PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Graves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Graves
vs
Jackson

185 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Monster MMA
The Fire Inside

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Chad Campbell and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graves misses the jab.
No joy there for Graves, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Graves blocks a jab.
Jackson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Graves throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Graves clinches.
Graves misses with a punch on the inside.

Graves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Jackson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Graves sprawls well initially but Jackson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Jackson stops Graves from getting back to his feet.
Jackson not doing much here.
Jackson stops Graves from getting back to his feet.
Jackson trying to control the action but Graves is working from the bottom.
Graves on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Graves tries to get out of the position.
Graves wants to get back to his feet.
Jackson thows a huge punch but Graves dodges it nicely.
Graves looks like he's trying to stand up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Graves misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves throws a series of punches but Jackson avoids them all with ease.
James Graves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Graves does no damage.
Graves lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Jackson backs up against the cage.
Graves is breathing heavily.
Graves sizes up Jackson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Graves lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Graves looks to land a left hand but Jackson moved out of range nicely.
Jackson closes the distance and clinches up with Graves, looking for a takedown. Jackson pushes Graves against the cage but Graves circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Graves.
Jackson lands a front kick.
Jackson shoots in but Graves avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Jackson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Graves!
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!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Jackson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Jackson controlling the pace for now.
Graves is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves is squirming around, avoiding Jackson's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Jackson dominating with strikes here.
Graves is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Jackson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jackson controlling the pace for now.
You get the feeling that Graves really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Graves blocking the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson looking to finish with strikes here!

Jackson has control of Graves's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Graves regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Jackson tries to control but Graves wriggling away.
Graves is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Jackson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Graves wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jackson landing strikes from the mount.
Graves knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jackson on the ground.
Graves is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Jackson trying to control but Graves is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Jackson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jackson moves into range and clinches up with Graves.
A knee to the head by Jackson.
Jackson tries to land knees in the clinch but Graves avoids the damage to the body.
Jackson goes for a takedown attempt but Graves pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Graves misses with a series of wild punches.
Graves connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Jackson ducks under a wild hook from Graves.
Graves throws a hook to the side of Jackson's head but Jackson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Graves misses with a body shot.
Graves swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Graves darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A big left from Graves misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Graves throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jackson slips under a jab from Graves.
Graves keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Graves. That did some damage!

Jackson moves into range and clinches up with Graves.
Graves working aggressively here.
Graves misses with a punch on the inside.
Jackson keeps control of Graves as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Graves.
Graves working aggressively here.
Graves wants to break free but Jackson has control.
Jackson crunches a lovely knee into Graves's ribcage.
Jackson is trying to maintain a safe position but Graves gets an underhook and turns Jackson into the cage.
Jackson stalling in the clinch.
Jackson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Graves backwards.
Jackson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Jackson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Graves's brow.
A shot in the inside from Graves.
Graves lands a nice uppercut.
Graves lands a right hand.
Graves lands a hook that snaps the head of Jackson backwards.
Jackson lands an elbow inside that Graves shrugs off.
Jackson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jackson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves swings wildly with an uppercut but Jackson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Graves is pressed up against the cage. Jackson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Graves down to the mat. Graves avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
James Graves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Jackson.
Graves looks to land a combination but Jackson avoids it well.
Graves clobbers Jackson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Graves takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Jackson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Graves connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Jackson momentarily.
Graves looks to land a combination. Jackson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Graves misses with a looping left.
Jackson throws a head kick that Graves semi-blocks.
Graves swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Jackson.
Graves lands with an overhand left.
Graves sizes up Jackson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Graves misses with an uppercut. Jackson saw that one coming.
Graves throws a series of punches but Jackson avoids them all with ease.
Jackson fails with the takedown.
Jackson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Graves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Graves's sensitive parts.
James Graves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jackson dodges the punch combination from Graves.
James Graves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Jackson instigates a clinch.
Jackson trying to stall but Graves improves his position.
Graves lands with a left to the head.
Jackson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Graves tries to break the clinch but Jackson is controlling the position.
Jackson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Graves lands a hook to the side of the head.
Graves scores with a shot to the side of Jackson's head.
Graves pushes Jackson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Graves on the inside.
Graves lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Graves wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Jackson tries to land knees in the clinch but Graves avoids the damage to the body.
Graves wants to break free but Jackson has control.

That's four 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 swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Graves doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Graves is trying to break the clinch but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
Jackson wants a takedown but no success here.
Graves is trying to break the clinch but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
Graves misses with a short punch on the inside.
Graves swings wildly with an uppercut but Jackson uses good head movement to avoid it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Graves.
Graves swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jackson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Graves pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Graves wants to break free but Jackson has control.
Graves lands with a light punch inside.
Still in the clinch, Graves scores with a nice short uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Graves.
Graves has had enough of the clinch but Jackson keeps him there for the moment.
Jackson blocking some punches.
A short uppercut from Graves.
A short uppercut from Graves.
Jackson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Graves.
Graves working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Graves dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Graves keeps the fight on the outside.
Jackson closes the distance and clinches up with Graves, looking for a takedown. Jackson pushes Graves against the cage but Graves circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice shot by Graves.
Graves throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Jackson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Jackson slips a jab and a cross from Graves.
Graves throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jackson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Graves throws a series of punches but Jackson moves out of range.
Graves misses with a hook.
Graves throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jackson is looking to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Graves misses the target.

Jackson scores a takedown into full mount!
Graves trying desperately to get to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson tries to control but Graves wriggling away.
Graves tries to buck Jackson off but he can't manage it.
Jackson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Graves is looking to escape.
Graves tries to buck Jackson off but he can't manage it.

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.
Jackson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Graves trying desperately to get to his feet.
Graves is in a horrible position here. Jackson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Graves squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Jackson trying to control but Graves is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Jackson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Jackson punching from mount but Graves doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Graves wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Jackson tries to control but Graves wriggling away.
Graves holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Jackson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Graves wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

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 is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Jackson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Graves tries to buck Jackson off but he can't manage it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson trying to control but Graves is having none of it.
Graves squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jackson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Graves is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
James 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28

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