PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alex Graves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Ranieri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Graves comes into the arena with London Calling blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Ranieri's choice of entrance music: Eminem – Kings Never Die. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Graves
vs
Ranieri

190 cm
34
198 lbs
13 - 13 - 0

186 cm
30
190 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Ranieri!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Graves has his takedown stuffed

and Ranieri moves into the clinch.
Ranieri lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Graves has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ranieri avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ranieri connects with a knee to the head.

Ranieri has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Graves uses from the top position.
Ranieri is trying to keep Graves in close.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Graves advances to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Graves is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ranieri is just riding it out for now. Graves eventually gives up the hold.
Ranieri wants to control but Graves is keeping busy.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ranieri is looking for a sweep. Graves is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Graves is working for a submission of some sort.

Graves is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ranieri has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Graves is working away from the top position though.
Graves passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ranieri is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Ranieri is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Graves pulls his head out easily.
Graves wants to free his trapped foot but Ranieri is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ranieri is trying to maintain the position but Graves is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ranieri tries to roll over but Graves keeps him under control.

Graves is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ranieri has managed to free his arm - good work.
Graves tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ranieri knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves is thwarting Ranieri's attempts to control the position.
Ranieri is looking to improve his position.

Ranieri actively working from the bottom here.
Ranieri has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Graves seems to be working for a kimura but Ranieri defends the submission attempt.

Ranieri looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ranieri tries to get to full guard but Graves has control of the leg.

Graves is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ranieri defends it well.

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.

Graves stands up from half guard.
Graves tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ranieri swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Graves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Graves is defended easily by Ranieri.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Graves throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ranieri's waist but Ranieri gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Graves off to one side.
Ranieri leaves Graves with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

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

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri trying to control but Graves postures up.
Ranieri is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Graves's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Graves's back!
Ranieri biding his time, looking for the opening.
Graves is keeping busy.
Graves manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ranieri's guard. Nice work there by Graves.

Ranieri looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Graves tries to stand but Ranieri is controlling from the bottom.
Graves stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ranieri swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Graves passes into half guard.

Graves postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Ranieri to stand up.

Graves throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ranieri was covering up waiting for the punch and Graves finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Ranieri escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Graves gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Graves pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ranieri is keeping the position for now.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Graves drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Graves jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ranieri trying to keep a closed guard but Graves is proving a slippery customer.
Graves works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Graves is working for a submission of some sort.

Ranieri is defending against the submission attempts here by Graves.

Graves is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ranieri sees it coming and defends easily.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Ranieri is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Graves pulls his head out easily.

Graves trying to work for an americana but Ranieri has managed to regain full guard.

Ranieri had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Graves defends it easily.

Graves drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Graves jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ranieri is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Graves is aware though and is defending well.
Graves pushing down on Ranieri's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ranieri gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Graves dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Graves darts in looking for a takedown but Ranieri gets double underhooks and turns Graves into the ropes.
Graves has a takedown stuffed.
Ranieri steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Graves.

Graves closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ranieri quickly recovers to half guard.
Graves is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ranieri can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Graves seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ranieri is looking for a sweep. Graves is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ranieri is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Graves jumps into side control!
Ranieri is looking for a sweep.
Graves working away.
Ranieri manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Ranieri is looking to control Graves's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ranieri avoid being mounted?

Ranieri actively working from the bottom here.

Graves is working for a kimura but Ranieri is defending it quite comfortably.

Graves looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Graves drops back looking for a leg! Ranieri is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ranieri manages to kick Graves off! Graves jumps back into Ranieri's guard.

Ranieri has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Graves can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ranieri looking for subs off his back but Graves has passed one foot through into half guard.
Ranieri wants to improve his position but Graves is controlling well.

Graves is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Graves is working for a kimura here but Ranieri manages to reverse the position and he's now in Graves's guard.

Graves is looking for a triangle here but Ranieri uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ranieri wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Graves, who protects the arm well.
Graves tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ranieri wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Graves is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ranieri's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Graves wants to improve his position but Ranieri is controlling well.

Graves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ranieri pulls his head out easily.
Ranieri trying to control the action but Graves is working from the bottom.
Alex Graves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Ranieri is working for a kimura but Graves is defending it quite comfortably.
Ranieri tries to pass to full mount but Graves defends it.

Graves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Graves is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Ranieri jumps into side control!
Graves is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Graves is not content to let Ranieri control the position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Ranieri tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Graves is looking to reverse the position.

Ranieri is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Graves has escaped the position, nice work there.
Graves is looking to regain half guard here but Ranieri keeps moving and retains side control.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Ranieri goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Graves has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Ranieri but great work by Graves.

Graves tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ranieri tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Graves easily slips into full mount!
Ranieri is in all sorts of trouble here.
Alex Graves is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ranieri tries to hold on but Graves pushes him away.

Graves goes for an armbar but Ranieri turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Ranieri.

Graves looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri tries to free his leg and advance position but Graves is retaining full guard.

Graves has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Ranieri is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Graves.
Graves is looking for a sweep.
Graves manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ranieri's best efforts.

Graves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ranieri pulls his head out easily.

Graves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ranieri pulls his head out easily.
Ranieri wants to control but Graves is keeping him busy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ranieri is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Graves still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Graves has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Graves working away.
Graves passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Ranieri!

Graves has control of Ranieri's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ranieri regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Ranieri sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Joe Ranieri has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Graves looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Graves is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ranieri doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Graves.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Alex Graves!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Alex Graves!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Alex Graves!

Alex Graves wins by unanimous decision!
A determined Alex Graves didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!