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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ernest Graves (ranked 14 p4p, 60 weight class) and Artturi Reinikainen (ranked 2 p4p, 11 weight class). Reinikainen has chosen Viimeinen päivä as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 172 cm
37
160
37 - 28 - 2 |
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188 cm
35
162
28 - 16 - 3 |
BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 28 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Ernest Graves!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 16 - 3, fighting out of Amsterdam, Artturi Reinikainen!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Graves. Those never looked like landing.
Graves misses with a wild body shot.
Graves lands a nice hook to Reinikainen's body. Reinikainen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Graves punishes Reinikainen's body with a nice straight punch.
Reinikainen wants to clinch up but Graves keeps it at a distance.
Reinikainen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Graves tries to score a power double leg takedown but Reinikainen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Graves somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves misses with a jab, cross combination.
Reinikainen throws out a counter right but Graves avoids it with no problem.
Reinikainen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Graves checks it well.
Graves has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Tōshi in the buildup to the fight.
Graves throws a shot to the body.
Reinikainen walks into a left hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Reinikainen clinches.
Reinikainen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Graves lands a body shot in the clinch.
Graves tries to score a body lock takedown but Reinikainen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Graves blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Graves prevents a body shot from Reinikainen.
Reinikainen misses with a body punch.
Reinikainen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Reinikainen throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Reinikainen fails to land.
Graves goes for a takedown attempt but Reinikainen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ernest Graves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reinikainen avoids the body shot from Graves.
Graves misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Reinikainen.
Graves scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Reinikainen doesn't seem bothered though.
Graves has his takedown stuffed
letting Reinikainen counter with a right hand.
It looks like Ernest Graves has been cut.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reinikainen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A counter left hand to the body from Graves misses its target.
Graves jabs Reinikainen to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Graves misses with a left hand
and Reinikainen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reinikainen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Reinikainen avoids the body shot from Graves.
A little jabbing left from Reinikainen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Graves closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ground and pound from Graves.
Reinikainen is staying active underneath Graves, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Reinikainen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Reinikainen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Reinikainen working a defensive guard but Graves passes into half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Reinikainen tries to roll over but Graves keeps him under control.
Reinikainen is trying to maintain the position but Graves is very close to passing his half guard.
Reinikainen looking for submissions off his back.
Reinikainen is refusing to be controlled, as Graves sits in half guard.
Graves wants to pass to mount but Reinikainen is defending the position.
Reinikainen trying to get back to full guard but Graves takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Graves can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Reinikainen is looking to escape.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reinikainen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Graves with the ground and pound from mount.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Graves landing strikes from the mount.
Reinikainen is squirming around, avoiding Graves's attempts to control the action.
Reinikainen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Reinikainen is working to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Ernest Graves dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ernest Graves's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Graves shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Reinikainen defends it nicely.
Graves shoots in and drives through. Reinikainen sprawls well.
Graves tries to score a power double leg takedown but Reinikainen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Graves somewhat.
Reinikainen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ernest Graves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graves lands with a nice body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reinikainen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Graves misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves fails with the takedown
and Reinikainen counters with a nice uppercut.
Graves looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reinikainen is fending him off so far but Graves persists. Nope, Reinikainen circles away and we're back to standing.
It seemed like Reinikainen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Graves fails to land the takedown.
A little jabbing left from Reinikainen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Graves misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Reinikainen.
Graves ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Reinikainen moves away.
Reinikainen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Graves ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Reinikainen is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Graves throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Graves is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Reinikainen can do to turn this around?
Graves throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Reinikainen was covering up waiting for the punch and Graves finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Graves is working Reinikainen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reinikainen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Graves is stalling in the full guard.
Reinikainen looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Graves has picked Reinikainen up and slammed him! Reinikainen can't keep hold of the triangle and Graves manages to pass to side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Graves tries to move to mount but Reinikainen blocks the move with his legs.
Reinikainen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Reinikainen is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reinikainen is looking for a sweep.
Graves is looking to take a break and control but Reinikainen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Reinikainen is trying to control Graves's posture but Graves avoids it.
Reinikainen is trying to work for a sweep but Graves has mounted him!
Graves with a couple of short strikes.
Reinikainen is working to get back to half guard.
Graves wants to control the pace but Reinikainen is squirming around nicely.
Reinikainen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Reinikainen wants to control but Graves is having none of it.
Reinikainen felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Graves tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Reinikainen is looking to get to half guard.
Ernest Graves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Reinikainen wants to hold on but Graves pushes him away.
Graves fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Graves prevents Reinikainen from getting the reversal.
Graves tries to control but Reinikainen wriggling away.
Graves looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Ernest Graves dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ernest 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.
A shot to the body from Graves misses
letting Reinikainen counter with a right hand.
Graves shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ernest Graves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graves scores with a jab.
Graves looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reinikainen is fending him off so far but Graves persists. Nope, Reinikainen circles away and we're back to standing.
