PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Rabago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William McGraw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rabago
vs
McGraw

184 cm
20
230 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

192 cm
22
258 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Rabago!
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, William McGraw!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McGraw.

McGraw shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than McGraw was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
McGraw in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
McGraw should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
McGraw looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McGraw is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rabago is surviving well by controlling McGraw's body position as best he can.
McGraw content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGraw landing strikes from the mount and Rabago is in trouble!
Rabago tries to control the position but McGraw now has his back.
McGraw biding his time, looking for the opening.
Rabago trying to control but not successfully.
Rabago is in bad spot here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rabago staying busy and making it hard for McGraw to control.
McGraw is riding his opponent, not letting Rabago buck him off.
Rabago covering up well under a barage of strikes.
The referee is taking a good look at Rabago as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from McGraw!
Rabago covering up well under a series of strikes from McGraw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGraw doesn't have the hooks in and Rabago manages to turn into his guard.
McGraw wants to stand up but Rabago is controlling him.
McGraw is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
McGraw has momentary wrist control but Rabago slips an elbow through the middle.

McGraw pushes Rabago off and scrambles back to his feet.

McGraw scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
McGraw looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGraw is taking a breather. Rabago says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
McGraw tries to pass to full mount but Rabago defends it.
McGraw is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rabago is trying to stand back up but McGraw is controlling him
McGraw trying to mount his opponent but Rabago defends it.
Rabago is looking to control McGraw's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rabago avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William McGraw dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rabago feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
McGraw throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Rabago has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of McGraw is proving hard to escape from.
Rabago trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rabago won't allow McGraw to sweep him here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rabago passes McGraw's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGraw flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
McGraw wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rabago with a poor takedown

and McGraw counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rabago's guard now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McGraw trying to control the position from guard on top but Rabago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rabago is looking for a triangle but McGraw pushes his legs off easily.

Rabago looking for submissions from the bottom but instead McGraw passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rabago manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Rabago keeping busy on the bottom but McGraw has passed one foot through into half guard.
Rabago wants to get back to full guard.
Rabago tries to kick McGraw off but McGraw keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
McGraw wants to advance to full mount but Rabago doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGraw postures up.
Rabago wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and McGraw is now in half guard.
Rabago works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rabago looking to hit a scissor sweep but McGraw is one step ahead there.

Rabago has an active guard here but McGraw has managed to pass into half guard.

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.
Rabago is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

McGraw decides to stand up.

McGraw rushes Rabago and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rabago blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rabago tries to pull guard but McGraw holds him up against the cage and eventually Rabago drops back down to his feet.
Rabago fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William McGraw showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rabago misses with a takedown

and McGraw counters with a nice double leg into guard.

McGraw decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rabago, up you get!
Rabago gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and McGraw decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rabago's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McGraw preventing the sweep.
McGraw looking to pass the guard.

McGraw gets to his feet - Rabago follows without any prompting.

Rabago gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
McGraw takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rabago has his feet on McGraw's thighs here. He's pushed McGraw off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! McGraw screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tom Rabago!