PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Finn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabio Grazie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Grazie's choice of entrance music: Randy Edelman, Trevor Jones - Promontory. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Finn
vs
Grazie

189 cm
23
205 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

177 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Craig Finn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Fabio Grazie!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Hugh Johnson and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grazie avoids the body shot from Finn.
A head kick misses from Finn.
Finn moves in looking to clinch but Grazie pushes him off.
Grazie ducks under a wild hook from Finn.
Grazie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Grazie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Finn is fending him off so far but Grazie persists. Nope, Finn circles away and we're back to standing.
Grazie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Finn swivels and escapes.
Finn is looking to clinch but Grazie is avoiding it.
Finn wants to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Finn. No joy for Grazie on that attempt.
Craig Finn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabio Grazie.
Grazie has a takedown stuffed.
Grazie circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grazie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Craig Finn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Finn swings and misses with a hook to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Finn prevents a takedown attempt there.

Grazie ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Grazie no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finn stands and throws Grazie's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Finn fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Finn wants to stand but Grazie has his arm trapped.
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Finn in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Finn decides to stand back up. Finn steps back and let's Grazie get back to his feet.
Finn tries to clinch up but Grazie circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finn tries to clinch up but Grazie circles away and keeps his distance.
Finn throws a right and a left that Grazie avoids nicely.
Grazie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Finn tries to avoid it but Grazie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Finn to the ground. Finn escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Grazie moves out of range of the body kick.
An inside leg kick from Finn misses.
A head kick misses from Finn.
Grazie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Grazie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Finn but Finn pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Grazie looks gassed!
Finn is looking to clinch but Grazie is avoiding it.
Finn doesn't manage to clinch there - Grazie circles away.
Finn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Craig Finn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Grazie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Finn looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Finn tries to escape but Grazie is in control.
Finn is not content to let Grazie control the position.
Finn is trying to control Grazie's posture but Grazie avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Finn explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Grazie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Finn tries to clinch up but Grazie circles away and keeps his distance.
Grazie takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Grazie keeps the fight on the outside.
Finn tries to clinch but Grazie is having none of it.
Finn tries to clinch but Grazie is having none of it.
Finn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Finn wants to clinch up but Grazie keeps it at a distance.
Some wild striking there from Finn.
Finn misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Grazie swats away the attempt to clinch by Finn.
Grazie shoots for a takedown but Finn saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Finn throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Grazie fails with a takedown attempt.
Finn fails with an attempt to clinch.

Grazie feints and as Finn raises his hands in defense, Grazie changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Finn trying to control the position.
Finn seems keen to control Grazie's posture.
Grazie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Finn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
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 Craig Finn will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Finn tries to close the distance and clinch but Grazie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Finn tries to clinch up but Grazie circles away and keeps his distance.

Grazie gets the takedown into side control.
Finn wants to control but Grazie postures up.

Grazie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Finn knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Grazie working away.
Grazie is breathing heavily.
Grazie tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Finn is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Grazie is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grazie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Finn is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Finn manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Grazie is keen to just control but Finn is a slippery customer.
Finn is trying to maintain the position but Grazie is very close to passing his half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Finn tries to land a front kick but Grazie steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Finn tries to clinch up but Grazie circles away and keeps his distance.
Finn wants to clinch.
Craig Finn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Finn clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Finn is leaning against Grazie and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Finn tries a body shot but Grazie blocks it.
Finn is working Grazie over against the cage.
Grazie tries for a takedown but Finn manages to get underhooks.
Finn missing with knees to the body.
Finn lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Finn missing with knees to the body.
Finn lands a knee to the body.
Grazie wants a takedown.
A short right from Finn.
Finn is leaning against Grazie and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Finn misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Grazie.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Finn just misses with a elbow thrown towards Grazie's brow.
Good body shot from Finn.
Finn lands a body punch.
Finn lands a body punch.
Grazie tries to score a body lock takedown but Finn shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Craig Finn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabio Grazie.
Finn lands a left hand.
Finn lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Grazie.
Grazie avoiding damage as Finn throws knees to the body.
Finn prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nice body punch from Finn - that landed with a thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finn comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Grazie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Finn gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Finn lands a body shot.
Finn lands a body shot in the clinch.
Finn missing with knees to the body.
Finn missing with knees to the body.
Grazie managing to block the knees to the body from Finn.
Finn lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Grazie tries for a takedown but Finn manages to get underhooks.
Grazie on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Finn.
A left hand lands to the body for Finn.
Finn lands with a short shot to the head.
Grazie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Finn gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Finn lands a body punch in the clinch.
Grazie managing to block the knees to the body from Finn.
Grazie avoiding damage as Finn throws knees to the body.
Finn using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Grazie tries for a takedown but Finn manages to get underhooks.
Finn throws an elbow but it misses.
Finn works on Grazie's body with a couple of short punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Finn creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Finn unloads a knee to the mid-section. Grazie lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Grazie managing to block the knees to the body from Finn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finn throws an elbow that misses.
Finn lands an elbow inside that Grazie shrugs off.
Grazie managing to block the knees to the body from Finn.
Grazie blocks an elbow strike.
Finn gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Grazie.
Finn lands a knee to the body.
Finn misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Grazie.
A nice right hand lands inside from Finn.
Grazie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Finn smiles and moves away.
Grazie swats away the attempt to clinch by Finn.

