PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tua Graves (ranked 6939 p4p, 1693 weight class) and Ryo Hazuki (ranked 635 p4p, 227 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Graves
vs
Hazuki

179 cm
28
155
6 - 10 - 1

176 cm
19
160
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

ALPHAwear

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 6 - 10 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tua Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryo Hazuki!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Ben Watson and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hazuki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Graves sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hazuki somewhat.
Hazuki shoots in but no luck this time.
Hazuki tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Graves defends well and Hazuki ends up having to push Graves into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Tua Graves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Hazuki.

Hazuki has Graves up against the cage in a clinch.
Graves is pressed up against the cage. Hazuki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Graves down to the mat. Graves avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Graves keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hazuki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Hazuki gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hazuki misses with a takedown attempt - Graves sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazuki shoots in and drives through. Graves sprawls well.

Hazuki fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Graves to the ground. Hazuki is now in Graves's guard.
Graves wants to stand and escape but Hazuki is having none of it.
Hazuki wants to pass the guard but Graves is keeping the position.
Graves is looking to stand up but Hazuki isn't so interested in that idea.
Graves keeping moving, preventing Hazuki from controlling successfully.
Graves is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Hazuki throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Graves was covering up waiting for the punch and Hazuki finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hazuki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Graves is keeping the position for now.
Hazuki won't allow Graves to get back to his feet.
Hazuki looking to sit in guard and control but Graves gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Graves is looking to stand up but Hazuki won't let him.
Graves is looking to work some ground and pound but Hazuki has wrist control.
Graves connects with a couple of short punches.
Graves wants to stand but Hazuki is controlling his posture from full guard.
Graves trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazuki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hazuki keeping moving, preventing Graves from controlling successfully.
Graves missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Hazuki 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.
Hazuki looking for a sweep. Not yet Hazuki, not yet.
Graves wants to stand and escape but instead Hazuki has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Graves wants to stand and escape but Hazuki is having none of it.
Hazuki must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hazuki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Graves swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Graves is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hazuki is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hazuki has managed to clinch.
Hazuki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Graves just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hazuki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryo Hazuki dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Graves gets tackled into the cage by Hazuki. Hazuki maintains the clinch.
Hazuki stalling in the clinch.
Hazuki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Graves smiles and moves away.

Graves tries to sprawl but Hazuki drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Graves is trying to stand up here but Hazuki is controlling him well.

Hazuki is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Graves still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Graves has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Hazuki is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Graves's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hazuki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hazuki.

Hazuki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves tries to free his leg and advance position but Hazuki is retaining full guard.
Graves looking to sit in guard and control but Hazuki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hazuki has gone for a leg lock! Graves slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hazuki's guard.

Graves postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Graves is looking to stand up but Hazuki won't let him.
Graves trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Graves has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hazuki is proving hard to escape from.
Graves wants to stand and escape but instead Hazuki has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves is wriggling around but Hazuki manages to pass to half guard.
Graves is looking to escape.

Hazuki seems to be looking for submissions.
Graves wants to get back to his feet.

Hazuki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Hazuki stands up and beckons Graves to join him on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hazuki has Graves up against the cage in a clinch.
Hazuki is working Graves over against the cage.
Hazuki tries to pull guard but Graves won't allow it.
Hazuki has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Graves avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tua Graves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Hazuki.
Hazuki is trying to drag Graves to the mat but Graves just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hazuki is trying to pull guard but Graves has him pressed against the cage.
Graves is pressed up against the cage. Hazuki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Graves down to the mat. Graves avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hazuki shoots in for a double leg but Graves sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tua Graves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Graves looks to land a combination. Hazuki sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hazuki dives in and grabs Graves's left leg, looking for a takedown. Graves pushes down on Hazuki's head and hops out.
Graves seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Graves throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Graves works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ryo Hazuki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graves throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Hazuki shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hazuki was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hazuki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hazuki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hazuki is breathing heavily.
Graves tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tua Graves will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Danga de danga de dang - Graves scores with a four punch combination!

Hazuki shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Graves pushes Hazuki off looking to stand but Hazuki dives back in and keeps control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hazuki is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

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

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hazuki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hazuki prevents Graves from standing back up.
Hazuki works his way into full mount!
Hazuki controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Graves's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Hazuki goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Graves is on top in guard.
Graves slips nicely into half guard.

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

Graves is trying to work for a kimura but Hazuki is defending well.
Ryo Hazuki has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves trying to control the action but Hazuki is working from the bottom.

Hazuki actively working from the bottom here.
Graves is nestled in close to Hazuki, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Graves wants to pass to mount but Hazuki is defending the position.
Hazuki manages to get to full guard.
Graves postures up in Hazuki's guard and throws a big left but Hazuki blocks it.

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.
Graves would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Graves trying to control but Hazuki is working from the bottom.
Graves wants to stand but Hazuki has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Graves wants to stand and escape but instead Hazuki has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Hazuki works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hazuki trying to pass the guard but Graves defending well.
Graves is trying to stand up here but Hazuki is controlling him well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ryo Hazuki.
I think Hazuki 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ryo Hazuki!