PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Phil Graves (ranked 867 p4p, 977 weight class) and Winter Panda (ranked 117 p4p, 133 weight class). Graves comes to the cage accompanied by I Bring The Darkness.. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Graves
vs
Panda

185 cm
25
174
10 - 2 - 1

150 cm
25
174
9 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL ALL Shorts!)

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 10 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Phil Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Winter Panda!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Panda uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Graves.
Panda looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Graves throws a low kick but it's checked well by Panda.
Donk. Graves catches Panda right on the button with a cross.
Graves displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Panda throws out the jab.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Panda has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Panda on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Graves. Graves obviously looking to wear him down.
We've been told by Graves's head coaches at Berloga that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Graves moves out of range of the strikes.
Graves on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Panda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Graves.
Panda misses the shot to the body.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Graves enables Panda to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Graves manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Panda throws a strike but Graves rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Panda pulls Graves in to control the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Graves stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Panda swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Panda has Graves pulled in close to control his posture.
Panda keeping moving, preventing Graves from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Panda controlling the position.
Let's hope that Panda has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Graves showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Graves lands a nice looking body shot.
Panda thows a left - swing and a miss!
Graves misses the shot to the body.
Graves lands a leg kick that knocks Panda off balance momentarily.
Phil Graves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves lands a body shot.
Graves cracks Panda with a good jab.

Panda clinches up with Graves and pushes him back against the cage.
A short uppercut from Graves.
Graves lands an uppercut.
Graves is pressed up against the cage. Panda has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Graves down to the mat. Graves avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
The fighters circling - Panda throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Graves slips a jab from Panda.
Panda misses the jab.
Panda throws a shot from downtown. Graves moves away and avoids it.
Graves with a nice cross.
Graves throws a shot from downtown. Panda moves away and avoids it.
Panda with the counter takedown but Graves avoids it easily.
Panda throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Graves's waist but Graves gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Panda off to one side.
Panda misses with a shot to the body
and Graves makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Graves takes a swing at Panda's ribcage but misses.
Panda drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Graves defends it well.
Graves avoids the body shot from Panda.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves missing with a left hand there. Panda was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Panda needs to keep his hands up - Graves had a free shot at his head there.
Graves connects with a body shot.
Graves misses with a looping left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Panda. Graves does a little dance to reset his feet.
Graves throws a quick inside leg kick.
Panda misses with a body punch
and Graves counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Panda thinking.
Graves tries to clinch up.
Panda looks to score with a jab to the body but Graves is just out of range.
It looked like Graves wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Graves dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Graves works Panda's body with a nice hook.
Graves misses the shot to the body.
Panda works over Graves's head and body with a nice combination.
Panda throws a lazy uppercut
and Graves counters with a stiff right hand.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Graves tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Panda was well out of range. Poor timing from Graves.
Graves moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Panda waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Graves.
Graves tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Panda was well out of range. Poor timing from Graves.
Graves defending well as Panda loads up on a big left hand.
Panda is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Panda tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Graves is looking to wear down Panda with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Graves blocks a jab.
Panda walks into a stiff left hand from Graves.
A solid leg kick lands there for Graves.
Nice straight punches there by Graves. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Graves.
Graves with a jab.
A jab lands there for Panda.
Panda fails with the takedown
and Graves counters with a two punch combo.
Phil Graves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Winter Panda.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Panda shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Graves counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Graves lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Panda at a distance.
Panda gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Panda connects with a looping right hand.
Panda on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Panda checks a leg kick nicely.
Graves walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Panda checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Graves misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Panda. Graves does a little dance to reset his feet.
Graves was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Graves swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Panda throws a hook but Graves blocks it.
Graves avoids the body shot from Panda.
A counter left hand to the body from Graves misses its target.
Panda ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Graves throws a chopping leg kick but Panda manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Graves lands an overhand right.
Panda misses the shot to the body.
Panda staying out of range there.
Graves throws a leg kick

and Panda counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Graves!
Panda looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Graves is avoiding damage well.
Panda connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Graves some visible discomfort.
Graves is trying to control Panda's posture but Panda avoids it.
Panda tries to score with some ground and pound. Graves controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
An elbow from Panda crashes against the mat.
Panda tries to score with some ground and pound. Graves controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Panda tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Panda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Graves keeps working.
The ground and pound from Panda seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Panda tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Graves manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Graves gets back to full guard.
Panda throws a big right hand that misses.
Graves has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Graves keeping moving, preventing Panda from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Graves displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Panda throws out the jab.
Graves scoring well with a low kick there.
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.

