PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Oscar Blaydes (ranked 2469 p4p, 1646 weight class) and Stepan Grachev (ranked 318 p4p, 225 weight class). Blaydes comes to the cage accompanied by Black Sunshine - White Zombie. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Blaydes
vs
Grachev

171 cm
27
158
5 - 3 - 1

175 cm
26
165
5 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Shadow Realm Apparel
AVALON

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 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Oscar Blaydes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stepan Grachev!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grachev chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Grachev tests Blaydes's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Grachev clinches up against the cage.
Grachev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Grachev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Grachev tries a body shot but Blaydes blocks it.
Grachev goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Grachev lands a right hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Blaydes.
Grachev is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Grachev throws a punch but it's blocked by Blaydes.
Blaydes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grachev's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Grachev throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Blaydes.
Grachev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Grachev lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A right handed body shot lands from Grachev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Grachev.
Blaydes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Grachev backwards.
Grachev lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Grachev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Blaydes misses with a hook from the clinch.
Blaydes lands a body punch.
A nice left hand lands by Blaydes.
Grachev is working Blaydes over against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Grachev.
Grachev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Blaydes breaks the clinch.
A leg kick checked by Blaydes.
Blaydes is looking to land body kicks.
Grachev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Grachev tries a head kick but it misses.

Grachev clinches up with Blaydes and pushes him back against the cage.
Grachev working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blaydes blocking some punches.
Blaydes gets through Grachev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Grachev lands a hook to the side of the head.
Grachev lands a hook to the side of the head.
Blaydes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Blaydes works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Grachev tries to work over Blaydes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Grachev breaks the clinch.
Grachev tries to clinch up.
Grachev looks to land a combination but Blaydes avoids it well.
A jab lands there for Blaydes.
Grachev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blaydes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Blaydes was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Blaydes takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Grachev swings widly with a right hand
and Blaydes counters with a left to the body.
A swing and a miss from Grachev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Blaydes.
Blaydes misses with a wild body shot.
Grachev connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Grachev throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Grachev scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Stepan Grachev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blaydes lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Grachev tries to clinch up.
Blaydes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Grachev.
Blaydes avoids the body shot from Grachev.

Grachev rushes Blaydes and presses him up against the cage.
Blaydes swings wildly with an uppercut but Grachev uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice left hand lands by Grachev.

Blaydes breaks from the clinch.

Grachev has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grachev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Grachev goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Grachev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Blaydes backwards.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Grachev trying to control the position but instead, Blaydes has worked for underhooks and has pushed Grachev into the cage.
A short left from Blaydes.
Grachev misses with a punch to the body.
Blaydes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Blaydes works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Blaydes tries a body shot but Grachev blocks it.
Grachev lands a right hand that snaps the head of Blaydes backwards.
Grachev stalling in the clinch but Blaydes improves position.
Blaydes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Grachev lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Blaydes lands a left hand.
Grachev taking a breather.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stepan Grachev dominated that round.
That's time! Blaydes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Grachev blocks a jab.
Blaydes has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Grachev finds it's way round the side to connect with Blaydes's head.
Grachev slips a straight right by Blaydes.
Blaydes misses the shot to the body.
Blaydes staying out of range there.

Grachev takes the fight into the clinch.
Blaydes lands a right hand.
Blaydes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Blaydes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Grachev or not.
Blaydes lands a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grachev working aggressively here.
Blaydes has a couple of punches blocked by Grachev.
Grachev scores with a shot to the side of Blaydes's head.
Grachev can't find room to land a body shot as Blaydes controls the action.
A short right from Grachev on the inside.
Blaydes gets through Grachev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blaydes manages to break the clinch.
Grachev tries to close the distance and clinch but Blaydes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Grachev moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Grachev works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Grachev misses the shot to the body.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stepan Grachev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Blaydes takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Blaydes throws a head kick that misses
and Blaydes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Blaydes takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Grachev misses with a head kick.
Grachev with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Grachev misses with a low kick.
Grachev dips to his left and cracks Blaydes with an uppercut!
Blaydes misses with a hook.
Grachev scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grachev has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Blaydes.
Blaydes misses with a body kick.
Grachev throws an overhand right that lands on Blaydes's shoulder, as Blaydes tries to avoid the shot.
Grachev throws a head kick that misses.
Grachev misses with a looping left.
Grachev just misses with a punch to the body.
Grachev tries to clinch up but Blaydes circles away and keeps his distance.
Grachev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Grachev connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Grachev clinches.
Blaydes takes a shot to the head.
Grachev stalling.
A left hand lands to the body for Blaydes.
Blaydes lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grachev softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Grachev lands with a left to the head.

