraw lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
McGraw moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Smith lands a head kick!
McGraw misses with a series of wild punches.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
McGraw moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McGraw misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Corky McGraw will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

McGraw looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but McGraw sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
McGraw tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McGraw is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, McGraw circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but McGraw circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McGraw looks to land a combination. Smith sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
McGraw avoids the head kick by Smith.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGraw lands a nice shot to the body.
Smith has a takedown stuffed.
McGraw throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McGraw scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGraw fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McGraw keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

McGraw scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

McGraw decides to stand back up.
A nice combination there by McGraw.
McGraw scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Smith fails with the takedown.
McGraw throws a right and a left that both miss.
A combination from McGraw does no damage.
McGraw misses with a jab, cross combination.
No joy there for McGraw, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Smith misses with the ground and pound.

Smith tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Smith goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, McGraw rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Smith's guard! Nice work there by McGraw!
Smith looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGraw stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Smith shoots and misses
and McGraw counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McGraw tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McGraw to the ground. McGraw escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
McGraw tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from McGraw.
McGraw misses with the combination.
McGraw lands with a shot to the body.
A punch combination from McGraw misses.
Smith displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
McGraw goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
McGraw is working the combinations to good effect here.
McGraw misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGraw will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McGraw swinging wilding here.
Smith looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Smith gets caught flat footed, as McGraw shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Corky McGraw is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith trying to control the position.
Corky McGraw has got the better of the ground game so far.
McGraw not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ricky Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McGraw missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith keeping full guard, as McGraw tries to pass.

McGraw gets to his feet. Smith looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

And that's the end of the fight!
Corky McGraw comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McGraw winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Corky McGraw!