PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Fischbach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Graves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fischbach comes to the cage accompanied by Above and Beyond - Alone Tonight. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Fischbach
vs
Graves

185 cm
22
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Blitzkrieg Supplements
Monster MMA

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tom Fischbach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Graves!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Anthony Taglia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graves tries to clinch up but Fischbach circles away and keeps his distance.
Graves dodges the punch combination from Fischbach.
Fischbach throws a body punch but Graves moves out of range.
Graves slips a jab and a cross from Fischbach.
Graves throws a nice looking combination but Fischbach bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fischbach misses with a combination

and Graves counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Graves.
Graves is pushing Fischbach up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Graves prevents Fischbach from breaking the clinch.
Fischbach wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Graves misses with a punch on the inside.
Graves prevents Fischbach from breaking the clinch.
Graves scores with an uppercut up the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves stalls.
Fischbach wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Graves has him pressed against the cage.
Graves scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Fischbach pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fischbach misses with a few strikes there.
Fischbach throws a right and a left that Graves avoids nicely.
Graves moves away from the strike by Fischbach.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fischbach swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Graves counters with a left and a right that stings Fischbach.
Fischbach throws a right and a left that both miss.
Graves moves out of range of the strikes.
Graves misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Graves takes one on the chin but seems OK.

It looks like James Graves has been cut.
Fischbach throws a combination that misses
and Graves counters with a two punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fischbach throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fischbach is breathing heavily.
Fischbach throws a left and a right that both miss

and Graves counters with a left and a right that hurts Fischbach! He wobbles and falls to the floor - he's in big trouble! Graves jumps into full mount!

Fischbach is rocked!
Graves controlling his opponent.
Oh Fischbach is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fischbach seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fischbach working to try and regain half guard.
Graves controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, James Graves just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Graves fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Graves uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fischbach.
Fischbach misses with a combination
and Graves counters with a three punch combo that has Fischbach backing up. Fischbach nods at Graves to acknowledge the strikes.

Fischbach tries to keep at a distance but Graves has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves prevents Fischbach from breaking the clinch.

Fischbach breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Graves uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fischbach.

Graves closes the distance and clinches.
A short right from Graves on the inside.
Fischbach wants to break free but Graves has control.
Fischbach wants to break free but Graves has control.
Fischbach has had enough of the clinch but Graves keeps him there for the moment.
Fischbach wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Graves has him pressed against the cage.
Fischbach is looking to break free of the clinch but Graves has double underhooks.
Graves lands a right hand that snaps the head of Fischbach backwards.
A right hook to the body lands for Graves.
Graves lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Fischbach wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Fischbach wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fischbach can't break the clinch.
Graves lands a left hand.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Graves.

Fischbach breaks the clinch.
Jab, jab by Graves - just one landing.
Fischbach uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Graves has time to react.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Graves dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Graves's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Graves scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Tom Fischbach has been cut.

Graves moves into the clinch.
Fischbach wants to break the clinch but can't.
Graves keeps control of Fischbach as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Graves throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Fischbach blocking some punches.
Fischbach's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fischbach is looking to break free of the clinch but Graves has double underhooks.
Graves scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fischbach wants to break free but Graves has control.

Fischbach breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Graves looks to land a combination but Fischbach avoids it well.
Fischbach cracks Graves with a right hand to the side of the head.
Fischbach throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Graves counters with a three punch combo that has Fischbach backing up. Fischbach nods at Graves to acknowledge the strikes.
Fischbach throws a combination that misses
and Graves counters with a stiff right hand.

Graves has closed the distance and engaged Fischbach in a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Fischbach wants to break the clinch but can't.
Fischbach is trying to break the clinch but Graves has him pressed against the cage.
Graves lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!

Fischbach breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graves pushes Fischbach up against the cage in a clinch.
Fischbach wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Graves has him pressed against the cage.
Graves prevents Fischbach from breaking the clinch.
Graves lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Fischbach or not.
Fischbach is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Graves scores with a shoulder strike.
Graves lands an uppercut.
Graves stalling against the cage.
Fischbach wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Graves has him pressed against the cage.
Fischbach tries to break the clinch but Graves is controlling the position.
Fischbach wants to break free but Graves has control.
Graves lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Fischbach breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fischbach throws a hook to the side of Graves's head but Graves sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Graves throws a series of punches but Fischbach avoids them all with ease.
Tom Fischbach seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graves tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fischbach swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Graves throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fischbach.
Fischbach misses with a wild combination.
Fischbach throws a combination that misses
and Graves counters with a left and a right that stings Fischbach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fischbach misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Graves.
Graves displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
James Graves seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fischbach throws a combination that misses
and Graves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Good exchange - Graves coming out on top.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fischbach takes a shot to the head.
A short uppercut from Graves.
Graves lands a shoulder strike.
Fischbach is looking to break free of the clinch but Graves has double underhooks.
Graves misses with a hook from the clinch.
Graves lands a nice uppercut.
Fischbach wants to get back to striking at distance but Graves won't allow it.
Fischbach is trying to break the clinch but Graves has him pressed against the cage.
Graves misses with a punch on the inside.
Graves makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Fischbach breaks from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fischbach throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Graves sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fischbach scores with a sloppy right hand. Graves should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fischbach throws a series of punches but Graves moves out of range.
Graves throws a left and a right that both miss
and Fischbach counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Graves tries to clinch there but Fischbach circles away.
Fischbach slips a jab and a cross from Graves.