Blaydes breaks the clinch.
Blaydes moves out of range as Grachev strikes.
Grachev misses with an uppercut.
Grachev misses with a body shot.
Grachev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blaydes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Grachev looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Grachev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Grachev throws a body punch but Blaydes moves out of range.
A good leg kick by Grachev.
Grachev fails in his attempt to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grachev. Blaydes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blaydes is looking to counter punch.
Grachev misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaydes keeps Grachev at a distance using the push kick.
Grachev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Grachev missing with a left hand there. Blaydes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Blaydes fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Blaydes avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Blaydes moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grachev misses with a left hand
and Blaydes counters with a stiff right hand.
Blaydes defending well as Grachev loads up on a big left hand.
Grachev cracks Blaydes with an open hand slap.
Grachev stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Blaydes.
Blaydes swats away the attempt to clinch by Grachev.
Blaydes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Grachev.
Grachev tries to clinch
and Blaydes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stepan Grachev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Grachev misses with a jab to the body
and Blaydes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Blaydes connects with an inside leg kick.
Grachev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blaydes manages to avoid it.
Blaydes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Blaydes throws a leg kick but Grachev checks it.
Grachev throws a jab but it's blocked by Blaydes.
Blaydes throwing a counter right hand but Grachev manages to avoid it.
A big left from Grachev misses.
Grachev throws a jab when Blaydes was well out of range.
Grachev connects with the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grachev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Grachev throws a hook to the side of Blaydes's head but Blaydes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Grachev throws a looping overhand right but Blaydes ducks down to avoid it.
Blaydes keeps the fight on the outside.
Grachev throws a sloppy head kick and Blaydes moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaydes misses the shot to the body.
Grachev throws a right hand that misses
and Blaydes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice shot by Grachev.
A big left from Grachev misses.
A jab from Blaydes does it's job there.
Blaydes thuds his right hand into Grachev's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Blaydes thuds a left hand into Grachev's body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Grachev checks a leg kick.
Grachev looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Blaydes fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Grachev.
Blaydes uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Grachev has time to react.

Grachev is rocked!
Grachev misses with an attempted mid kick.
Grachev thuds his right hand into Blaydes's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blaydes throws a nice inside leg kick.
Oscar Blaydes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaydes dodges the punch combination from Grachev.
Grachev tries to close the distance and clinch but Blaydes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blaydes lands a nice leg kick that just misses Grachev's sensitive parts.

Grachev has Blaydes up against the cage in a clinch.
Grachev tries to throw a body punch but Blaydes avoids it by throwing Grachev back against the cage.
Stepan Grachev seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Grachev misses with some punches.

Grachev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Grachev stuns Blaydes with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Grachev connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Grachev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Blaydes appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Grachev lands a jab to the nose.

Grachev clinches.
Stepan Grachev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Blaydes's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Grachev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Blaydes's elbow.
Grachev lands a right hand.
Blaydes working hard to break the clinch.
Blaydes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Grachev's elbow.
Grachev working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Grachev blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Blaydes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A punch combination from Grachev misses.
A jab from Grachev does it's job there.
Grachev connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
It looks like Blaydes has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Good work by Grachev as he checks the leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grachev stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Blaydes.
The fighters circle momentarily. Grachev darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Blaydes takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Grachev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blaydes tries to throw a body punch but Grachev avoids it by throwing Blaydes back against the cage.
A body shot lands from Blaydes.
Grachev has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Blaydes seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Grachev can turn it around.
Grachev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Blaydes lands a hook to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Blaydes.
Blaydes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Blaydes tries to work over Grachev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Blaydes.
Blaydes makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Oscar Blaydes.
Well Grachev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stepan Grachev!