PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Taylor Graves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Papa Smurf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Graves
vs
Smurf

198 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
21
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent elbows
Big heart

Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Taylor Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Papa Smurf!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graves connects with a high kick.
Graves tries to clinch but Smurf moves out of range.

Graves moves into the clinch successfully.
Graves lands an uppercut.
Smurf tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Smurf misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Graves.

Graves breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Graves clinches with his opponent.

Graves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smurf dodges the punch combination from Graves.
Smurf is looking for the big counter here.

Graves closes the distance and clinches.

Graves's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Graves scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Graves moves into the clinch successfully.
Smurf trying to control the position but instead, Graves has worked for underhooks and has pushed Smurf into the ropes.
Smurf is looking to break free of the clinch but Graves has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smurf using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Smurf is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Graves lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Graves keeps control of Smurf as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A right handed body shot lands from Smurf.
Smurf with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smurf working hard to break the clinch.
Smurf taking a breather.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Smurf as Graves tries to tie him up.
Smurf missing with knees to the body.
Graves is looking to control Smurf's arms but Smurf gets an underhook and turns him. Now Graves has his back to the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves trying to stall but Smurf improves his position.

Smurf breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smurf tries to clinch there but Graves circles away.
Smurf wants to clinch.
Smurf keeps the fight on the outside.
Papa Smurf seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters circling a little - Graves finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Smurf gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Graves breaks from the clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smurf.

Graves rushes Smurf and presses him up against the ropes.

Smurf breaks from the clinch.
Smurf throws a left and a right that both miss
and Graves counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Graves moves into range and clinches up with Smurf.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taylor Graves dominated that round.
That's time! Graves's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Graves moves out of range of the body kick from Smurf.
Taylor Graves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Graves throws a head kick that misses.
Graves fakes the leg kick and cracks Smurf in the body.
Graves wants to clinch.
We've been informed that Smurf has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Graves moves out of range of the body kick from Smurf.
Graves pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Smurf back to the ropes. Graves follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Smurf gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Smurf blocks a head kick by Graves.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smurf throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Graves on the side of the head.
Graves works over Smurf's head and body with a nice combination.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Smurf goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Graves checks a leg kick.
Graves fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves avoids a punch combination nicely.

Graves moves into the clinch.
Graves displaying some good clinch control by pressing Smurf up against the ropes.
Graves with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Graves unloads a knee to the mid-section. Smurf lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Smurf wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smurf misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Graves.
Taylor Graves has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Smurf working hard to break the clinch.
Smurf tries to break the clinch but Graves is controlling the position.
Smurf working hard to break the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Graves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Graves doesn't manage to clinch there - Smurf circles away.
Graves thuds his shin into the meat of Smurf's side.
Graves throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smurf.
Smurf misses with a jab, cross combination.
Graves throws a combination. Smurf tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Graves scores with a crisp jab that stopped Smurf in his tracks.
Smurf throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Smurf instigates a clinch.

Graves breaks from the clinch.
Graves circles away from the clinch attempt.
Graves circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smurf takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Smurf tries to clinch
and Graves counters with a left and a right that stings Smurf.
Graves plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Smurf is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taylor Graves dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Smurf throws a lazy uppercut
and Graves counters with a nice low kick that buckles Smurf's knee momentarily.
Smurf dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Graves rushes Smurf and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Smurf breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Graves is looking to clinch but Smurf is avoiding it.
Smurf wants to clinch up but Graves keeps it at a distance.

Graves fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smurf, pushing him back against the ropes.
Graves is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smurf can do to turn this around?

Graves escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Smurf moves into the clinch.

Graves breaks the clinch.
Taylor Graves is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smurf darts in trying to clinch
and Graves counters with a leg kick.
Graves scores with a nice strike.
Graves checks the leg kick nicely there.
Graves is looking to counter the offense by Smurf and move into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smurf throws a head kick but Graves moves out of range.
Graves lands with an uppercut that bounces Smurf off the ropes and back into range.

