PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marian Graves (ranked 4346 p4p, 6766 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 521 p4p, 672 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Graves
vs
Velasquez

180 cm
25
170
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
173
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

MKFC

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marian 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, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Fedor Mirinova and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Graves drives through with a takedown into guard.
Velasquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Graves's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Graves being controlled here momentarily.
Velasquez 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.
Velasquez trying to keep a closed guard but Graves is proving a slippery customer.
Graves in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Velasquez is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez is continuing to stall.
Velasquez is trying to control the position but Graves postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Velasquez is keeping the position for now.
Graves trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Graves preventing the sweep.
Velasquez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasquez wants to sweep but no luck.
Graves definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Graves seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Graves feints and as Velasquez raises his hands in defense, Graves changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Velasquez has Graves pulled in close to control his posture.
Velasquez trying to keep a closed guard but Graves is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is looking to sweep but instead, Graves has passed into half guard.
Velasquez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Velasquez taking some punishment here, with Graves in his half guard.
Graves is looking to take a break and control but Velasquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Velasquez tries to get to full guard but Graves has control of the leg.
Graves has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Graves controlling the action here.
Velasquez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Velasquez wants to control but Graves is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves lands strikes from half guard.
Graves is thwarting Velasquez's attempts to control the position.
Graves takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ground and pound from Graves.
Graves seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Velasquez manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Graves scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Velasquez wants to sweep but no luck.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Velasquez can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Velasquez trying to keep a closed guard but Graves is proving a slippery customer.
Graves preventing the sweep.
Velasquez looks winded!
Graves keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Velasquez's head.
Graves controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Graves postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Graves postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Graves sitting in guard here, content to control.
Graves stopping the sweep attempt from Velasquez.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Graves with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Velasquez wants to sweep but no luck.
Graves is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marian Graves dominated that round.
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.

Graves changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Velasquez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Velasquez controls the position for a moment.
Velasquez takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Velasquez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Velasquez is trying to maintain the position but Graves is very close to passing his half guard.
Graves is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves working over Velasquez with some ground and pound. Velasquez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Velasquez trying to control from the bottom.
Graves lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Graves's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Graves's back!
Velasquez is trying to stick to Graves's back but Graves is turning into Velasquez. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Velasquez's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Graves.
Velasquez trying to control the position.
Graves works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Graves looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Velasquez keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Graves working over Velasquez with some ground and pound. Velasquez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Velasquez is trying to maintain the position but Graves is very close to passing his half guard.
Velasquez has hold of Graves's hands but Graves slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to improve his position but Graves is controlling well.
Graves scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Velasquez keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.
Graves is nestled in close to Velasquez, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Velasquez is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Graves jumps into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Graves in side control lands a decent elbow.
Graves lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Velasquez down.
Velasquez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Graves lands a few punches from side control.
Graves works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Velasquez tries to bench press Graves off him but Graves keeps the position.
Marian Graves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves lands some shots froms side control.
Graves wants to control but Velasquez is keeping him busy.
Graves working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Graves lands a nice forearm strike.
Graves working the ground and pound.
Graves working the ground and pound.
Graves looks up at the clock and then as Velasquez takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Graves smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Velasquez is not content to let Graves control the position.
Graves working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is looking to reverse the position.
Graves working the ground and pound from side control.
Velasquez is looking to regain half guard here but Graves keeps moving and retains side control.
Graves working the ground and pound.
Graves grinds an elbow into Velasquez's temple.
Graves is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Velasquez can do to turn this around?
Graves working the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Graves works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Velasquez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Velasquez taking punishment in the form of punches.
Graves working the head and body with strikes.
Graves working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Velasquez is rocked!
Velasquez can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marian Graves dominated that second round.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Graves shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Graves was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Graves in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Velasquez takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Velasquez is trying to control Graves's posture but Graves avoids it.
Graves in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Graves trying to control the action but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Velasquez can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez taking a bit of punishment here - Graves scoring with strikes.
Velasquez is not content to let Graves control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves lands some shots froms side control.
Graves scores with a couple of short elbows.
Velasquez is trying to improve his position.
Graves is looking to take a break and control but Velasquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Graves working the head and body with strikes.
Velasquez is trying to get back to half guard.
Graves wants to lay and pray for a moment but Velasquez keeps working.
Graves lands a nice forearm strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is looking for a sweep.
Velasquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Velasquez takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Graves in side control lands a decent elbow.
Graves working the body and head with strikes.
Velasquez is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Graves lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Velasquez down.
Velasquez is looking for a sweep.
Graves working away.
Graves landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Graves lands a nice forearm strike.
Graves lands a decent elbow from side control.
Graves remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Graves off and has taken his back!
Velasquez lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Graves turns into Velasquez and is now in his guard.
Graves lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Graves landing some decent shots from guard.
Graves lands a couple of elbows.
Graves is working Velasquez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Graves landing with the ground and pound.
Graves looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.
Graves showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Marian Graves is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Graves landing with the ground and pound.
Graves landing with the ground and pound.
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.
Cain Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Velasquez wants to improve his position but instead Graves has moved into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marian Graves showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Graves has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marian Graves!
Marian Graves very nearly forgot to thank MKFC amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.