PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pyotr Petrov (ranked 1038 p4p, 986 weight class) and Phil Graves (ranked 147 p4p, 138 weight class). Graves comes into a darkened arena with his song building. I Bring The Darkness. kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Petrov
vs
Graves

180 cm
21
161
8 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
174
6 - 0 - 1

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Groove Gear
Conviction

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pyotr Petrov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Phil Graves!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Graves finds it's way through Petrov's defenses.
Graves misses with a hook
and Petrov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Graves tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Petrov counter with a right hand.
Graves misses with a few strikes there.
Graves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Petrov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Petrov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Petrov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Petrov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Graves throws out a loose jab but Petrov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Graves fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Petrov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Phil Graves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Petrov takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Petrov moves away from the strike by Graves.
A little feinted left hand from Petrov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Graves lands with a cross.
Petrov cracks Graves with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Graves throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves misses with a double jab.
Petrov blocks the body kick.
Graves lands a two punch combo.
Graves misses with an uppercut.
Petrov throwing a counter right hand but Graves manages to avoid it.
Graves misses with the combination.
Petrov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Graves wants to clinch up but Petrov keeps it at a distance.
Graves swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Petrov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Graves.
Petrov throws a jab when Graves was well out of range.

Graves moves into range and clinches up with Petrov.
A frustrated look appears on Petrov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Graves prevents Petrov from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Petrov.
Graves swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Petrov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Graves moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Petrov walks into a jab.
Graves takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Petrov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Graves was well out of range. Poor timing from Petrov.
Petrov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Graves sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Graves tries to clinch but Petrov moves out of range.
Petrov throwing a counter right hand but Graves manages to avoid it.
Graves takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Graves tries to clinch but Petrov is having none of it.
It looked like Petrov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Graves.
Graves connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Graves slips under a jab from Petrov.
Graves will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov takes a swing at Graves's ribcage but misses.
Graves throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Petrov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Petrov.
A counter left hand to the body from Petrov misses its target.
Petrov throws a shot to the body.
Petrov blocks a leg kick.
Graves uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Petrov has time to react.
Petrov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've been told by Petrov's head coaches at GWad's Playpen that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Petrov takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Graves throws a looping overhand right but Petrov ducks down to avoid it.
Petrov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Graves tries to clinch there but Petrov circles away.

Graves clinches with his opponent.
Graves is leaning against Petrov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Petrov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Petrov cracks Graves with a nice body shot.
A short right from Petrov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
A head punch on the inside from Graves fails to land.
Petrov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Graves throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Petrov.
Petrov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Graves blocks a body shot from Petrov.
Graves keeps control of Petrov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Petrov.
Graves lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Petrov backwards.

Petrov manages to break the clinch.
Graves jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The crowd cheers as Petrov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Graves doesn't seem phased though.
Graves lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Graves lands a jab to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jab from Graves.
Graves with a jab.
Graves misses with a wild body shot.
Graves is looking to clinch but Petrov is avoiding it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Graves dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Petrov keeps the fight on the outside.
Petrov ducks under a wild hook from Graves.
It looked like Petrov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A nice leg kick lands there from Graves.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Graves lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Petrov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Petrov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Graves's coach down at Combat Wombat Burrow was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Graves's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Phil Graves seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Petrov slips a jab from Graves.
Graves swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Petrov.
Graves waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Petrov.
Graves tries to clinch but Petrov moves away
and Petrov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Petrov throws a body punch but Graves moves out of range.
Petrov takes one to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves misses with a hook.
Graves is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Petrov.
Graves throws a poor cross that misses
and Petrov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Graves clinches up with Petrov and pushes him back against the cage.
Petrov tries to break free but Graves pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves tries to throw a body punch but Petrov avoids it by throwing Graves back against the cage.
Petrov digs a right hand underneath Graves's ribcage. Graves let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Petrov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Petrov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Petrov needs to keep his hands up - Graves had a free shot at his head there.
Petrov throws a shot from downtown. Graves moves away and avoids it.
Petrov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Graves is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Graves just misses with a punch to the body.
Petrov throws the left hand but Graves avoids the punch easily.
It seemed like Graves was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Graves throws a hook but Petrov avoids it easily.
Graves misses with a double jab
and Graves takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Graves misses with a hook. Petrov ducked under it nicely.
Petrov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Graves avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov swats away the attempt to clinch by Graves.
Petrov missing with a left hand there. Graves was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Petrov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Graves is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Petrov.
Good standup being displayed there by Graves as he connects with a hook.
Petrov lands with an uppercut that bounces Graves off the cage and back into range.
Graves scores with a spinning back kick!
Graves uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A jab from Graves misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Petrov. Graves does a little dance to reset his feet.
Graves swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Graves takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Petrov walks into a straight right hand from Graves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Graves has Petrov up against the cage in a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Graves scores with a nice short uppercut.
Petrov lands with a short shot to the head.
Graves lands an uppercut.
Graves swings wildly with an uppercut but Petrov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Graves blocking some punches.
Graves fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Petrov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Graves stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Petrov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Graves fails to land with a series of punches.
Donk. Graves catches Petrov right on the button with a cross.
Graves steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Petrov.
Petrov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Graves tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Petrov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Graves throws a body kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Graves tries to clinch but Petrov moves out of range.
Petrov takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Graves lands with an overhand left.
Graves looks to land a right hand but Petrov moved out of range.
Petrov throws a shot to the body.

