PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gustav Graves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samoa Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gustav Graves has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Graves
vs
Joe

180 cm
25
161 lbs
13 - 1 - 0

160 cm
20
148 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gustav Graves!
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, Samoa Joe!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joe avoids a punch combination nicely.
Graves stalks Joe and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Joe's face. Joe staggers backwards, shaken.
Graves throws a jab but it's blocked by Joe.
Graves just misses with a punch to the body.
An inside leg kick from Joe misses.
Graves moves in looking to clinch but Joe pushes him off.
Joe avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A combination from Graves does no damage.
Nice defenses there by Joe.
Joe has a takedown stuffed.
Graves pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Joe darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Joe lands a nice short elbow.
Joe trying to control from half guard but Graves is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Joe 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.
Joe drops an elbow to the side of Graves's head.
Joe passes to side control.
Graves is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Graves sneaks back into half guard.
Joe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Graves keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves is trying to maintain the position but Joe is very close to passing his half guard.
Graves is refusing to be controlled, as Joe sits in half guard.
Joe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Graves works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Joe showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Graves looking to hit a scissor sweep but Joe is one step ahead there.
Graves preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Joe trying to control but Graves is working from the bottom.

Graves has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Joe off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

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.
Graves misses with a wild combination.
Joe misses with a low kick as Graves jumps back.
A slow jab from Graves misses its intended target.
Joe misses the shot to the body.
Graves lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Joe backs up against the cage.
Graves wants to clinch.
Good leg kick by Joe there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Graves tries to clinch there but Joe circles away.
Joe tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Graves is able to avoid easily.
Nice defenses there by Joe.
Graves will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Joe misses with a body shot
and Graves counters with a nice uppercut.
Joe avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Samoa Joe will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Joe moves out of range of the strikes.
Joe throws a body punch but Graves moves out of range.
Graves fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Graves tries to clinch up.
Graves throws out a loose jab but Joe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Graves paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Graves misses with a hook.
Joe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Graves manages to avoid it.
Joe throws out a leg kick but Graves moves out of range and Joe only half commits.
Joe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Graves moves away.
Joe pivots, looking for a leg kick but Graves is out of range and Joe settles back down.
Graves tries to bum rush Joe with a series of wild strikes but Joe uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joe keeps the fight on the outside.
Graves connects with a jab.
Graves throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Graves wants to clinch up but Joe keeps it at a distance.
Joe misses with a low kick.

Joe feints and as Graves raises his hands in defense, Joe changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Joe throwing strikes from guard but Graves blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe wants to control from the top but Graves keeps moving.
Graves tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Joe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Graves trying to keep a closed guard but Joe is proving a slippery customer.
Joe trying to control the position from guard on top but Graves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Joe 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Graves looks to land a left hand but Joe moved out of range nicely.
Joe swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Joe throws a leg kick but Graves checks it.
The crowd cheers as Graves lands an impressive looking overhand right. Joe doesn't seem phased though.

It looks like Samoa Joe has been cut.
Graves lands a body shot.

Joe looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Graves!
Graves manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Joe wants to advance to full mount but Graves doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves wants to hit a switch here but Joe passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Graves there!
Graves avoids a series of strikes thrown by Joe.
Joe thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Joe dominating with strikes here.

That's four 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.
Joe controlling from the full mount.
Graves tries to reverse the position but Joe maintains control.
Poor strikes thrown by Joe there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Joe content just to control the position here.
Joe landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Samoa Joe will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Samoa Joe's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Graves throws a right and a left that Joe avoids nicely.
Graves throws a shot from downtown. Joe moves away and avoids it.
Joe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Graves.
Graves on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Joe. Joe obviously looking to wear him down.
Graves wants to clinch up but Joe keeps it at a distance.

Graves clinches.
Joe tries to circle away but Graves has him pinned against the cage.
Graves lands a body shot in the clinch.
Graves blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Joe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Graves as Joe tries to tie him up.
Joe wants to get back to striking at distance but Graves won't allow it.
Graves controlling the action here for a moment.
Joe tries to circle away but Graves has him pinned against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Graves.
A right handed body shot lands from Graves.
Graves works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Graves.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Joe.

