PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gregory Graves (ranked 25316 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikos Freak (ranked 5735 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikos Freak has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Graves
vs
Freak

210 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

190 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gregory Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikos Freak!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Dmitry Maklakov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Graves with that takedown attempt.
Freak swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Graves drives through with a takedown into guard.
Graves content to stall in guard here.
Graves preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Freak is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Graves really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Freak 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.
Graves slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graves decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Graves closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Freak did well to prevent Graves getting side control.
Freak is looking to control Graves's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Freak avoid being mounted?
Graves takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Freak is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Freak has hold of Graves's hands but Graves slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Graves lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Graves postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Freak to stand up.
Freak misses with a leg kick.
Graves looks to land a body kick but Freak moved away.

Graves gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Freak to score an easy takedown into full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Graves manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Freak looks winded!
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!
Graves has Freak pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Freak manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Freak wants to break free but Graves has control.

Freak lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Graves kicks off Freak and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves shoots in and drives through. Freak sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gregory Graves. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Graves gets a double leg takedown into Freak's guard.
Graves is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Freak is working an open guard so Graves takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Graves misses with a head kick.

Freak instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Freak manages to break the clinch.
Freak swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Freak shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Freak showed some decent athleticism there.

Graves has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Freak is on him like a limpet, forcing Graves back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Graves avoiding damage.

Freak has clasped his hands together around Graves's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Graves bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Graves shoots in and bounces Freak off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Graves is standing up over Freak. Freak looks to escape but Graves dives into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregory Graves dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gregory Graves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Graves throws a head kick that misses.
Nikos Freak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Graves tries to keep at a distance but Freak has taken the fight into the clinch.

Graves jumps guard.

Graves uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Freak throws a left and a right that both miss
and Graves counters with a one-two to the body.

Graves is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Freak's half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Graves decides to return to a standing position.

Freak forces Graves back against the cage and clinches.

Freak lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Graves makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Freak is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graves closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Freak quickly recovers to half guard.
Freak is looking to get back to is feet but Graves passes into side control.

Graves stands up and beckons Freak to his feet.
Freak throws a sloppy head kick
and Graves counters with a left and a right that stings Freak.

Graves closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Freak wants to stand back up but Graves manages to pass into side control.
Gregory Graves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee asks Graves politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Graves prefers to stall for the moment though.
Freak is looking for a sweep.
Graves just content to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Graves has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Freak stuffs the takedown.

Graves fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Freak, pushing him back against the cage.

Graves jumps guard and drags Freak to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Freak wants to control from the top but Graves keeps moving.
Freak preventing the sweep.

Graves scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Freak avoids the head kick by Graves.
Freak thows a leg kick but Graves checks it
and Graves counters with a three punch combo that has Freak backing up. Freak nods at Graves to acknowledge the strikes.
Graves throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves tries a head kick but it misses.
Freak misses with a leg kick
and Graves counters with a left and a right that stings Freak.

Graves gets the takedown into side control.
Freak tries to bench press Graves off him but Graves keeps the position.

Graves decides to stand up, so the ref orders Freak to his feet.

Graves gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Graves kicks Freak off and gets to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Freak shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Graves kicks Freak off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Freak gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Freak wants to get back to his feet but Graves passes into half guard.

Graves stands up and beckons Freak to join him on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Graves shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Graves avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregory Graves dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Freak rushes Graves and presses him up against the cage.
Graves tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Freak just stands there and leans against the cage.
Graves has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Freak is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Freak gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Graves kicks Freak off and gets back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freak keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gregory Graves. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graves drives through with a takedown into Freak's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Freak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Freak looking for subs off his back but Graves has passed one foot through into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Graves in particular looking to stall.
Freak is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Graves scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Graves postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Freak to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves lands a head kick!

Graves closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Freak quickly recovers to half guard.
Graves is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freak trying to control but Graves postures up.
Freak wants to stand back up but Graves manages to pass into side control.

Graves has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Graves throws a nice head kick!
Freak misses with a combination
and Graves counters with a series of strikes. Freak will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Graves changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Freak looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Graves decides to stand up, so the ref orders Freak to his feet.

Freak gets a double leg takedown into Graves's guard.

Graves pushes Freak off and scrambles back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Freak gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Graves to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Freak is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Graves dives into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikos Freak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Graves 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gregory Graves!