PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Graves (ranked 5835 p4p, 3729 weight class) and Nils Hoglander (ranked 545 p4p, 429 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Graves
vs
Hoglander

179 cm
22
158
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
166
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joseph Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nils Hoglander!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graves avoids the body shot from Hoglander.
Graves displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hoglander throws out the jab.
Graves went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Graves wants to clinch.
Graves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hoglander. Graves does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hoglander paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice combination there by Hoglander.
Nils Hoglander seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graves has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hoglander finds it's way round the side to connect with Graves's head.
Hoglander throws a sloppy body shot
and Graves counters with a straight right hand.
Graves tries to clinch up but Hoglander circles away and keeps his distance.
Graves tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hoglander was well out of range. Poor timing from Graves.
Hoglander looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoglander thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hoglander cracks Graves with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hoglander misses with a shot to the body
and Graves counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hoglander thinking.
Graves throws a right hand that Hoglander ducks under and follows up with a left that Hoglander also avoids with ease.
A big left from Hoglander misses.
It looked like Graves was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Graves tries to clinch up but Hoglander circles away and keeps his distance.
Hoglander bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Graves's head.
Hoglander swings and misses with a hook to the body.
No joy there for Graves, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A countering left hand to the body from Hoglander misses.
Hoglander fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Graves drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hoglander sprawls and moves away.
Some wild striking there from Graves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoglander throws a hook but Graves avoids it easily.
Hoglander throws a right hand that Graves ducks under and follows up with a left that Graves also avoids with ease.
Hoglander takes a swing at Graves's ribcage but misses.
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!
Hoglander throws out a loose jab but Graves uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hoglander lands a right hook to the body.
Graves avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Graves fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hoglander throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hoglander misses with an uppercut. Graves saw that one coming.
Graves throws a head kick that misses.
Graves tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It seemed like Hoglander was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Graves looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves misses with a hook. Hoglander ducked under it nicely.
Hoglander misses with an uppercut. Graves saw that one coming.
As Hoglander tries to get set, Graves tries to push him back and clinch up but Hoglander manages to avoid the attempt.
Graves scores with a head kick.
Graves looks to land a combination but Hoglander avoids it well.
Hoglander appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Hoglander dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hoglander avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Graves on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hoglander paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

It looks like Joseph Graves has been cut.
Graves falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hoglander counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Graves is breathing heavily.
Hoglander slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hoglander misses with a body punch
and Graves counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Graves blocks a jab.
Graves appears to be looking for a big counter.
Graves takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Hoglander scores with a body shot.
Hoglander looks to throw the jab but Graves is out of range.
Graves closes the distance but Hoglander moves to the side
and Hoglander counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Graves takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hoglander thuds a left hand into Graves's body.
Hoglander is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Graves had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Hoglander looks to land a left hand but Graves moved out of range nicely.
Hoglander ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Graves moves away.
Hoglander just misses with a punch to the body.
Graves tries a head kick but it misses.
A nice side step and Hoglander releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nils Hoglander dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joseph Graves'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.

Graves attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hoglander takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A left lands for Hoglander.
Hoglander throws a body punch but Graves moves out of range.
Graves throws a big counter combination but Hoglander scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Hoglander pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hoglander fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Graves on the side of the head.
Hoglander showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Graves.
Graves takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Hoglander misses the shot to the body.
Joseph Graves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hoglander digs a good body shot into Graves's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hoglander moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hoglander connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hoglander misses with a hook.
Graves keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hoglander.
Hoglander looks to land a left hand but Graves moved out of range nicely.
Graves throws a nice head kick!
Graves swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hoglander counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hoglander loads up on a big right hand but Graves slips the punch.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Hoglander in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Hoglander thuds his right hand into Graves's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hoglander circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hoglander counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoglander stuns Graves with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Graves avoids the body shot from Hoglander.
Hoglander punishes Graves's body with a nice straight punch.
Graves jabs at Hoglander's body.
Graves closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Graves throws a sloppy head kick
and Hoglander counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hoglander has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hoglander lands a nice hook to Graves's body. Graves takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hoglander lands a jab to the head.
Hoglander looks to land a left hand but Graves moved out of range nicely.
Graves showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hoglander.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoglander throws a shot from downtown. Graves moves away and avoids it.
Hoglander lands a jab to the head.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hoglander.

Graves is rocked!
Graves throws a head kick that misses.
Oh Graves is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hoglander tests Graves's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Graves closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Graves moves out of range of the strikes.
Graves seems to have got his legs back now.
Graves throws a sloppy head kick
letting Hoglander counter with a right hand.
Hoglander punishes Graves's body with a nice straight punch.
Hoglander circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoglander scores with a nice right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hoglander connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hoglander connects with a body shot that sends Graves's belly button to the back.
Graves doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hoglander fakes a right and follows up with a big left that drops Graves to one knee - oooooh, he's wobbly! Graves looks to clinch but Hoglander throws him off and pummels him into the canvas! Graves taps out under the strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Nils Hoglander!
Nils Hoglander was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.