Reinikainen only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Reinikainen misses with a series of wild punches.
Graves ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Reinikainen moves away.
Reinikainen misses with a lunging right hand
and Graves counters with a nice double leg into side control. Reinikainen won't be happy with that.
Reinikainen is looking to regain half guard here but Graves keeps moving and retains side control.
Graves is looking to take a break and control but Reinikainen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Graves lands an elbow.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves is looking to take a break and control but Reinikainen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Reinikainen is looking for a sweep.
Graves working away.
Reinikainen tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Graves presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Reinikainen taking shots to the head.
Graves working the ground and pound effectively.
Graves sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Graves wants to control the pace but Reinikainen is squirming around nicely.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reinikainen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Reinikainen tries to hold on but Graves pushes him away.
Graves lands a heavy elbow.
Reinikainen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Graves controlling from mount.
Graves working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Graves controlling from mount.
A nice elbow there by Graves.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Reinikainen working to try and regain half guard.
Reinikainen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Graves putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Graves punishing his opponent with strikes.
Graves prevents Reinikainen from getting the reversal.
Graves takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Graves working the ground and pound effectively.
Graves takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Reinikainen is rocked!
Graves with the ground and pound from mount.
Reinikainen is still in real trouble! Can Graves finish him?
Reinikainen is squirming around, avoiding Graves's attempts to control the action.
Reinikainen is in a horrible position here. Graves smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Reinikainen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Reinikainen seems to have recovered his senses.
Graves lands a couple of good shots and Reinikainen has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Reinikainen is really stuck here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Ernest Graves clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Ernest Graves's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Graves tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Reinikainen was well out of range. Poor timing from Graves.
Graves misses with a body shot.
Reinikainen throws a counter combo.
Reinikainen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Graves feints and as Reinikainen raises his hands in defense, Graves changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Graves passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Graves is looking to take a break and control but Reinikainen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Reinikainen is looking to reverse the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves is looking to take a break and control but Reinikainen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Reinikainen tries to improve position but can't.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves trying to control the position but Reinikainen is working away.
Reinikainen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Graves's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Graves is keen to just control but Reinikainen is a slippery customer.
Reinikainen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Reinikainen looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Graves pushes past his half guard into mount!
Graves lands a heavy elbow.
Reinikainen is squirming around, avoiding Graves's attempts to control the action.
Reinikainen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Reinikainen is looking to escape.
Graves fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Graves controlling from mount.
Graves with a couple of short strikes.
Graves looking to control but Reinikainen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Reinikainen is trying desperately to improve position.
BOOM! Graves connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Reinikainen is wriggling around trying to escape.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Graves controlling from mount.
Graves landing shots from mount.
Reinikainen is trying desperately to improve position.
Graves controlling the position easily from mount.
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 with shots to the head and body - Reinikainen looks very uncomfortable down there.
Reinikainen tries to reverse the position but Graves maintains control.
Graves can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Reinikainen is looking to escape.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reinikainen gets back to half guard.
Graves lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Graves wants to take a breather but Reinikainen is having none of it.
Graves controlling the pace.
Graves lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Graves missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Graves lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Graves is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Reinikainen!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Ernest Graves had his way with Artturi Reinikainen in that round.
The cut man is working on Ernest Graves's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Excellent takedown into side control there by Graves.
Artturi Reinikainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reinikainen tries to buck Graves off but Graves is having none of it.
Reinikainen is still trying to improve position.
Graves wants to control for a moment but Reinikainen uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Reinikainen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Graves pulls his head out easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves lands with a punch from half guard.
Graves wants to take a breather but Reinikainen is having none of it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves is taking a breather. Reinikainen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Reinikainen trying to control but Graves postures up.
Graves not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Reinikainen is refusing to be controlled, as Graves sits in half guard.
Reinikainen tries to roll over but Graves keeps him under control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Graves performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Reinikainen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Graves.
Graves is looking to wear down Reinikainen with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Graves ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Reinikainen moves away.
It seemed like Reinikainen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Reinikainen throws a lazy right hand but Graves sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Graves slips under a jab from Reinikainen.
Graves throws a big counter combination but Reinikainen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Graves tries for a takedown but Reinikainen circles away easily
and Reinikainen counters with a straight right hand.
Graves throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ernest Graves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graves feints and as Reinikainen raises his hands in defense, Graves changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Reinikainen looking to control.
Reinikainen looking for a guillotine here but Graves defends easily.
Graves throwing strikes but missing.
Reinikainen 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.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves passes Reinikainen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Reinikainen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Graves has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Reinikainen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Graves controlling the position easily from mount.
Ernest Graves is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Reinikainen is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
And that's the end of the fight!
Ernest Graves showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Graves, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 50:45
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 50:45
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 50:45
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ernest Graves!
Ernest Graves retains his lightweight title!
Ernest Graves seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
43% |
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