PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Terrance Graves (ranked 707 p4p, 607 weight class) and Raminus Polus (ranked 93 p4p, 83 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Graves
vs
Polus

182 cm
24
174
7 - 1 - 0

183 cm
27
185
19 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Terrance Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Raminus Polus!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Kavanagh and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Polus comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Graves plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Raminus Polus has been cut.
Graves fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Polus checks it well.
Graves stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Graves wants it to stay on the feet.
Graves just misses with a punch to the body.
Polus gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Graves darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves throws a push kick but Polus slaps the foot to one side.
Polus throws a shot from downtown. Graves moves away and avoids it.
Graves jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Polus shoots in for a double leg but Graves sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Graves appears to be looking for a big counter.
A shot to the body from Polus misses

and Graves counters with a leg kick then a big left hand that sends Polus down! Graves is looking to finish but Polus is intelligently defending himself.

Polus is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves passes Polus's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Polus is still in real trouble! Can Graves finish him?
Graves with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Polus seems to have recovered his senses.
Graves wants to control but Polus is keeping him busy.
Graves moves nicely into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Polus is looking to reverse the position.
Polus manages to get back to half guard.

Polus looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Polus wants to sweep but Graves has passed to side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves working the ground and pound from side control.
Polus taking punishment in the form of punches.
Graves wants to lay and pray for a moment but Polus keeps working.
Polus tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Graves wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Graves is looking to take a break and control but Polus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Graves is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polus is trying to improve his position.
Polus struggling a bit here.
Graves lands a decent elbow from side control.
Graves wants to control but Polus is keeping him busy.
Graves working the body and head with strikes.
Polus tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Graves wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves trying to control the action but Polus is working from the bottom.
Graves working the body and head with strikes.
Polus is looking for a sweep.
Graves lands an elbow.
Graves wants to control but Polus is keeping him busy.
Polus is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Graves's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Terrance Graves dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Raminus Polus's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Graves cracks Polus with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Graves misses with a left hand
and Polus counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Terrance Graves has been cut.
Graves slaps away a takedown attempt from Polus, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Polus takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Polus shoots in and gets a takedown into Graves's guard.
Graves controlling Polus's posture.
Polus tries to free his leg and advance position but Graves is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves wants to sweep here but Polus controlling him for the moment.
Graves is working hard here to advance position.
Graves keeping full guard, as Polus tries to pass.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Polus being controlled here momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Graves connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Graves keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Polus scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Graves doesn't seem bothered though.
Graves misses with a jab, cross combination.

Polus fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Graves to the ground. Polus is now in Graves's guard.
Graves looking to hit a scissor sweep but Polus is one step ahead there.
Graves keeping full guard, as Polus tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polus is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Polus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Polus trying to move into half guard but instead Graves has managed to sweep!

Polus is looking to sweep but instead, Graves has passed into half guard.
Graves lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Polus is refusing to be controlled, as Graves sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Polus to regain full guard.

Polus has his foot on Graves's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Graves works his way back into a safe position though.
Graves postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Graves engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Polus escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Graves gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Graves stays in close to Polus's body and controls the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Raminus Polus will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Graves scores with a sloppy right hand. Polus should have avoided that one.
Graves throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Polus throws a leg kick which misses Graves's front leg but catches the back leg as Graves tries to avoid it.
Graves turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Terrance Graves is winning the standup battle so far.
A low kick from Graves misses

and Polus counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Polus is working for a kimura but Graves is defending it quite comfortably.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Polus missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Graves tries to get to full guard but Polus has control of the leg.

Polus is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Graves doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Polus.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are battling for position here. Graves manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Graves wants to control the position but Polus says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polus tries to pass the half guard into mount. Graves knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Graves is trying to control but Polus passes into side control!
Polus is trying to move to mount but Graves reverses beautifully and ends up in Polus's guard.

Graves avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Polus throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polus looking to hit a scissor sweep but Graves is one step ahead there.

Polus is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Our spies down at at Oblivion Gate inform us that Polus has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Graves wants to control from the top but Polus keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Polus wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raminus Polus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Polus has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raminus Polus!
Raminus Polus thanked the fans post fight for their support.