PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cato McGraw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stewart Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kelly has chosen Dropkick Murphy's - Shipping Up To Boston as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McGraw
vs
Kelly

195 cm
24
210 lbs
13 - 12 - 0

180 cm
21
216 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Cato McGraw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Stewart Kelly!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGraw shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kelly defends it nicely.
Kelly throws a hook but McGraw avoids it easily.
Kelly misses with a wild combination.
McGraw looks to land a combination but Kelly avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Kelly does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGraw shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kelly sprawls well. Kelly wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McGraw gets slowly back to his feet.
Kelly misses with a few strikes there.
Kelly scores with a one two! McGraw had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kelly throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and McGraw counters with a shoot takedown. Kelly fights it but they end up in guard.
McGraw wants to control from the top but Kelly keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kelly manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McGraw manages to get himself to full guard.
McGraw keeping full guard, as Kelly tries to pass.
Kelly in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kelly stopping the sweep attempt from McGraw.
Kelly is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kelly trying to control but McGraw is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGraw keeping full guard, as Kelly tries to pass.
Kelly's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kelly throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and McGraw counters with a straight right hand.
Kelly misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kelly throws a combination that misses
and McGraw counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's four 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.
Kelly throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling McGraw to counter with a crisp jab.
Kelly stuffs the takedown attempt from McGraw. McGraw gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cato McGraw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kelly throws a combination that misses
and McGraw cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McGraw throws a leg kick but Kelly sees it coming and checks it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kelly lands a jab-cross combination.
Kelly checks a leg kick nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Cato McGraw will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kelly will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kelly lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

McGraw closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McGraw lands in his opponent's guard.
Kelly is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kelly is controlling the pace.
Kelly is keen to just control but McGraw is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kelly is keen to just control but McGraw is a slippery customer.
Kelly content to control rather than advance.
Kelly tries to pass the half guard into mount. McGraw knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kelly trying to control the action but McGraw is working from the bottom.
Kelly looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Despite being in the dominant position, Stewart Kelly just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McGraw tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kelly swivels and escapes.
Stewart Kelly is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kelly throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McGraw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGraw shoots in for a takedown but Kelly shows good takedown defense.
Kelly misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kelly swings and misses with a shot to the body
and McGraw counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McGraw looks to throw the jab but Kelly is out of range.
Kelly works the jab nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McGraw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cato McGraw. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGraw throws a hook but Kelly blocks it.
Some wild striking there from Kelly.
McGraw is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kelly throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McGraw misses with a series of wild punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stewart Kelly showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kelly blocks a leg kick.
McGraw fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kelly swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and McGraw counters with a shoot takedown. Kelly fights it but they end up in guard.
Kelly wants to sweep here but McGraw controlling him for the moment.
McGraw in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McGraw trying to control the position from guard on top but Kelly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kelly tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McGraw tries to free his leg and advance position but Kelly is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kelly trying to keep a closed guard but McGraw is proving a slippery customer.
Kelly is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kelly throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cato McGraw is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McGraw misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kelly misses with a combination

and McGraw counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McGraw missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kelly manages to get to full guard.
Kelly looking to hit a scissor sweep but McGraw is one step ahead there.
Kelly working a defensive guard here.
McGraw looking to pass the guard.

Kelly looking for subs off his back but McGraw has passed one foot through into half guard.
Kelly is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGraw is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
McGraw will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kelly wants to improve his position but McGraw is controlling well.
McGraw trying to control the action but Kelly is working from the bottom.
Kelly keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kelly manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McGraw is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kelly manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McGraw manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly connects with a couple of short punches.
Kelly working some strikes from top position.
McGraw can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kelly controls the pace.
Kelly stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McGraw swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McGraw utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kelly looking to pass the guard.
Kelly thows a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cato McGraw showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McGraw 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

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