PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Graves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shin Nawasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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?

Graves
vs
Nawasaki

184 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
20
210 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marcus Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shin Nawasaki!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Graves closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Graves throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nawasaki blocks it with crossed arms.
Nawasaki is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Graves with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Graves is struggling to control the position.
Graves misses with a knee to the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Graves takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Graves obliges.
Nawasaki takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nawasaki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Graves walks away with a smile on his face. Nawasaki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nawasaki fails to land the takedown.

Graves fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nawasaki, pushing him back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Graves.
Nawasaki looks gassed!
Nawasaki tries to pull guard but Graves holds him up against the cage and eventually Nawasaki drops back down to his feet.
Marcus Graves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shin Nawasaki.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Graves displaying some good clinch control by pressing Nawasaki up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves with a knee to the head.
Graves connects with a knee to the head.
Graves with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Graves.
Graves lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nawasaki takes a knee right on the jaw!
Graves will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Nawasaki up against the cage.
Graves with a knee to the head.
Graves lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Graves throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nawasaki blocks it with crossed arms.
Nawasaki is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nawasaki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Graves tries to land a knee to the head but Nawasaki blocks with his arms.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nawasaki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Graves tries a knee to the head but Nawasaki blocks it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Nawasaki manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Nawasaki trying to control the position.

Nawasaki uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Graves tries to close the distance and clinch but Nawasaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves tries to clinch but Nawasaki moves out of range.
Graves tries to clinch up.
Nawasaki throws a head kick that misses.
Graves tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nawasaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nawasaki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nawasaki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nawasaki looks for a takedown but Graves sprawls well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nawasaki.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Nawasaki crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Graves - the referee stops the clock and Nawasaki gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Graves. Nawasaki manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Nawasaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Graves throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Nawasaki's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nawasaki misses with a kick to the body.
Nawasaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Graves.

Graves closes the distance and clinches.
Nawasaki is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Graves gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Graves lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nawasaki is trying to pull guard but Graves has him pressed against the cage.
Nawasaki is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Graves pulls him back up using the underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Graves prevents a body shot from Nawasaki.
Graves lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nawasaki tries to pull guard but Graves won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Graves dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Graves rushes Nawasaki and presses him up against the cage.
Graves throws a knee to the head but misses.
Graves lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A knee to the head by Graves.
Graves looking to throw knees to the head but Nawasaki is blocking nicely.
Graves connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nawasaki's face.
Nawasaki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Graves smiles and moves away.

Graves clinches up with Nawasaki and pushes him back against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Graves is trying to maintain a safe position but Nawasaki gets an underhook and turns Graves into the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nawasaki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Graves tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Graves using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nawasaki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nawasaki working hard to break the clinch.
Nawasaki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Graves throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nawasaki stalling.
Nawasaki tries a knee to the head but Graves blocks it.
Nawasaki drops down looking for an ankle pick but Graves pulls his leg out and moves away.
Graves throws a sloppy head kick and Nawasaki moves out of range easily.
Graves throws a head kick but Nawasaki moves out of range.
Nawasaki wants to clinch up but Graves keeps it at a distance.
Nawasaki throws a head kick that misses.
Nawasaki misses with a takedown attempt - Graves sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Marcus Graves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shin Nawasaki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nawasaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Nawasaki misses with an attempted mid kick.
Marcus Graves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Graves throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nawasaki is looking to break free of the clinch but Graves has double underhooks.
Graves pressing his opponent against the cage.
Graves taking a breather.
Graves tries a knee to the head but Nawasaki blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nawasaki drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Graves gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Graves scores with a knee to the head.
Graves tries to stall but Nawasaki uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Graves looking to throw knees to the head but Nawasaki is blocking nicely.

Nawasaki jumps guard.
Nawasaki controls Graves momentarily but Graves frees himself.
Graves trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nawasaki's guard.
Graves knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nawasaki on the ground.
Graves sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nawasaki is pulling down on Graves's head. It's preventing any offense from Graves, at least for the moment.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Graves tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nawasaki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Graves as he avoids it easily.
Graves tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Graves tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nawasaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Graves throws a head kick that Nawasaki semi-blocks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Graves dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Graves tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Nawasaki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Graves throws a head kick but Nawasaki moves out of range.
Graves blocks a head kick by Nawasaki.
Graves scores with a kick to the body.
Nawasaki throws a right hand that Graves ducks under and follows up with a left that Graves also avoids with ease.

Graves gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nawasaki takes a knee right on the jaw!
Graves tries a knee to the head but Nawasaki blocks it.
Nawasaki takes a knee right on the jaw!
Graves looking to throw knees to the head but Nawasaki is blocking nicely.
Graves managing to block the knees to the body from Nawasaki.
Graves is pushing Nawasaki up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nawasaki tries to pull guard but Graves won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nawasaki misses with an elbow strike.
Graves tries to land a knee to the head but Nawasaki blocks with his arms.
Graves tries a knee to the head but Nawasaki blocks it.
Graves stops a takedown attempt from Nawasaki.
Graves crunches a lovely knee into Nawasaki's ribcage.
Graves looking to throw knees to the head but Nawasaki is blocking nicely.
Nawasaki is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Graves to keep the fight standing.
Marcus Graves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shin Nawasaki.
Graves tries to land a knee to the head but Nawasaki blocks with his arms.
Graves prevents a takedown attempt there.
Graves tries a knee to the head but Nawasaki blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves misses with a knee to the head.
Nawasaki changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Graves fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Graves throws a head kick that Nawasaki semi-blocks.

Graves gets a clinch.
Nawasaki is trying to drag Graves to the mat but Graves just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Graves throws a knee to the head but misses.
Graves slowing the pace effectively.
Nawasaki working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Graves connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nawasaki's face.
Nawasaki goes for a takedown attempt but Graves pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Graves is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No luck for Nawasaki with that takedown attempt.

Graves clinches up with Nawasaki and pushes him back against the cage.
Nawasaki is trying to pull guard but Graves turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves lands a knee to the head.
Graves gets underhooks to prevent Nawasaki's takedown attempt.
Nawasaki looking for a takedown.
Nawasaki jumps guard but Graves stands there with Nawasaki around his waist. Nawasaki gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nawasaki wants to get back to striking at distance but Graves won't allow it.
Graves misses with a knee strike.
Graves with a knee to the head.
Marcus Graves has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nawasaki looking to slow down the pace here.
Nawasaki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Graves looking to throw knees to the head but Nawasaki is blocking nicely.
Nawasaki trying to land knees to the body.
Shin Nawasaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marcus Graves is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nawasaki misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Graves showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Graves, 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

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