Joe turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Joe manages to end up in side control.
Graves tries to bench press Joe off him but Joe keeps the position.
Graves manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Graves wants to take a breather but Joe is having none of it.
Graves is really struggling to control Joe but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Graves slows the pace down in half guard.
Graves trying to mount his opponent but Joe defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Joe is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Graves is trying to control. Joe wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Graves checks a leg kick nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Graves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Graves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Graves cracks a nice hook into Joe's ribs.
Graves misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Graves avoids the body shot from Joe.
Joe is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Graves rather than just go for the knockout.
Joe tries to score a power double leg takedown but Graves sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Joe somewhat.
Graves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Joe thows a body shot but no joy.
Graves tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Graves scoring well with a low kick there.
Joe throws a low kick but it's checked well by Graves.
Joe showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Graves.
Joe tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Graves is able to avoid easily.
Graves throws out a loose jab but Joe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gustav Graves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Graves blocks a leg kick.
Gustav Graves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graves tries to clinch up but Joe circles away and keeps his distance.
Graves is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Graves checks the leg kick nicely there.
Graves tried to score with a low kick but Joe checks it.
Graves looks to throw the jab but Joe is out of range.
Graves pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Joe throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Joe attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Graves throws an overhand right that lands on Joe's shoulder, as Joe tries to avoid the shot.
Joe misses with a hook to the body
and Joe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Joe takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Graves misses with a double jab.
Joe gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Graves.
Graves misses with a straight right.
A leg kick checked by Graves.
Joe uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Graves.
Graves checks a low kick from Joe.
The fighters circling - Graves throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Good work by Graves as he checks the leg kick.
Graves throws the left hand but Joe avoids the punch easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustav Graves clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Samoa Joe's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Graves throws a head kick but Joe moves out of range.
Joe wants to slow Graves down by chopping away at his legs.
Graves misses with a hook.
Joe scores with a leg kick.
Graves misses with a series of wild punches.
Graves misses with a looping right.
Graves looks to score with a jab to the body but Joe is just out of range.
Graves misses with a few strikes there.

Joe shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Joe controlling from mount.
Joe with a couple of short strikes.
Joe looking to land elbow strikes but Graves uses the position to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe trying to control the pace.
Joe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Graves keeps working.
Joe thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Joe is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Joe landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Graves looking to hit a scissor sweep but Joe is one step ahead there.
Graves keeping moving, preventing Joe from controlling successfully.
Joe sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Graves keeping moving, preventing Joe from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves looking to hit a scissor sweep but Joe is one step ahead there.
Graves keeping moving, preventing Joe from controlling successfully.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Joe is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Graves.
Graves tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Graves swings for the body but Joe moves out of range.
Graves lands with a straight right. Joe didn't see that one coming.
Joe scores with a hook to the body. Graves takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Graves moves into range and clinches up with Joe.
Graves working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Graves doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Joe looking to stall.
Joe is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Graves gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Joe wants to break free but Graves has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Gustav Graves will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Samoa Joe's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Joe motions for Graves to come forward. Joe throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Joe shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Graves cracks Joe with a right hand to the side of the head.
Joe fails to land the takedown.
Graves jabs Joe right on the nose. Joe blinks but takes it well.
Graves scores with a body shot.
Joe takes one to the side of the head.
Joe misses with a leg kick
letting Graves counter with a right hand.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Graves lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Joe has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Joe and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Graves throws a series of punches but Joe avoids them all with ease.
Joe connects with a solid leg kick.
Graves throws an overhand right that lands on Joe's shoulder, as Joe tries to avoid the shot.
Graves keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Graves looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Joe staying out of range there.
Graves blocks a low kick nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Graves does it's job there.
Gustav Graves is winning the standup battle so far.
Graves is looking to clinch but Joe is avoiding it.
Joe tries to land a leg kick but Graves saw it coming and moves away.
Joe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Graves scores with the left hand. Joe knows he should have avoided that one.
Graves scores with a nice right hand.
Graves swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Graves tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Joe was well out of range. Poor timing from Graves.

Joe shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Graves is trying desperately to improve position.
Graves tries to hold on but Joe pushes him away.
Joe working the ground and pound effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joe trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Graves wants to control but Joe is having none of it.
Joe throws some wild stikes that Graves manages to avoid easily.
Graves tries to lock up and control but Joe gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Graves sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Joe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe wants to take a breather but Graves is having none of it.
Joe takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Joe seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Graves does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joe throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Samoa Joe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Joe sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Graves wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Graves keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Joe scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Joe wants to free his trapped foot but Graves is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Graves gets full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gustav Graves showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Graves has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 47:48
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 50:46
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 48:48

The fight is ruled a draw!
Gustav Graves retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!