PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Boris Borisov (ranked 1507 p4p, 545 weight class) and Tavish Gray (ranked 193 p4p, 71 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Tavish Gray enters the cage!

Borisov
vs
Gray

189 cm
27
193
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
27
175
7 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Uncle Rufus Clothing .Co
30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Boris Borisov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tavish Gray!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Joseph Jones and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gray looks to throw the jab but Borisov is out of range.
Borisov throws a hook to the side of Gray's head but Gray sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gray looks to score with a jab to the body but Borisov is just out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Borisov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Borisov looks to land a left hand but Gray moved out of range nicely.
Gray has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Nice uppercut there from Borisov.
Borisov throws a jab when Gray was well out of range.
Gray tries to counter by closing the distance.
Gray on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Gray throws a hook but Borisov avoids it easily.
Gray missing with a left hand there. Borisov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gray moves out of range of the strikes.
Borisov throws a lazy right hand but Gray sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Borisov swings for the body but Gray moves out of range.
Boris Borisov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gray moves out of range as Borisov strikes.
A slow jab from Gray misses its intended target.
Borisov misses with a hook. Gray ducked under it nicely.
Borisov wants to clinch.
Borisov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray punishes Borisov's body with a nice straight punch.
Borisov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Gray finds it's way round the side to connect with Borisov's head.
Gray swings for the body but Borisov moves out of range.
Gray throws an overhand right that lands on Borisov's shoulder, as Borisov tries to avoid the shot.
Gray jabs at Borisov's body.
Gray bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gray lands a jab to the head.

It looks like Boris Borisov has been cut.

Gray clinches.
Gray lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gray tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Borisov's elbow.
Gray lands a hook that snaps the head of Borisov backwards.
Borisov pushes Gray back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice left hand lands by Gray.
Gray has a couple of punches blocked by Borisov.
Gray throws a punch but it's blocked by Borisov.
Borisov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Borisov struggles to land a body shot inside as Gray controls his hands.
Gray lands with a short shot to the head.
Gray working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray scores with a shoulder strike.
Borisov lands a left hand.
Borisov looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Gray misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Gray - that landed with a thud.

Gray decides to pull guard.
Gray wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Borisov is now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gray is looking to improve his position.
Gray is concentrating on defense, preventing Borisov from advancing position.
Gray slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gray wants to sweep here but Borisov controlling him for the moment.
Gray trying to keep a closed guard but Borisov is proving a slippery customer.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gray holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gray has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Borisov has passed into side control.
Gray tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Borisov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gray struggling a bit here.
Gray manages to get back to half guard.
Gray trying to control but Borisov postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gray can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gray is looking for a sweep. Borisov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Borisov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gray on the ground.
Gray trying to control here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gray manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gray wants to sweep but no luck.
Gray lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Borisov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gray showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gray postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gray accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gray wants to control from the top but Borisov keeps moving.
Gray postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gray trying to control but Borisov is working from the bottom.
Borisov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's six 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.
Gray throwing strikes from guard but Borisov blocks nicely.
Gray working some strikes from top position.
Borisov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gray.
Gray working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gray has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gray throwing strikes from guard but Borisov blocks nicely.
Gray is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gray is looking to work some ground and pound but Borisov has wrist control.
Gray throwing strikes but missing.
Gray passes Borisov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gray is thwarting Borisov's attempts to control the position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gray not doing much here.
Borisov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gray.
Gray throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gray wants to lay and pray for a moment but Borisov keeps working.
Gray takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Gray not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gray throwing shots but Borisov is blocking nicely.
Borisov has hold of Gray's hands but Gray slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gray missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Borisov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gray.
Gray not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Borisov is breathing heavily.
Gray thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Borisov's head.
Gray is keen to just control but Borisov is a slippery customer.
Gray not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gray trying to control the pace.
Borisov tries to get to full guard but Gray has control of the leg.
Gray seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Borisov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

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

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Borisov connects with a single shot there.
Gray walks into a jab.
Borisov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gray misses with a straight right.
Borisov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Borisov's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gray under the eye.
Gray changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Borisov doesn't manage to clinch there - Gray circles away.
Borisov misses with an uppercut

and Gray counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gray.
Borisov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gray's elbow.
Borisov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Borisov tries a body shot but Gray blocks it.
Gray throws a head punch that misses.
Gray misses with a punch on the inside.
Borisov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Borisov taking a breather.
Gray lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Borisov backwards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tavish Gray dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Boris Borisov's cut.
That's time! Borisov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gray fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Borisov on the side of the head.
Borisov throws a jab but it's blocked by Gray.
Gray is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Borisov tries to clinch there but Gray circles away.
Borisov sets himself, and Gray steps forward looking for the clinch! Borisov avoids it this time.
Borisov tries to move into range but Gray moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Borisov looks to land a left hand but Gray moved out of range nicely.
Borisov swings widly with a right hand

and Gray counters by moving into the clinch.
Gray blocking some punches.
Gray lands a hook that snaps the head of Borisov backwards.
Borisov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gray presses Borisov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Gray lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Gray has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gray scores with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gray lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Gray decides to pull guard.
Gray lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

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!
Gray throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Let's hope that Gray has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Tavish Gray has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gray trying to control but Borisov is working from the bottom.
Gray landing some decent shots from guard.
Gray throwing strikes but missing.
Gray 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.
Borisov keeping moving, preventing Gray from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.
Gray throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Borisov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gray looking to sit in guard and control but Borisov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gray looking to hit a scissor sweep but Borisov is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gray is on top in guard.

Gray passes Borisov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Gray. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Gray is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gray thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gray trying to control from half guard but Borisov is working away.
Gray sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gray wants to take a breather but Borisov is having none of it.
Gray missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gray moves nicely into side control.
Borisov is not content to let Gray control the position.
Gray tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

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.
Gray working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Gray working the ground and pound.
Gray looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Borisov is avoiding damage well.
Gray throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Borisov is trying to control Gray's posture but Gray avoids it.

Gray is trying to get an arm triangle but Borisov is defending well.
Gray sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Borisov is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Gray happy to just control the position for now.
Gray looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Borisov is avoiding damage well.
Boris Borisov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Gray controls the position.
An elbow from Gray crashes against the mat.
Gray trying to control the action but Borisov is working from the bottom.

Gray tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gray has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gray scoring with punches and elbows.
Borisov is not content to let Gray control the position.
Gray postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gray advances nicely into full mount.
Gray throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Borisov because Gray loaded up on that one.
Gray working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Borisov wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Gray.
Borisov is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gray throwing strikes here but Borisov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Gray tries to control but Borisov wriggling away.
Borisov is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Gray looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gray looking to finish Borisov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Borisov!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Borisov avoids a series of strikes thrown by Gray.
Borisov is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Gray in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Boris Borisov's cut is getting worse.
Gray scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Borisov?
Gray scoring with strikes but Borisov is staying in there.
Gray unloads with some shots from mount but Borisov bucks and avoids them well.
Borisov is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Gray trying to control but Borisov is having none of it.
Gray throwing strikes here but Borisov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Gray looking to finish with strikes here!
Gray content just to control the position here.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Gray connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Gray tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gray with the ground and pound from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gray throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Borisov because Gray loaded up on that one.
Tavish Gray is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gray controlling his opponent.
Gray's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Borisov is looking to improve his position but Gray isn't that keen on the idea.
Gray controlling his opponent.
Gray trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gray tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tavish Gray comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gray 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 17:20
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 17:20
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 17:20

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tavish Gray!
Tavish Gray is the new middleweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Tavish Gray thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.