PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harry Poppins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cato McGraw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Poppins comes into the arena with Mama Said Knock You Out blaring out of the sound system. Harry Poppins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Poppins
vs
McGraw

193 cm
23
218 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

195 cm
21
210 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

TFP Graphics
Schwarzenegger Nutrition

Schwarzenegger Nutrition

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Harry Poppins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Cato McGraw!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Richard Clark and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poppins tries to clinch there but McGraw circles away.
McGraw avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Poppins fails with an attempt to clinch.

Poppins gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
McGraw stays in close to Poppins's body and controls the position.
McGraw forces his way into half guard.
Poppins holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McGraw stops Poppins from getting back to his feet.
McGraw wants to free his trapped foot but Poppins is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Poppins wants to improve his position but McGraw is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poppins trying to control but McGraw postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGraw seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Poppins does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
McGraw tries to pass the half guard into mount. Poppins knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
McGraw wants to take a breather but Poppins is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McGraw circles away from the clinch attempt.

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

Poppins is defending against the submission attempts here by McGraw.
Poppins has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McGraw is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poppins keeps control of the position for the meantime.

McGraw is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Poppins doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time McGraw.
Poppins pushes McGraw off looking to stand but McGraw dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poppins manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Poppins moves in looking to clinch but McGraw pushes him off.
Harry Poppins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Poppins moves in looking to clinch but McGraw pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Poppins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

McGraw shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

McGraw swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Poppins is now in McGraw's guard. A big mistake from McGraw there, giving up the dominant position!
McGraw looks gassed!

Poppins gets to his feet - McGraw follows without any prompting.
Poppins tries to clinch but McGraw is having none of it.
Poppins is looking to clinch.
Poppins misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poppins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Poppins moves in looking to clinch but McGraw pushes him off.
Poppins pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Poppins wants to clinch.
Poppins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Poppins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Poppins tries to clinch but McGraw moves out of range.
McGraw staying out of range there.
McGraw keeps the fight on the outside.
McGraw keeps the fight on the outside.
Poppins tries to clinch up but McGraw circles away and keeps his distance.
McGraw tries to land a front kick but Poppins steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cato McGraw dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Poppins throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Poppins tries to clinch but McGraw moves out of range.
Poppins thows a left - swing and a miss!
McGraw displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Poppins throws out the jab.
Poppins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

McGraw shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
McGraw is stalling here. Poppins is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! McGraw seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Poppins has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Poppins decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Poppins tries to clinch but McGraw moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGraw lands with a right hand.
McGraw swats away the attempt to clinch by Poppins.
Poppins stuffs the takedown attempt from McGraw. McGraw gets slowly back to his feet.
McGraw scores with a hook to the body. Poppins takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Poppins throws the kick towards the body but McGraw avoids it.
McGraw keeps the fight on the outside.
McGraw avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Poppins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McGraw paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Poppins tries to close the distance and clinch up but McGraw swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Poppins tries to close the distance and clinch but McGraw swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Poppins dodges the punch combination from McGraw.
Poppins is looking to clinch.

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.
McGraw shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McGraw ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Poppins wants to clinch.
McGraw misses with a double jab
and Poppins counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A big right from Poppins misses.
Poppins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Poppins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Poppins tries to clinch there but McGraw circles away.
McGraw dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Poppins. That did some damage!
Poppins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Poppins wants to clinch up but McGraw keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Poppins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poppins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Poppins tries to clinch there but McGraw circles away.
Poppins tries to close the distance and clinch up but McGraw swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Poppins checks the leg kick.
Poppins is looking to clinch.
Poppins will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Poppins moves in looking to clinch but McGraw pushes him off.
Cato McGraw is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McGraw listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Poppins misses with a body shot
and McGraw counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
McGraw shoots for a takedown but Poppins saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Harry Poppins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cato McGraw.
McGraw lands a jab to the nose.
Poppins looks to clinch
and McGraw counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poppins tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and McGraw counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by McGraw.
Poppins is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
McGraw tries to free his leg and advance position but Poppins is retaining full guard.
Poppins wants to stand and escape but McGraw is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Poppins keeping moving, preventing McGraw from controlling successfully.
McGraw throws a strike but Poppins rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Poppins trying to control but McGraw is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cato McGraw showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

No luck for McGraw with that takedown attempt.
McGraw blocks the body kick.
Poppins wants to clinch but McGraw slips to the side

and McGraw counters with a nice double leg into side control. Poppins won't be happy with that.
Poppins wants to get back to his feet but McGraw drags him back down.
McGraw is looking to take a break and control but Poppins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Poppins regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGraw content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Poppins wants to get back to his feet.
McGraw looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
McGraw is tying to control. Poppins wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Poppins is trying to maintain the position but McGraw is very close to passing his half guard.
Poppins is refusing to be controlled, as McGraw sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McGraw tries to pass to full mount but Poppins defends it.
McGraw takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Poppins looks to clinch

and McGraw decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Poppins's guard.
Poppins controls McGraw momentarily but McGraw frees himself.
McGraw won't allow Poppins to get back to his feet.
McGraw trying to control but Poppins is working from the bottom.
McGraw pushing down on Poppins's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGraw content to control rather than advance.
Poppins wants to get back to his feet.
McGraw wants to advance to full mount but Poppins doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
McGraw in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McGraw trying to control the position from guard on top but Poppins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Poppins has McGraw pulled in close to control his posture.
Poppins keeping full guard, as McGraw tries to pass.
Harry Poppins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Poppins is on top in guard.

Poppins drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Poppins jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Poppins postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cato McGraw comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McGraw has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

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