Graves moves into the clinch successfully.

Fischbach breaks from the clinch.
Graves keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Graves throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fischbach.
Fischbach misses with a double jab.
Fischbach swinging wilding here.
Fischbach misses the body punch

and Graves counters by clinching up.
Come on Graves - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Fischbach pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Graves uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fischbach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fischbach misses with a jab to the body
and Graves counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fischbach throws a left and a right that both miss

and Graves counters by clinching up.
Fischbach wants to break free but Graves has control.
Fischbach wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Fischbach wants to break the clinch but can't.
Knees to the body from Graves.
Fischbach wants to break the clinch but can't.
Graves lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fischbach is looking to break free of the clinch but Graves has double underhooks.
Graves softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Graves keeps control of Fischbach as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Graves lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Fischbach.
Fischbach is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Graves.
Graves working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Fischbach is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fischbach is trying to break the clinch but Graves has him pressed against the cage.
Fischbach is trying to break the clinch but Graves has him pressed against the cage.
Graves lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Fischbach.
Graves keeps control of Fischbach as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Fischbach wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Graves lands a body shot.
Graves working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Graves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Graves throws a series of punches but Fischbach moves out of range.
Graves will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Fischbach swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Graves counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Graves.
A short right from Graves on the inside.
Graves lands a left hand that snaps the head of Fischbach backwards.
Graves is working Fischbach over against the cage.
Graves prevents Fischbach from breaking the clinch.
Graves lands a right hand.
Graves lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fischbach is looking to break free of the clinch but Graves has double underhooks.
Fischbach wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Graves has him pressed against the cage.
Fischbach blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Fischbach breaks the clinch.
Fischbach swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Graves counters with a one-two to the body.
Tom Fischbach is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Graves throws a right hand that Fischbach ducks under and follows up with a left that Fischbach also avoids with ease.
Fischbach falls off balance throwing a combination
and Graves counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Graves has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fischbach bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Graves's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves fails to land with a series of punches.
Fischbach throws a body punch but Graves moves out of range.
Fischbach misses with a jab to the body
and Graves counters with a two punch combo.
Fischbach throws a nice looking combination but Graves bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fischbach swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fischbach throws a shot from downtown. Graves moves away and avoids it.
Graves misses with a wild body shot.
No joy there for Fischbach, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Graves throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice shot by Graves.
Graves misses with a double jab.
Fischbach misses with a shot to the body
and Graves counters with a left and a right that stings Fischbach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fischbach looks to land a left hand but Graves moved out of range nicely.
Nice shot by Fischbach.
Nice cross by Fischbach.
Good exchange - Fischbach coming out on top.
A nice combination there by Graves.
Fischbach throws a left and a right that both miss
and Graves connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fischbach fails to land with a series of punches.
Fischbach misses with a few strikes there.

Graves rushes Fischbach and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fischbach is trying to break the clinch but Graves has him pressed against the cage.
A body shot lands from Graves.
Fischbach wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Graves has him pressed against the cage.
Fischbach letting Graves take a breather here.
Graves makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fischbach wants to break the clinch but can't.
James Graves is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves is leaning against Fischbach and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Graves.
Stalling in the clinch from Graves.
A nice left hand lands by Graves.
Fischbach wants to get back to striking at distance but Graves won't allow it.
Fischbach can't break the clinch.
Tom Fischbach has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Graves blocks an uppercut.
Fischbach is looking to break free of the clinch but Graves has double underhooks.
Fischbach wants to break free but Graves has control.
Graves pressing his opponent against the cage.

Fischbach manages to break the clinch.

Graves has managed to clinch.
Fischbach wants to get back to striking at distance but Graves won't allow it.

Fischbach breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fischbach throws out a loose jab but Graves uses good head movement to avoid it.

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.
Fischbach misses with a series of wild punches.
Graves misses with a double jab.
Graves uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fischbach.
Graves rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fischbach moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Graves clinches.
Fischbach wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Fischbach breaks from the clinch.
Fischbach looks to score with a jab to the body but Graves is just out of range.
Fischbach throws a combination. Graves tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Fischbach pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Graves moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Fischbach misses the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Graves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

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