PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Graveston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Thatcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thatcher is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Seven Nation Army- The White Stripes. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Graveston
vs
Thatcher

182 cm
21
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
23
183 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ka-POW Clothing

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ryan Graveston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Max Thatcher!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Eliza Hachem and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graveston throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thatcher's waist but Thatcher gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Graveston off to one side.
No luck for Graveston with that takedown attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Graveston closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Graveston slows the pace down in half guard.

Thatcher is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Graveston pulls his head out easily.

Thatcher is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Graveston pulls his head out easily.
Thatcher is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Thatcher is looking for a sweep. Graveston is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Thatcher is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Graveston pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thatcher tries to roll over but Graveston keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Graveston fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Graveston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graveston shoots in for a double leg but Thatcher sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Graveston tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thatcher swivels and escapes.

Thatcher gets a takedown into half guard.

Thatcher is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Graveston doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thatcher.
Thatcher looks gassed!
Graveston is positioning himself well to prevent Thatcher advancing to mount.

Thatcher is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Graveston wants to improve his position but Thatcher is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thatcher is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Graveston sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Graveston manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Thatcher loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Graveston seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Thatcher is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Graveston holds on and takes a little breather.
Thatcher preventing the sweep.

Thatcher drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thatcher jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Thatcher wants to control from the top but Graveston keeps moving.
Graveston 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.
Graveston pulls Thatcher in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Thatcher is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Graveston is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thatcher shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Graveston pinned against the cage. Graveston gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Thatcher shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Graveston as he avoids it easily.
Graveston moves out of range as Thatcher strikes.
Graveston shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thatcher pinned against the cage. Thatcher gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Graveston pushes Thatcher up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Graveston dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thatcher misses the jab.

Graveston has Thatcher up against the cage in a clinch.
Thatcher is working for takedown but Graveston is calmly controlling the position for now.
Graveston gets through Thatcher's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Graveston has picked Thatcher up - he's going for a ride! Graveston dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Graveston passes the guard and advances to mount!
Graveston controlling from mount.
Graveston avoids the attempt from Thatcher to control.
Graveston controlling the pace for now.
Graveston's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graveston stands up from mount. Strange move.
Graveston just misses with a punch to the body.
Thatcher scores with a nice head shot.
Ryan Graveston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Graveston. No joy for Thatcher on that attempt.
Graveston tries for a takedown but Thatcher sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Graveston has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Thatcher finds it's way round the side to connect with Graveston's head.
Thatcher fails to land the takedown.
Ryan Graveston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Thatcher.
Thatcher scores with a jab to the head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thatcher.
Graveston throws a series of punches but Thatcher avoids them all with ease.
A big right from Thatcher misses.
Thatcher misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graveston is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Graveston misses with a combination
and Thatcher counters with a nice uppercut.
Graveston is looking to clinch.
Thatcher throws a good cross that connects.
Graveston throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thatcher throws a big shot that misses.
Thatcher shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Graveston pinned against the cage. Graveston gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Graveston moves out of range of the strikes.

Graveston has managed to clinch.
Graveston is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Thatcher gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Graveston's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Graveston tries to clinch there but Thatcher circles away.
Graveston fails with a takedown attempt.
Thatcher connects with a nice looking jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graveston on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Thatcher shoots in but no luck this time.
Thatcher throws a jab when Graveston was well out of range.
Thatcher swats away the attempt to clinch by Graveston.
Graveston drops his hands momentarily and Thatcher takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Graveston darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Graveston tries to stand and escape but Thatcher is controlling the position.
Thatcher wants to control but Graveston is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Graveston sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Thatcher looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graveston is thwarting Thatcher's attempts to control the position.
Graveston takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Graveston seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Thatcher for as long as he can get away with.
Thatcher is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Graveston is taking a breather. Thatcher 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Graveston dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Graveston looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Thatcher. That snapped Graveston's head back.
A big right from Thatcher misses.
Graveston ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thatcher throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Graveston fails with an attempt to clinch.
Graveston throws a combination. Thatcher tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Graveston closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Thatcher to the mat! Thatcher manages to get full guard.

Thatcher has his foot on Graveston's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Graveston works his way back into a safe position though.

Thatcher is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Graveston controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Thatcher is looking for a triangle but Graveston pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Graveston content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graveston stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thatcher swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thatcher wants to sweep but no luck.

Graveston stands up from Thatcher's guard - Graveston perhaps looking for a knockout.
No luck for Thatcher with that takedown attempt.
Graveston is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Graveston gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Thatcher tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Graveston has Thatcher pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Graveston.
Thatcher blocks an elbow strike.
Thatcher is trying to break the clinch but Graveston has him pressed against the cage.
Thatcher jumps guard but Graveston stands there with Thatcher around his waist. Thatcher gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ryan Graveston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Thatcher.
Graveston lands with a short shot to the head.
Graveston lands with a short shot to the head.
Graveston stalling the fight.
Thatcher fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thatcher is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Thatcher tries to pull guard but Graveston holds him up against the cage and eventually Thatcher drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graveston is stalling here.
Thatcher fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Graveston lands a hook that snaps the head of Thatcher backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Graveston.
Graveston working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Graveston with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Graveston wants the takedown. Thatcher is fighting it off but Graveston persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Thatcher's guard against the cage.

Thatcher looking for a guillotine here but Graveston defends easily.
Graveston advances to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Graveston in particular looking to stall.
Max Thatcher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thatcher is looking for a sweep. Graveston is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Graveston wants to free his trapped foot but Thatcher is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Graveston is controlling the pace.

Graveston stands up out of the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Graveston showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Graveston has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Graveston!