Graves clinches up with Petrov and pushes him back against the cage.
Petrov can't find room to land a body shot as Graves controls the action.
Petrov cracks Graves with a nice body shot.
Graves lands a body shot in the clinch.
Graves swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Petrov struggles to land a body shot inside as Graves controls his hands.
Graves working aggressively here.
Graves goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Petrov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Graves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Graves throws an overhand right that lands on Petrov's shoulder, as Petrov tries to avoid the shot.
Phil Graves is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Petrov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Graves tries to clinch up.
Petrov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Petrov swings for the body but Graves moves out of range.
Petrov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Graves.
Petrov just misses with a punch to the body.
Graves lands an overhand right.

Graves gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Phil Graves seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrov misses with a hook from the clinch.

Petrov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Petrov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Graves falls off balance throwing a combination
and Petrov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Petrov throwing a counter right hand but Graves manages to avoid it.
A big right from Petrov misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Graves! But no joy.
Graves thows a left - swing and a miss!
Graves misses with a body kick.
Petrov throws a body shot but no joy.
Petrov ducks under a wild hook from Graves.
Graves is looking to clinch.
Graves misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Petrov to counter with a crisp jab.
Petrov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Graves throws a lazy uppercut
and Petrov counters with a nice uppercut.
Petrov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Graves moves away.
Graves slips a jab from Petrov.
Graves looks to clinch
and Petrov counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Petrov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Petrov looks to land a right hand but Graves moved out of range.
Petrov misses the shot to the body.
Graves swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Petrov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Petrov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Graves on the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Graves closes the distance and clinches.
Graves lands with a right to the head.
Petrov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pyotr Petrov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Graves.
Petrov pushes Graves back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Petrov has had enough of the clinch but Graves keeps him there for the moment.
Graves works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Petrov breaks the clinch.
Petrov throws a body punch but Graves moves out of range.
Graves throws a wild body kick that Petrov sees coming a mile off.
Petrov throws a lazy right hand but Graves sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Graves tries to clinch up.
Graves tries to clinch but Petrov is having none of it.
A counter left hand to the body from Petrov misses its target.
A decent looking cross lands there for Graves.
Graves swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Petrov.
Graves looks to throw the jab but Petrov is out of range.
Graves slips a jab from Petrov.
Graves looks to land a right hand but Petrov moved out of range.
Graves misses with a looping right.
Petrov thuds his right hand into Graves's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Graves - that will leave a mark!
Sloppy strikes from Graves. Those never looked like landing.
A jab from Graves does it's job there.
Graves swings widly with a right hand
and Petrov counters with a straight right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Graves throws a jab but it's blocked by Petrov.
Petrov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Graves throws a body shot but no joy.
Graves misses with a hook.
Petrov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Graves doesn't manage to clinch there - Petrov circles away.
Petrov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Graves tries to clinch but Petrov moves out of range.
Petrov throwing a counter right hand but Graves manages to avoid it.
Graves throws a body kick that misses.
Graves uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Petrov.
Petrov swings and misses with a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Pyotr Petrov.
Well Graves has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

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