PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gregory Graves (ranked 6006 p4p, 0 weight class) and Train Dummy (ranked 4633 p4p, 0 weight class). Gregory Graves has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Graves
vs
Dummy

210 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 St Petersburg, Gregory Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Train Dummy!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Dmitry Maklakov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dummy darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Graves really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Graves wants to improve his position but Dummy is controlling well.
Dummy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Graves. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Graves is pressing down on Dummy's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Dummy is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
It looks like Dummy might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves prevents Dummy from improving his position.
Graves seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Dummy is trying to control but can't.
Dummy is looking for a sweep. Graves is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Graves is trying to control the action in half guard but Dummy is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Graves is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dummy is staying active underneath Graves, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

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.
Dummy wants to control but Graves is keeping busy.
Graves not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dummy wants to get back to his feet.
Dummy has a hand on Graves's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Graves takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Dummy slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dummy tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Graves wants to control but Dummy is keeping him busy.

Graves is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dummy is just riding it out for now. Graves eventually gives up the hold.
Dummy is looking for a sweep. Graves is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Graves wants to pass to mount but Dummy is defending the position.
Dummy is looking to control Graves's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dummy avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dummy is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Graves is staying active.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Dummy throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Graves was covering up waiting for the punch and Dummy finishes the takedown easily into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Graves is on top in guard.

Dummy has control of Graves's left arm, preventing Graves from doing any damage.
Graves trying to control but Dummy is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Graves seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dummy drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Graves is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Dummy presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Graves jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dummy walks away with a smile on his face. Graves gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Graves pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dummy doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Dummy gets the takedown into side control.

Graves sneaks out the side door and pushes Dummy away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Dummy has taken the fight to the clinch.
Dummy scores with a shoulder strike.
Graves jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dummy walks away with a smile on his face. Graves gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gregory Graves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Graves gets tackled into the cage by Dummy. Dummy maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dummy manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Graves trying to control the position from guard on top but Dummy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Graves loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Graves controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Graves would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Graves looking to sit in guard and control but Dummy gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Graves is working an open guard so Dummy takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Dummy feints and as Graves raises his hands in defense, Dummy changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dummy keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Graves's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dummy controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gregory Graves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Graves wants to stand but Dummy is controlling the position.
Dummy is stalling in the full guard.

Graves pushes Dummy off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Graves shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Dummy moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gregory Graves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dummy pressing his opponent against the cage.

Dummy manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dummy keeping moving, preventing Graves from controlling successfully.
Dummy wants to sweep here but Graves controlling him for the moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Dummy holds on and takes a little breather.
Dummy wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four 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.

Dummy pushes Graves off and gets back to his feet.
Graves throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Dummy's head.

Dummy dives in and scores a takedown into Graves's guard.
Dummy looking to pass the guard.
Graves is looking to stand up but Dummy isn't so interested in that idea.
Graves looking for a sweep. Not yet Graves, not yet.
Dummy wants to control from the top but Graves keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Train Dummy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Dummy closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Graves quickly recovers to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Well, if Dummy is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Graves looks like he's trying to stand up.
Graves makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Graves.
Dummy is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves keeping moving, preventing Dummy from controlling successfully.
Dummy loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dummy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Graves lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Graves wants to stand but Dummy has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Dummy 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.

Dummy is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Graves is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dummy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Graves is one step ahead there.
Dummy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dummy has his hands on Graves's head, controlling the position.
Graves wanted to stand there but Dummy had control of the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Dummy bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Graves throws Dummy to one side and escapes!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Graves gets tackled into the cage by Dummy. Dummy maintains the clinch.
Dummy stalling.
Dummy is trying to force a seperation but Graves has the dominant position.

Dummy drags the fight down to the ground.
Dummy keeping moving, preventing Graves from controlling successfully.
Dummy is trying to control the position but Graves postures up.

Graves 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.
Dummy keeping moving, preventing Graves from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves is looking to stand up but Dummy won't let him.
Dummy 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.

Dummy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Dummy pulls Graves in close to his closed guard and prevents Graves from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Dummy scores with a takedown into Graves's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Train Dummy.
I think Dummy has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Train Dummy!