PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alex Graves (ranked 4882 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shoei Braz (ranked 3649 p4p, 0 weight class). Graves comes to the cage accompanied by London Calling. Alex Graves has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Graves
vs
Braz

190 cm
40
198 lbs
19 - 23 - 0

175 cm
36
205 lbs
21 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

KAISER Nutrition - Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 23 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 18 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shoei Braz!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Donald Grub and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Braz dives in and scores a takedown into Graves's guard.
Braz looking to pass the guard.

Braz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Graves has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Braz has managed to get both his arms back between Graves's legs - danger averted.

Braz 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.
Graves lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Braz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Graves pushes down on Braz's leg and manages to get into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Graves seems to be working for a kimura but Braz defends the submission attempt.

Graves is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graves is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Braz is just riding it out for now. Graves eventually gives up the hold.

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

Graves is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Braz defends it well.

That's two 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.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Graves seems to be looking for submissions.

Graves is trying to work for a kimura but Braz is defending well.

Graves is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Braz has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Graves is working for an americana but Braz has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Graves was thinking about the submission.
Our spies down at at Russian Bears Training Center inform us that Braz has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Graves will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Graves tries to free his leg and advance position but Braz is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Braz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Graves passes into half guard.

Graves looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Graves seems to be looking for submissions.

Graves is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Braz defends it well.

Graves is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Braz has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Graves is looking for a kimura here.

Graves is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Braz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Graves uses his free foot to push down on Braz's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Braz.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Graves moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Braz has worked his arm free - good work by Braz!

Graves goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Braz rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Graves's guard! Nice work there by Braz!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Graves dominated that 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.

Graves closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Braz quickly recovers to half guard.

Graves is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Braz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Graves.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Braz is defending against the submission attempts here by Graves.

Braz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Braz actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves prevents Braz from improving his position.
Graves wants to pass to mount but Braz is defending the position.

Graves is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Braz is just riding it out for now. Graves eventually gives up the hold.
Alex Graves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Graves is working for an americana but Braz has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Graves was thinking about the submission.
Graves sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Braz's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Braz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Graves is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Braz is just riding it out for now. Graves eventually gives up the hold.
Braz moves into full guard.

Braz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Graves doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Graves manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Graves drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Braz dives on top into guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Braz wants to pass the guard but Graves is keeping the position.
Graves looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Braz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Graves had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Braz defends it easily.

Graves working for a triangle but Braz defends it easily.

Braz postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Graves is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Braz, into his guard.

Graves postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Braz is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Graves, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Graves is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Braz is aware though and is defending well.
Graves looking to hit a scissor sweep but Braz is one step ahead there.

Braz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Braz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Graves is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Braz is aware though and is defending well.
Braz advances position into side control!
Graves tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Braz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Graves tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alex Graves will probably get the nod.
That's time! Graves's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Braz gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Graves to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Graves slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Graves swings around for an armbar but Braz sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Graves's guard.

Braz 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.

Graves is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Braz defends well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Braz drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Braz seems to have locked his on tight now - Graves screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Braz, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Shoei Braz!
Shoei Braz made sure to mention his sponsor, KnockOut in his post fight interview.
The defeated Alex Graves had this to say: 'This isn't over. That was luck and we will be back to breaking arms and spirits very soon!'.