PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lionel Gabriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Graves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Gabriel
vs
Graves

202 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

155 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Lionel Gabriel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert Graves!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Donald Grub and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gabriel stalks Graves and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Graves's face. Graves staggers backwards, shaken.
Graves has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sloppy strikes from Gabriel. Those never looked like landing.
Gabriel looks to land a combination but Graves avoids it well.
Gabriel fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Graves on the side of the head.
A punch combination from Gabriel misses.
Gabriel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gabriel misses with a double jab.
Graves avoids a punch combination nicely.
Graves is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gabriel.
Gabriel throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Gabriel misses with a two punch combination.
A punch combination from Gabriel misses.
Gabriel fails to land with a series of punches.
Gabriel lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A combination from Gabriel does no damage.
Graves moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gabriel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabriel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Graves moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Graves on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Gabriel works over Graves's head and body with a nice combination.
Gabriel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gabriel defending well as Graves loads up on a big left hand.
Gabriel tries to bum rush Graves with a series of wild strikes but Graves uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Some wild striking there from Gabriel.
Gabriel misses with a wild combination.
Graves needs to keep his hands up - Gabriel had a free shot at his head there.
Gabriel throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gabriel connects with the punch.
Gabriel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Graves.
Gabriel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Graves circles away quickly and effectively.
Gabriel connects with a right hand. Graves shakes it off.
Gabriel is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's two 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.
Gabriel misses with a double jab.
Gabriel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Graves moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Graves has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Gabriel finds it's way round the side to connect with Graves's head.
Gabriel throws a series of punches but Graves moves out of range.
Gabriel lands a nice shot that snaps Graves's head back.
Gabriel connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Gabriel lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Gabriel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Graves circles away quickly and effectively.
Gabriel throws a big shot that misses.
Gabriel misses with a double jab.
Gabriel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gabriel misses with a double jab.
Gabriel is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Gabriel throws a right and a left that Graves avoids nicely.
A punch combination from Gabriel misses.
A right-left combo lands from Gabriel.
Graves should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Gabriel swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gabriel misses with the combination.
Gabriel misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel misses with a hook.
Graves shoots in for a takedown but Gabriel shows good takedown defense.
Gabriel fails to land with a series of punches.
Gabriel moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Gabriel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gabriel throws a series of punches but Graves moves out of range.
Gabriel throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Graves moves into the clinch.
Graves jumps guard but Gabriel stands there with Graves around his waist. Graves gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Graves jumps guard.
Graves is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Graves is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Graves lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gabriel!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel avoids a series of strikes thrown by Graves.
Graves sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Graves misses with a head shot.
Gabriel is breathing heavily.
Graves wants to control the pace but Gabriel is squirming around nicely.

Graves with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Gabriel on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gabriel tries to get out of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Graves is trying to get an arm triangle but Gabriel is defending well.
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 Lionel Gabriel 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.

Gabriel tries to bum rush Graves with a series of wild strikes but Graves uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice jab there from Gabriel.
Gabriel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gabriel keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gabriel misses with a few strikes there.
Gabriel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Graves circles away quickly and effectively.
Gabriel slips a straight right by Graves.
Graves misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gabriel swinging wildly here.
Gabriel shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Graves eats them both and turns towards Gabriel to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Gabriel misses with a looping left.
Gabriel misses with a two punch combination.
Lionel Gabriel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gabriel slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabriel shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Graves eats them both and turns towards Gabriel to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Some wild striking there from Gabriel.
Graves jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gabriel is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Gabriel throws a right and a left that Graves avoids nicely.
Gabriel misses with the combination.
Gabriel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gabriel goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Graves slips a jab and a cross from Gabriel.
Graves throws the left hand but Gabriel avoids the punch easily.
Gabriel staying out of range there.
Graves misses with a wild body shot.
Gabriel really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Graves throws a shot from downtown. Gabriel moves away and avoids it.
Lionel Gabriel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gabriel connects with a nice looking jab.
Graves has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Graves clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Graves keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gabriel's efforts to push away.

Graves successfully pulls guard.

Graves looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Graves bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gabriel's guard.
Graves stands and throws Gabriel's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gabriel defending against the ground and pound.
Graves controls the position.

Graves is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gabriel has escaped the position, nice work there.
Graves lands a nice forearm strike.
Graves has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Graves throws an elbow but Gabriel slips to the side and avoids it well.
Graves throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Graves trying to control the position but Gabriel is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Graves creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Gabriel sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Graves advances to mount.

Graves has hold of Gabriel's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gabriel manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Graves throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Gabriel because Graves loaded up on that one.
Graves tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Graves thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four 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.
Gabriel is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Graves throws some wild stikes that Gabriel manages to avoid easily.

Graves is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gabriel can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Graves trying to control but Gabriel is having none of it.

Graves looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Graves looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Graves sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
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 referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gabriel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Graves is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Graves slips a jab and a cross from Gabriel.
Gabriel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gabriel smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Gabriel throws out a powerful jab.
Graves looks for a takedown but Gabriel sprawls well.
No joy there for Gabriel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A telegraphed right hand from Gabriel misses the target.
Gabriel fails to land with a series of punches.
Graves throws a jab when Gabriel was well out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gabriel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Graves misses with a hook. Gabriel ducked under it nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gabriel throws a right hand that Graves ducks under and follows up with a left that Graves also avoids with ease.
Gabriel looks to land a combination but Graves avoids it well.
Gabriel misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabriel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Graves moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Graves drives through and clinches with Gabriel against the cage.
Graves keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gabriel's efforts to push away.
Graves drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Graves is trying to drag Gabriel to the mat but Gabriel just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lionel Gabriel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Graves.

Graves jumps guard and drags Gabriel to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Gabriel gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Graves throws a leg kick that misses.
Gabriel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gabriel darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Graves looks for a takedown but Gabriel sprawls well.
Gabriel moves away from the strike by Graves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Graves throws the left hand but Gabriel avoids the punch easily.
Gabriel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Graves moves into range and clinches up with Gabriel.
Graves throws a punch but it's blocked by Gabriel.
Graves is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gabriel pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Graves manages to pull guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Graves is on top in guard.

Graves is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Graves advances to half guard.
Graves works his foot free and advances to mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Graves there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gabriel is looking to escape.

Graves has control of Gabriel's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Gabriel regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Gabriel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Graves on the ground.
Graves wants to control the pace but Gabriel is squirming around nicely.
Gabriel avoids a series of strikes thrown by Graves.

Graves is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Gabriel has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Graves sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

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 tries to control but Gabriel wriggling away.
Graves thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Graves is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Gabriel to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Gabriel shrugs it off.

Graves looking for a guillotine from mount but Gabriel is having none of it.
Graves can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gabriel is looking to escape.

Graves working for a guillotine from mount but Gabriel is in no mood to give up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Graves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Graves has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Graves!