PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pain McGraw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitaly Smirnoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McGraw
vs
Smirnoff

168 cm
24
143 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

180 cm
24
135 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Pain McGraw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Vitaly Smirnoff!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Richard Clark and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGraw avoids the head kick by Smirnoff.
Smirnoff scores with a three punch combo!
McGraw moves in looking to clinch but Smirnoff pushes him off.
McGraw slips a jab and a cross from Smirnoff.
McGraw has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

McGraw is rocked!
Pain McGraw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smirnoff misses with a head kick.
Oh McGraw is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

McGraw drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
McGraw seems to have got his legs back now.
Smirnoff sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Smirnoff is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smirnoff regains full guard. Nicely done.
Smirnoff can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McGraw controls the pace.
McGraw might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnoff wants to sweep but no luck.
McGraw tries to stand but Smirnoff is controlling from the bottom.
Smirnoff looking to control.
Smirnoff looking for a sweep. Not yet Smirnoff, not yet.
Smirnoff is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smirnoff is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Smirnoff is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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

Smirnoff working for a triangle but McGraw defends it easily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Smirnoff misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McGraw misses with a hook.
Vitaly Smirnoff is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smirnoff lands a head kick!
Smirnoff lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McGraw circles away quickly and effectively.
McGraw circles away from the clinch attempt
and McGraw counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGraw takes the fight into the clinch.
Smirnoff is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
McGraw misses with a punch on the inside.
McGraw working Smirnoff over with knees to the body.
Smirnoff unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Smirnoff takes a shot to the head.
McGraw lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Smirnoff fails to pull guard.
Smirnoff missing with knees to the body.
Smirnoff looks gassed!
McGraw pressing his opponent against the cage.
Smirnoff landing knees to the body.
McGraw keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smirnoff's efforts to push away.
Smirnoff fails to pull the fight into his guard.
McGraw scores a nice knee to the body.
McGraw tries for a takedown but Smirnoff manages to get underhooks.
Smirnoff trying to land knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from McGraw fails to land.
McGraw lands with a light punch inside.
Smirnoff utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
McGraw lands an elbow inside that Smirnoff shrugs off.
McGraw pushes Smirnoff back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGraw blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Still in the clinch, McGraw scores with a nice short uppercut.
McGraw lands with a short head shot on the inside.
McGraw lands a body punch.
Smirnoff blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

McGraw escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McGraw falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smirnoff counters with a flying knee. Nice.

McGraw shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
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!
McGraw takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
McGraw has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McGraw tries to pass the half guard into mount. Smirnoff knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
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 Pain McGraw will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McGraw misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smirnoff.
McGraw misses the shot to the body.
McGraw blocks a head kick by Smirnoff.
A shot to the body from McGraw misses
and Smirnoff counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
McGraw lands with a nice body punch.
Nice uppercut lands for McGraw. That snapped Smirnoff's head back.
Smirnoff scores with a jab to the jaw.
Smirnoff throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by McGraw.
Smirnoff tries a head kick but it misses.

Smirnoff gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smirnoff looking for a sweep. Not yet Smirnoff, not yet.
McGraw wants to pass the guard but Smirnoff is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnoff trying to keep a closed guard but McGraw is proving a slippery customer.

Smirnoff is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
McGraw stands and throws Smirnoff's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Smirnoff's face as McGraw controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smirnoff manages to get back to half guard.
Smirnoff wants to get back to his feet.
McGraw scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Smirnoff pushes McGraw off looking to stand but McGraw dives back in and keeps control.
Smirnoff is breathing heavily.
Smirnoff is trying to escape back to his feet but McGraw uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Smirnoff wants to get back to his feet but McGraw drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGraw gets to mount! Smirnoff was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
McGraw controlling the pace for now.
Smirnoff tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McGraw working away from the top, dropping strikes.

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.
McGraw lands a nice shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McGraw controlling from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smirnoff is in a horrible position here. McGraw smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pain McGraw dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Smirnoff misses with a double jab

and McGraw counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smirnoff won't be happy with that.
Check out the look on McGraw's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

McGraw decides to stand back up. McGraw steps back and let's Smirnoff get back to his feet.

McGraw closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A hook to the body from Smirnoff.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Smirnoff.
McGraw lands a knee to the body.
McGraw misses with an elbow over the top.

McGraw breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Smirnoff tries to keep at a distance but McGraw has taken the fight into the clinch.
McGraw misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smirnoff.
McGraw missing with knees to the body.
Smirnoff using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smirnoff blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McGraw lands a shoulder strike.
Smirnoff landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Smirnoff wants to break free but McGraw has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGraw on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smirnoff tries to land knees in the clinch but McGraw avoids the damage to the body.
Smirnoff lands a left hand that snaps the head of McGraw backwards.
Smirnoff stalling in the clinch but McGraw improves position.
McGraw avoiding damage as Smirnoff throws knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Smirnoff.
McGraw wants to stall.
Smirnoff fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smirnoff pushes McGraw back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Smirnoff landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Smirnoff trying to land knees to the body.
Smirnoff missing with knees to the body.
McGraw tries to land knees in the clinch but Smirnoff avoids the damage to the body.
McGraw is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Smirnoff fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smirnoff tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McGraw avoids it.
McGraw fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McGraw lands a left hand that snaps the head of Smirnoff backwards.
McGraw managing to block the knees to the body from Smirnoff.
Smirnoff unloads a knee to the mid-section. McGraw lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Still in the clinch, McGraw scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McGraw looking to throw knees to the head but Smirnoff is blocking nicely.
Smirnoff unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Smirnoff avoids the elbow strike from McGraw, against the cage.
McGraw stalling in the clinch.
Smirnoff misses with an elbow strike.
Smirnoff jumps guard but McGraw stands there with Smirnoff around his waist. Smirnoff gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Pain McGraw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vitaly Smirnoff.
McGraw lands a nice elbow.
Knees in the clinch landing for Smirnoff.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
McGraw stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
McGraw trying to control the position but instead, Smirnoff has worked for underhooks and has pushed McGraw into the cage.
McGraw blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

McGraw gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Smirnoff regains guard.
McGraw looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
McGraw wants to control from the top but Smirnoff keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnoff is trying to control the position but McGraw postures up.
Smirnoff looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smirnoff working a defensive guard here.
Smirnoff wants to control the position but McGraw says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Pain McGraw overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McGraw prevents Smirnoff from improving his position.
Vitaly Smirnoff has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smirnoff wants to control but McGraw is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McGraw lands with a nice body punch.
McGraw connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Smirnoff misses with a double jab
and McGraw counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Smirnoff thinking.
Smirnoff moves out of range of the strikes.
Pain McGraw is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McGraw fails in his attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pain McGraw showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McGraw, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pain McGraw!