Smurf tries to keep at a distance but Graves has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smurf swings wildly with an uppercut but Graves uses good head movement to avoid it.

Graves's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A left and a right from Graves both land. Nice combination.
A decent looking cross lands there for Graves.
Smurf is still on wobbly legs! Can Graves finish him?

Graves takes the fight into the clinch.

Graves breaks from the clinch.

Graves has managed to clinch.
Smurf seems to have recovered his senses.
Graves keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smurf's efforts to push away.
Graves has Smurf pressed against the ropes, preventing Smurf from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Graves manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smurf lands a head kick!
Smurf tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Graves manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Graves tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Smurf manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smurf will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smurf throws a lazy right hand but Graves sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Graves gets a clinch.
Smurf is looking to break free of the clinch but Graves has double underhooks.
Smurf using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Graves has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Graves with a knee to the head.
Graves prevents Smurf from breaking the clinch.

Graves pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice uppercut there from Graves.
Smurf swats away the attempt to clinch by Graves.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taylor Graves clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Graves wants to clinch.
Smurf lands a nice looking body shot.

Graves darts in and clinches Smurf up against the ropes.
Smurf working hard to break the clinch.
Smurf looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Smurf breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smurf tries to close the distance and clinch up but Graves swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smurf rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Graves moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Smurf rushes Graves and presses him up against the ropes.

Graves breaks the clinch.
Graves connects with a leg kick. Smurf looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves wants to clinch up but Smurf keeps it at a distance.
Smurf throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Smurf tries to bum rush Graves with a series of wild strikes but Graves uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smurf keeps the fight on the outside.
Graves tries to clinch there but Smurf circles away.
Graves with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Graves stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Smurf fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smurf misses with a few strikes there.
Graves appears to be looking for a big counter.
Smurf takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Smurf is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Smurf throws a lazy uppercut

and Graves counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Graves.
Graves throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Smurf misses with a knee strike.
Nice elbow from Graves.
Smurf misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Graves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Graves escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Graves manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Smurf, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Graves scores with a jab.

Graves clinches.

Graves manages to break the clinch.
Graves tries to clinch but Smurf moves out of range.
Graves defending well as Smurf loads up on a big left hand.

Graves clinches with his opponent.
Graves lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Papa Smurf has been cut.
Graves will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Smurf up against the ropes.
Smurf tries to land knees in the clinch but Graves avoids the damage to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taylor Graves had his way with Papa Smurf in that round.
The cut man is working on Papa Smurf's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Smurf misses with a series of wild punches.
Graves misses with a few strikes there.
Smurf takes a swing at Graves's ribcage but misses.

Graves closes the distance and clinches.

Graves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smurf tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Graves clinches up with Smurf and pushes him back against the ropes.

Graves breaks the clinch.
Graves lands a head kick. Smurf smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves tries to clinch there but Smurf circles away.
Smurf takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Graves uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Smurf.
Smurf takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Graves moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves connects with a nasty looking knee right to Smurf's face.

Smurf manages to break the clinch.
Smurf throws a right hand that misses
enabling Graves to counter with a crisp jab.
Smurf is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Graves fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Graves moves into the clinch successfully.
Smurf tries to circle away but Graves has him pinned against the ropes.
Smurf using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Graves has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smurf wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Graves has him pressed against the ropes.

Graves breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Graves lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Smurf closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Smurf doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Graves breaks from the clinch.
Smurf moves to clinch but Graves breaks away
and Graves counters with a right, followed by a huge uppercut that sends Smurf crashing to the mat! Smurf is trying to use the ropes to get back to his feet but he's all over the place - the referee has seen enough and has stopped the fight! Graves screams with a mixture of joy and relief, whilst celebrating with his cornermen.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Taylor Graves!
Papa Smurf spoke after the fight, saying 'i'll be back!'.