Graves throws a leg kick that misses.
Panda moves out of range as Graves throws a body kick.
Graves tries to land a body kick

and Panda decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Graves's guard.
Winter Panda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Panda wants to control from the top but Graves keeps moving.
Panda scoring with punches to the head and body.
Panda trying to control but Graves is working from the bottom.
Panda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panda trying to control but Graves is working from the bottom.
Panda postures up and lands a big shot to Graves's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Panda throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Panda.
Graves gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Graves is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Panda can do to turn this around?
Panda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Panda throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Graves is trying to get back to full guard.
Panda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Panda thows a huge punch but Graves dodges it nicely.
Graves wants to get back to full guard.
Graves trying to hold on to Panda's head to control him but Panda postures up.
Graves regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Panda.
Panda preventing the sweep.
Graves is working hard here to advance position.
Panda sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Panda rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Graves moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A little feinted left hand from Graves on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Phil Graves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Panda on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Graves. Graves obviously looking to wear him down.
Graves is looking to score with low kicks.
Graves is looking to chop away at Panda's legs.
A little jabbing left from Panda on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Panda throws a jab when Graves was well out of range.
Panda tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Graves defends well and Panda ends up having to push Graves into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Graves throws a lazy right hand but Panda sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Graves with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Graves is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Graves uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Panda.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Graves misses the target.
Graves misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Panda.
Panda swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Panda takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Phil Graves is winning the standup battle so far.
Panda misses the shot to the body.
Panda misses with a right hand
and Graves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Panda tries to score a power double leg takedown but Graves sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Panda somewhat.
Graves misses with a wild body shot.
Graves misses with an uppercut
and Panda counters with a straight right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Graves swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Graves slips under a jab from Panda.
Graves stuns Panda with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Panda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Graves.
Panda scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Panda shoots in but no luck this time.
It looked like Graves wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Phil Graves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Winter Panda.
Graves displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Panda throws out the jab.
Graves thows a leg kick but Panda checks it

