PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sean Sullivan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Graves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Graves has chosen Atreyu - Bleeding Mascara as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sullivan
vs
Graves

177 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sean Sullivan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Robert Graves!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Alan Glass and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sullivan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Graves clinches up with Sullivan and pushes him back against the cage.
Graves is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sullivan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Sullivan has picked Graves up - he's going for a ride! Sullivan dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Graves is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Graves is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sullivan looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Graves tries to roll over but Sullivan keeps him under control.
Sullivan is looking to take a break and control but Graves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sullivan is controlling the pace.
Graves works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan preventing the sweep.

Sullivan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sullivan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sullivan trying to control the position from guard on top but Graves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sullivan preventing the sweep.
Graves looks gassed!
Sullivan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Graves is trying to get back to half guard.
Sullivan is looking to take a break and control but Graves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Sullivan decides to stand up, so the ref orders Graves to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Sullivan drives through and clinches with Graves against the cage.
Sullivan stalling in the clinch.

Sullivan gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Sullivan is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Graves is just riding it out for now. Sullivan eventually gives up the hold.
Graves is holding on to half guard well.
Sullivan wants to stand up but Graves has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Graves keeping moving, preventing Sullivan from controlling successfully.
Graves utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Graves looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sullivan tries to free his leg and advance position but Graves is retaining full guard.
Sullivan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sullivan 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 wants to pass the guard but Sullivan is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sullivan keeping moving, preventing Graves from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves wants to pass the guard but Sullivan is keeping the position.
Sullivan is looking to stand up but Graves isn't so interested in that idea.
Sullivan keeping moving, preventing Graves from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Sullivan closes the distance and clinches.
Graves tries a body shot but Sullivan blocks it.
Graves looking to slow down the pace here.
Sullivan's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Graves breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Graves tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sullivan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Graves gets a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sean Sullivan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sullivan looks to clinch

and Graves holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Graves manages to break the clinch.
Graves misses with a wild combination.
Sean Sullivan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sullivan fails with the takedown
and Graves counters with a nice body kick.
Sullivan looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sullivan tries for a takedown but Graves circles away easily

and Graves counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Sullivan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graves passes Sullivan's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sullivan tries to kick Graves off but Graves keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sullivan gets full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sullivan wants to stand but Graves is controlling the position.
Graves wants to control from the top but Sullivan keeps moving.
Graves is breathing heavily.
Graves preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sullivan working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Graves has passed into half guard!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Graves in particular looking to stall.
Graves prevents Sullivan from improving his position.
Graves working Sullivan over with strikes.
Graves wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sullivan keeps working.
Still in half guard, Graves seems content to control.
Sullivan tries to get to full guard but Graves has control of the leg.
Sullivan trying to control from the bottom.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan has hold of Graves's hands but Graves slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sullivan looks like he's trying to stand up.
Graves winds up and cracks Sullivan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Graves wants to control but Sullivan is keeping him busy.
Graves moves into full mount! Sullivan won't be happy about that!
Graves is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sullivan can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sullivan can't escape the position.

Graves has hold of Sullivan's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Sullivan manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Graves can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sullivan is looking to escape.
Sullivan is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Robert Graves has got the better of the ground game so far.

Graves jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Sullivan manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Sullivan throws Graves to one side and escapes!
Graves fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sullivan has his takedown stuffed

and Graves decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sullivan's guard.
Graves slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sullivan wants to sweep but no luck.
Graves pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sullivan is keeping the position for now.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan has his takedown stuffed

and Graves counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Graves stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sullivan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sullivan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Graves preventing the sweep.

Sullivan 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.
Sullivan wants to sweep but no luck.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sullivan is trying to control the position but Graves postures up.

Sullivan pushes Graves off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Sullivan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Graves 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!

Graves tries to clinch up.
Graves moves in looking to clinch but Sullivan pushes him off.
Graves stuffs the takedown.
Sean Sullivan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sullivan shoots in but no luck this time.
Some wild striking there from Graves.
Horrible takedown by Sullivan or perhaps it was just good defense by Graves which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Sullivan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sullivan needs to keep his hands up - Graves had a free shot at his head there.
Sullivan fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sullivan takes a swing at Graves's ribcage but misses.
Graves takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sullivan moves in looking to clinch but Graves pushes him off.
Sullivan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves tries to clinch

and Sullivan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Graves!
Sullivan working the ground and pound effectively.
Sullivan wants to control the pace but Graves is squirming around nicely.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sullivan cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Graves tries to lock up and control but Sullivan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Graves really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sullivan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Graves is looking to escape.
Graves really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves is squirming around, avoiding Sullivan's attempts to control the action.
Graves working to try and regain half guard.
Graves wants to control but Sullivan is having none of it.
Graves is trying desperately to improve position.
Sullivan working the ground and pound effectively.
Graves tries to lock up and control but Sullivan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Graves is looking to get to half guard.
Sullivan looking to control but Graves is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves regains half guard.
Graves flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Sullivan is trying to control the action in half guard but Graves is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Graves striking from the bottom.
Graves trying to control here.
Graves moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Graves wants to sweep here but Sullivan controlling him for the moment.
Sullivan trying to control the position from guard on top but Graves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Graves wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sullivan can't escape the position.
Sullivan wants to hold on but Graves pushes him away.
Graves controlling from mount.
Sullivan prevents Graves from taking his back.

Graves is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sullivan has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Sullivan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Robert Graves.
Well Graves 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!