Grazie shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Grazie showed some decent athleticism there.
Finn keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Finn dominated that second 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A combination from Finn does no damage.

Grazie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grazie wants to control from the top but Finn keeps moving.
Finn can't keep his opponent in guard - Grazie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Finn is trying to maintain the position but Grazie is very close to passing his half guard.
Finn is staying active underneath Grazie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Finn is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grazie wants to take a breather but Finn is having none of it.
Finn has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Grazie is working away from the top position though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Finn throws a sloppy head kick and Grazie moves out of range easily.
Grazie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Finn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Finn tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Grazie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Grazie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Finn circles away.

Finn clinches up with Grazie and pushes him back against the cage.
Grazie tries to pull guard but Finn won't allow it.
Craig Finn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabio Grazie.
Finn digs a right hand into Grazie's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Grazie's gas tank.
Finn gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Grazie.
Finn tries to land knees in the clinch but Grazie avoids the damage to the body.
Grazie takes an elbow to the temple.
Finn is pressed up against the cage. Grazie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Finn down to the mat. Finn avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Finn moves into range and clinches up with Grazie.
Finn lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Finn lands a body punch in the clinch.
Finn misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Grazie.
Grazie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Knees in the clinch landing for Finn.
Nice elbow from Finn.
Grazie blocks an elbow strike from Finn.
Finn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Grazie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Finn smiles and moves away.
Grazie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Finn tries to close the distance and clinch but Grazie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Finn clinches up against the cage.
Finn trying to land knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Finn.
Finn is pressed up against the cage. Grazie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Finn down to the mat. Finn avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Finn is looking to clinch.
Finn is looking to clinch but Grazie is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Finn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Grazie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Finn tries to close the distance and clinch but Grazie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Grazie checks a low kick from Finn.
Horrible takedown by Grazie or perhaps it was just good defense by Finn which made him look bad.
Grazie moves out of range of the body kick from Finn.
Finn tries to close the distance and clinch but Grazie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Finn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Grazie shoots for a double leg takedown but Finn sprawls well. He's pushed Grazie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Finn doesn't manage to clinch there - Grazie circles away.
Fabio Grazie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice sprawl there from Finn as Grazie shoots in.

Finn darts in and clinches Grazie up against the cage.
Finn lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Finn - that landed with a thud.
Finn lands a nice elbow.
Finn tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Finn cracks Grazie with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Grazie fails to pull guard.
Finn looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Finn is pressed up against the cage. Grazie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Finn down to the mat. Finn avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Finn sizes up Grazie with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Finn darts in and clinches Grazie up against the cage.
Grazie on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Grazie managing to block the knees to the body from Finn.

Grazie pulls guard.
Finn will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Finn looking to sit in guard and control but Grazie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Grazie won't allow Finn to get back to his feet.
Finn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Grazie throws a big right hand that misses.
Grazie throws and elbow that misses. Finn uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Grazie's guard. Nice move by Finn!

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Finn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Finn, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Finn!