and Panda counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Graves!
An elbow from Panda crashes against the mat.
Graves is trying to get back to half guard.
Panda lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Panda wants to control but Graves is keeping him busy.
Graves dodges the ground and pound from Panda.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Graves is looking to regain half guard here but Panda keeps moving and retains side control.
Panda working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Panda moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Graves tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Panda throws a strike aimed at the side of Graves's head but Graves avoids it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Panda trying to control the action but Graves is working from the bottom.
Panda tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Panda scores with a jab. Graves acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Graves lands with a straight right. Panda didn't see that one coming.
Graves throws a head kick but Panda moves out of range.
Graves scores with a shot to the body.
Graves swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Panda with the counter takedown but Graves avoids it easily.
Panda looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Graves is fending him off so far but Panda persists. Nope, Graves circles away and we're back to standing.
Panda throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Graves counters with a nice body shot.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Graves pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Panda misses with an uppercut.
Panda misses with a hook.
Graves thinks about countering with a body kick.
Panda ducks under a wild hook from Graves.
Graves throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Graves jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Graves connects with a looping right hand.
Panda misses with a wild body shot.
Panda throws out a loose jab but Graves uses good head movement to avoid it.
Graves thinks about countering with a body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Graves takes a swing at Panda's ribcage but misses.
Graves throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Panda counters with a takedown into side control.
Graves is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Graves wants to control but Panda postures up.
Graves takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
You can see the frustration on Graves's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Panda trying to control the action but Graves is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Winter Panda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Panda takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Panda scores with a crisp jab that stopped Graves in his tracks.
Panda bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Graves's head backwards.
Panda on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Graves. Graves obviously looking to wear him down.
Graves ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Panda moves away.
Panda moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Panda will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
It looked like Graves wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Graves takes a swing at Panda's ribcage but misses.
Panda missing with a left hand there. Graves was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Graves throws a shot from downtown. Panda moves away and avoids it.
Panda throws out a counter right but Graves avoids it with no problem.
Panda's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panda blocks a head kick by Graves.
Graves tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Panda was well out of range. Poor timing from Graves.
Panda misses with a lunging right hand
and Graves counters with a stiff right hand.
Graves slips a jab and a cross from Panda.
A counter left hand to the body from Graves misses its target.
Graves fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Panda bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Panda tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Graves is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Graves ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Panda moves away.
No joy there for Panda, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Graves throws an off balance right hand
and Panda counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Graves tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Panda manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Panda with the counter takedown but Graves avoids it easily.
Panda has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The fighters circling - Graves throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Graves throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Panda takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves connects with a crisp jab.
Panda looks to throw the jab but Graves is out of range.
Panda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Graves manages to avoid it.
Graves throws a jab but it's blocked by Panda.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Panda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Graves.
Panda scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Graves doesn't seem bothered though.
Nice takedown defense from Graves. No joy for Panda on that attempt.
Phil Graves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Winter Panda.
Panda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Graves was well out of range. Poor timing from Panda.
Good exchange - Graves coming out on top.
Panda blocks the body kick.
Panda moves away from the strike by Graves.
A little jabbing left from Panda on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Graves looks to land a left hand but Panda moved out of range nicely.
Panda tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves misses with a left hand
and Panda cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Graves with a nice cross.
Graves scores with a jab to the body.
Graves cracks Panda with a right hand to the side of the head.
Graves misses with a straight left.
Panda looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Panda throws an overhand right that lands on Graves's shoulder, as Graves tries to avoid the shot.
Panda fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Graves takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Graves scores with a jab to the head.
Graves takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Panda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Graves ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Panda moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Panda looks to score with a jab to the body but Graves is just out of range.
Graves uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Panda.
An attempted straight right counter from Graves misses the target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Panda is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Panda fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Graves is out of range.
Graves staying out of range there.
Graves paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A swing and a miss from Graves.
A cross from Graves lands.
Graves misses with a head kick.
Graves throws a front kick aimed at Panda's knee but Panda avoids it well.
Graves keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Graves swings for the body but Panda moves out of range.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Graves misses with a few strikes there.
Panda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Graves lands the left hand.

Panda shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Panda prevents Graves from improving his position.
Panda sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Graves defending well though.
Panda throwing shots but Graves is blocking nicely.
Graves blocking the ground and pound attempt from Panda.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Graves trying to control here.
Graves is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Panda is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Graves is looking for a sweep. Panda is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Graves lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Graves throws a nice outside leg kick.
Graves throws a leg kick but Panda sees it coming and moves out of range.
Panda misses with a takedown
and Graves counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Panda throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Graves counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Panda lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Graves - that will leave a mark!
Panda dodges the punch combination from Graves.
Graves misses with a hook to the body

and Panda counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Panda.
Panda makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Panda accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Graves will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Graves 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.
Panda controlling from the top position.
Panda postures up and lands a big shot to Graves's brow.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Panda working some strikes from top position.
Graves trying to keep a closed guard but Panda is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Graves jabs Panda to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Graves connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Panda's hands.
Panda darts in looking for a takedown but Graves gets double underhooks and turns Panda into the cage.
Panda loads up on a big right hand but Graves slips the punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Graves's jab looks to have found its range, popping Panda under the eye.
Graves jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Panda looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Graves misses

so Panda counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Graves is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Panda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Graves is trying to control the position but Panda postures up.
Panda throwing strikes from guard but Graves blocks nicely.
Panda trying to control the position from guard on top but Graves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Panda throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phil Graves showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Graves has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Graves!
During a confident post fight interview, Phil Graves thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.