PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Graziano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phillipe Nover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nover has chosen DMX-Intro as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Graziano
vs
Nover

170 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
21
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rocky Graziano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phillipe Nover!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Shimada and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graziano throws a head kick that misses.
Graziano throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Some wild striking there from Graziano.
Nover fails with an attempt to clinch.
Graziano throws a right and a left that Nover avoids nicely.
Nover avoids a punch combination nicely.
Graziano misses with a double jab.
Rocky Graziano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graziano looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Graziano throws a right hand that Nover ducks under and follows up with a left that Nover also avoids with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nover looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Graziano is fending him off so far but Nover persists. Nope, Graziano circles away and we're back to standing.
Graziano throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nover.
Nover dodges the punch combination from Graziano.
Graziano lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nover circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graziano throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nover.
Graziano tries to bum rush Nover with a series of wild strikes but Nover uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Graziano misses with a double jab.
Some wild striking there from Graziano.
Nover lands with a shot to the body.
Graziano swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Graziano swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Graziano throws a series of punches but Nover avoids them all with ease.
Graziano swinging wildly here.
Nover showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Graziano.
Graziano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nover slips a jab and a cross from Graziano.
Graziano throws a series of punches but Nover avoids them all with ease.
Graziano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nover moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Some wild striking there from Graziano.
Graziano fails to land with a series of punches.
Graziano throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rocky Graziano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nover shoots in for a takedown but Graziano shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Graziano throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Graziano looks to land a body kick but Nover moved away.
Graziano misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graziano throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Graziano!
Nover fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Graziano avoids it really well and circles away.
Rocky Graziano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phillipe Nover.
Graziano throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Graziano lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Nover backs up against the cage.
Graziano misses with a double jab.
Graziano closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Nover dodges the punch combination from Graziano.
Graziano misses with the combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nover looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graziano throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Graziano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Nover checks a leg kick.
Nover looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Graziano is fending him off so far but Nover persists. Nope, Graziano circles away and we're back to standing.
Graziano swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Graziano swinging wildly here.
Graziano looks to land a body kick but Nover moved away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Graziano misses with a head kick.
Graziano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nover fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Graziano throws a series of punches but Nover moves out of range.
Graziano moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Graziano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Graziano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Graziano throws a series of punches but Nover avoids them all with ease.
No joy there for Graziano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Graziano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nover moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Graziano misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graziano throws a head kick that misses.
Nover avoids a punch combination nicely.
Graziano throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graziano fails to land with a series of punches.
A right-left combo lands from Graziano.

Nover fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Graziano sprawls well initially but Nover persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nover trying to mount his opponent but Graziano defends it.

Nover decides to stand up.
Graziano swinging wildly here.
No joy there for Graziano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graziano misses with a two punch combination.
Rocky Graziano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nover tries to clinch but Graziano moves out of range.
Graziano throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Graziano defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nover.
Graziano fails to land with a series of punches.
Nover showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Graziano.

Nover shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Graziano's guard.
Graziano keeping full guard, as Nover tries to pass.
Graziano wants to get back to his feet but Nover is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nover slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nover tries to move to mount but Graziano blocks the move with his legs.
Nover works to advance to full mount. Graziano defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nover pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Nover trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Nover jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Graziano manages to avoid the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phillipe Nover showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Graziano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nover checks the leg kick.
Graziano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No joy there for Graziano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Graziano looks to land a combination but Nover avoids it well.
Graziano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graziano throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Graziano throws a series of punches but Nover avoids them all with ease.
No joy there for Graziano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nover closes this distance looking for a takedown but Graziano circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graziano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nover throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Graziano's waist but Graziano gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nover off to one side.
Nover wants to clinch.
Graziano misses with a jab, cross combination.
No joy there for Graziano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Graziano throws a combination. Nover tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nover is defended easily by Graziano.
Rocky Graziano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phillipe Nover.
A cross from Graziano lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Graziano misses with a jab, cross combination.
Graziano lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nover circles away quickly and effectively.
Graziano on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Graziano throws a sloppy head kick and Nover moves out of range easily.
Graziano misses with a wild combination.
Graziano fails to land with a series of punches.
Graziano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nover dodges the punch combination from Graziano.
Nover will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nover showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Graziano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nover dodges the punch combination from Graziano.
Graziano works over Nover's head and body with a nice combination.
Nover fails in his attempt to clinch.
Graziano misses with the combination.
Graziano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Graziano throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nover avoids a punch combination nicely.
Graziano throws a series of punches but Nover moves out of range.

That's four 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.
Nover avoids the head kick by Graziano.
Nover avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nover shoots in looking for a takedown. Graziano tries to sprawl out of it but Nover keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Graziano manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Graziano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A combination from Graziano does no damage.
Some wild striking there from Graziano.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Graziano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nover shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Graziano but Graziano pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocky Graziano showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Graziano 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocky Graziano!