PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Henrique Gusmao (ranked 404 p4p, 629 weight class) and Ernest Graves (ranked 49 p4p, 78 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gusmao
vs
Graves

179 cm
30
155
23 - 6 - 1

172 cm
29
160
20 - 16 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Core Combat
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

SynCity Fightwear
Core Combat

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 23 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Henrique Gusmao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ernest Graves!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Taro Takaoka and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gusmao misses with a looping right.
Gusmao turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gusmao waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Graves.
Graves appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Graves shoots in looking for a takedown but Gusmao manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Graves's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gusmao uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Graves.
Gusmao swings for the body but Graves moves out of range.
Graves with the counter takedown but Gusmao avoids it easily.
We've been told by Gusmao's head coaches at Kevin Spacey`s Basement of Doom that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Graves misses with a takedown attempt

and Gusmao counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gusmao.
Gusmao can't find room to land a body shot as Graves controls the action.
Graves dodges an elbow strike from Gusmao.
Graves is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gusmao gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Henrique Gusmao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ernest Graves.
Gusmao looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Gusmao lands with a left to the head.
Graves drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gusmao swings wildly with an uppercut but Graves uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Graves is trying to trip Gusmao. He has hold of a leg but Gusmao is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Graves persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Graves postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Graves trying to control the position from guard on top but Gusmao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Graves passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graves is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Graves trying to pass the guard but Gusmao defending well.
Graves prevents Gusmao from improving his position.
Gusmao is staying active underneath Graves, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gusmao won't allow Graves to pass to mount.

Graves is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gusmao is just riding it out for now. Graves eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Graves is looking to advance position but Gusmao won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Graves trying to advance position but Gusmao counters by regaining guard.
Gusmao pulls Graves in close to prevent any damage.
Graves looking to pass the guard.
Gusmao bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Graves's guard.

Gusmao stopping the sweep attempt from Graves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

Graves is looking for a triangle but Gusmao pushes his legs off easily.

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

Graves is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gusmao defends well.
Gusmao won't allow Graves to sweep him here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Gusmao has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Graves has a closed guard, preventing Gusmao from standing up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Graves shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gusmao but Gusmao pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henrique Gusmao dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gusmao turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Graves shoots and misses
and Gusmao cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Graves stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gusmao.
Graves takes one to the side of the head.
Graves looks for a takedown but Gusmao sprawls well.
Gusmao chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gusmao misses with a low kick.
Gusmao throws a front kick aimed at Graves's knee but Graves avoids it well.
Nice takedown defense from Gusmao. No joy for Graves on that attempt.
Henrique Gusmao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ernest Graves.
Gusmao takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Graves changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gusmao tries to avoid it but Graves manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gusmao to the ground. Gusmao escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gusmao misses the shot to the body.
Gusmao scores with a sloppy right hand. Graves should have avoided that one.
Graves shoots in looking for a takedown but Gusmao manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Graves's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Graves fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Graves shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gusmao defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusmao misses with an uppercut. Graves saw that one coming.
Henrique Gusmao is winning the standup battle so far.
Gusmao swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gusmao's corner calls for a 1-2. Gusmao obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Gusmao with a hook.
Gusmao throws a leg kick which misses Graves's front leg but catches the back leg as Graves tries to avoid it.
Gusmao defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Graves.
Graves fails to land the takedown.
A slow jab from Graves misses its intended target.
Graves shoots in looking for a takedown. Gusmao tries to sprawl out of it but Graves keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gusmao manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gusmao is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gusmao is looking to clinch but Graves is avoiding it.
Graves shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gusmao misses with a wild body shot.
Gusmao looks to land a right hand but Graves moved out of range.
Graves tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gusmao swivels and escapes.
Gusmao misses with a wild body shot.
A countering left hand to the body from Graves misses.
Gusmao throws a leg kick but Graves sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gusmao lands a really nice looking cross but Graves seems unphased.

Graves drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Gusmao explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gusmao is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Graves can do to turn this around?
Gusmao leaves Graves with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gusmao misses the shot to the body.
A little jabbing left from Graves on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Graves tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gusmao swivels and escapes.
Gusmao tries to clinch but Graves is having none of it.
A leg kick checked by Graves.
Graves checks a low kick from Gusmao.
Graves now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Graves tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gusmao swivels and escapes.
Gusmao jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Graves checks a leg kick.

Graves is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gusmao's half guard.

Gusmao kicks off Graves and gets to his feet.
Gusmao lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusmao throws a jab when Graves was well out of range.
Gusmao throws a body shot but no joy.
Graves tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gusmao swivels and escapes.

Graves throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Gusmao tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Graves is in Gusmao's guard.
Gusmao wants to sweep but no luck.
Gusmao keeping full guard, as Graves tries to pass.
Gusmao keeping moving, preventing Graves from controlling successfully.
Henrique Gusmao overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gusmao trying to control the position here.
Graves pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gusmao is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gusmao wants to sweep here but Graves controlling him for the moment.
Gusmao has momentary wrist control but Graves slips an elbow through the middle.
Graves trying to control but Gusmao is working from the bottom.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Graves working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Graves passes Gusmao's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Graves is pressing down on Gusmao's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gusmao is holding on for now.
Gusmao is doing well to control the position and prevent Graves from advancing to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henrique Gusmao dominated that second round.
That's time! Gusmao's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Graves changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gusmao tries to avoid it but Graves manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gusmao to the ground. Gusmao escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gusmao displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Graves.
Gusmao with a jab.
Gusmao slaps away a takedown attempt from Graves, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Henrique Gusmao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ernest Graves.
Gusmao misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Graves.
Gusmao lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Gusmao is looking to slow Graves down with leg kicks.
Graves fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Graves shoots in for a takedown but Gusmao shows good takedown defense.
Graves swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves shoots for a double leg takedown but Gusmao sprawls well. He's pushed Graves's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gusmao swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
No luck for Graves with that takedown attempt.
Gusmao tries to counter by clinching up but Graves breaks away and moves out of range.
Graves dives in and grabs Gusmao's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gusmao pushes down on Graves's head and hops out.
Graves takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Graves on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gusmao bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Gusmao. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Gusmao.

Gusmao gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Graves looking to pass the guard.
Gusmao wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Graves in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Graves cracks Gusmao with a solid left hand.
Gusmao keeping full guard, as Graves tries to pass.
Ernest Graves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henrique Gusmao is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gusmao bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Graves's guard.

Gusmao won't allow Graves to sweep him here.
Graves throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Gusmao 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.

Graves working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Gusmao has passed into half guard!
Graves tries to get to full guard but Gusmao has control of the leg.
Graves is still trying to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves gets full guard.
Graves bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gusmao's guard.

Graves scoring with punches to the head and body.
Graves stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gusmao swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Graves trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Graves slips nicely into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Graves throwing shots but Gusmao is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusmao is trying to control but can't.
Graves trying to pass the guard but Gusmao defending well.

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

Gusmao makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Graves displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gusmao throws out the jab.
Graves jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Graves shoots for a takedown but Gusmao saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
As Graves tries to get set, Gusmao tries to push him back and clinch up but Graves manages to avoid the attempt.
Gusmao scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henrique Gusmao showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gusmao, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henrique Gusmao!
Henrique Gusmao was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.