PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between August Graves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elias Zheng (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Graves
vs
Zheng

209 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 Hilo, August Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Elias Zheng!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Graves shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Graves was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Zheng throws Graves to one side and escapes!
Zheng keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Graves dives in for a single leg takedown but Zheng sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Graves sets himself, and Zheng steps forward looking for the clinch! Graves avoids it this time.
Graves fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for August Graves. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Zheng fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Graves, pushing him back against the cage.
Zheng keeps control of Graves as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Graves stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Graves working hard to break the clinch.
Graves is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Zheng has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Graves regains guard immediately.
Graves is looking to stand back up but Zheng counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Graves.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zheng gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Zheng has Graves up against the cage in a clinch.

Zheng is trying to trip Graves. He has hold of a leg but Graves is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Zheng persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Zheng controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Graves looking for a guillotine here but Zheng defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Graves is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zheng trying to control the position from guard on top but Graves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zheng content to stall in guard here.
Graves really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zheng lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zheng trying to control but Graves is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Graves is trying to keep Zheng in close.

Graves has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Zheng off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Zheng clinches with his opponent.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Graves goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zheng has hold of one of Graves's legs. Graves is fighting the takedown attempt but Zheng gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Graves is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Zheng avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zheng stays in close to Graves's body and controls the position.
Graves is trying to keep Zheng in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elias Zheng dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Graves shoots in for a double leg but Zheng sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Zheng closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Graves's guard.

Graves manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Zheng pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Graves looks for a takedown but Zheng sprawls well.

Zheng looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Graves!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zheng is working Graves over with some ground and pound from side control.

Graves throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Zheng drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zheng tries to free his leg and advance position but Graves is retaining full guard.

Zheng stands up and waves to Graves to follow him.

Zheng looking to score a takedown here. Graves is defending well but Zheng drives through and ends up in Graves's guard.

Graves uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Zheng is breathing heavily.
Elias Zheng seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Graves closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zheng did well to prevent Graves getting side control.

Zheng manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Graves moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves throws a head kick but Zheng moves out of range.
Zheng fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Zheng gets a takedown into half guard.

Graves manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Zheng looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Graves has one foot on Zheng's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Graves gets a takedown into half guard.

Zheng has one foot on Graves's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zheng drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zheng tries to free his leg and advance position but Graves is retaining full guard.
Zheng is looking to stand up but Graves won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Graves looking for a guillotine here but Zheng defends easily.

Zheng gets to his feet. Graves looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Graves gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zheng to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Graves scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Zheng drives through with a takedown into Graves's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Graves pushes Zheng off and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zheng slaps away a takedown attempt from Graves, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

August Graves dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Zheng gets a double leg takedown into Graves's guard.
Zheng cracks Graves with a solid left hand.
Zheng loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zheng cracks Graves with a solid left hand.
Zheng wants to control from the top but Graves keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zheng takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Zheng stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Graves is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zheng sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Zheng has taken the fight to the clinch.
Graves struggles to land a body shot inside as Zheng controls his hands.
A frustrated look appears on Graves's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The referee calls for Zheng to work.
Graves landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Graves tries to break free but Zheng pushes him back against the cage.

Zheng has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Graves clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Graves is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Graves throws a lazy head kick
and Zheng counters with a one-two to the body.

Zheng darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Graves pushes Zheng off and gets back to his feet.
Graves shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zheng sprawls well. Zheng wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Graves gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zheng shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Graves is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Zheng's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Zheng's back!
Zheng turns into Graves and is now in his guard.

Graves looking for a guillotine here but Zheng defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zheng prevents Graves from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zheng avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Zheng gets to his feet - Graves follows without any prompting.

Zheng has managed to clinch.

Graves is fighting off a takedown attempt but Zheng is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Graves to the mat. Graves regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zheng with a nice head shot there.

Graves working for a triangle but Zheng defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Elias Zheng.
I think Zheng 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!