PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Latka Gravas (ranked 88 p4p, 11 weight class) and Anton Obuhov (ranked 91 p4p, 12 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gravas
vs
Obuhov

184 cm
28
185 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

190 cm
34
200 lbs
22 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Groove Gear

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Latka Gravas !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 16 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anton Obuhov!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Obuhov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Gravas walks into a stiff left hand from Obuhov.
Gravas misses with a body kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Obuhov.

Obuhov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gravas sprawls well initially but Obuhov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gravas wants to improve his position but Obuhov is controlling well.
Obuhov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gravas defending well though.
Gravas has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Gravas manages to get to full guard.
Obuhov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Obuhov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gravas is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Obuhov preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obuhov wants to control from the top but Gravas keeps moving.

Gravas is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Obuhov defends well.
Obuhov postures up in Gravas 's guard and throws a big left but Gravas blocks it.
Obuhov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Obuhov trying to control the position from guard on top but Gravas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gravas managing to control the position.
Obuhov works over Gravas with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gravas managing to control the position.
Obuhov throws a big elbow that misses.
Obuhov is in close to Gravas 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Obuhov stands up over Gravas , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Obuhov wants to pass the guard but Gravas is keeping the position.
Obuhov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Obuhov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Obuhov wants to control from the top but Gravas keeps moving.
Gravas seems keen to control Obuhov's posture.
Gravas controls Obuhov momentarily but Obuhov frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obuhov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gravas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gravas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Obuhov is in close to Gravas 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Obuhov is fighting to break Gravas 's control of his arms but Gravas is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Obuhov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Obuhov preventing the sweep.
Obuhov throws a big elbow that misses.
Obuhov postures up.
Gravas looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gravas takes a swing at Obuhov's ribcage but misses.
Obuhov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Gravas . Obuhov shrugs it off though.
Gravas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Obuhov.
A little feinted left hand from Gravas on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nice takedown defense from Gravas . No joy for Obuhov on that attempt.
Nice defenses there by Obuhov.
Obuhov misses the jab.
Gravas goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Obuhov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Obuhov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gravas defends well and Obuhov ends up having to push Gravas into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Obuhov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gravas doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jab by Obuhov.
Gravas takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Obuhov shoots in but no luck this time.
Gravas swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Obuhov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gravas slaps away a takedown attempt from Obuhov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Good shot there by Obuhov.
Gravas bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gravas just misses with a punch to the body.
An inside leg kick from Gravas misses.
Obuhov looks to land a left hand but Gravas moved out of range nicely.
Gravas misses with a wild body shot.
Obuhov tries for a takedown but Gravas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Obuhov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gravas enables Obuhov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gravas manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Obuhov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Obuhov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gravas trying to control the position.
Obuhov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Obuhov postures up in Gravas 's guard and throws a big left but Gravas blocks it.
Obuhov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Obuhov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gravas 's head.
Obuhov is looking to pass into half guard but Gravas pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Gravas is in guard.

Obuhov wants to improve his position but instead Gravas has moved into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gravas is trying to work for a kimura but Obuhov is defending well.
Obuhov trying to get back to full guard but Gravas takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Obuhov slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Obuhov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gravas pulls his head out easily.
Obuhov manages to get to full guard.
Gravas is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obuhov is trying to control the position but Gravas postures up.

Obuhov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Obuhov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Gravas trying to control the position from guard on top but Obuhov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Obuhov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Obuhov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gravas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gravas passes Obuhov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Obuhov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Obuhov wants to control but Gravas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gravas wants to pass the guard but Obuhov is defending well.
Obuhov gets full guard.
Gravas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gravas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Obuhov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gravas doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gravas manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Obuhov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gravas 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Obuhov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Gravas finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Gravas misses with a body shot.
Obuhov swinging wildly here.
Gravas throws a big counter combination but Obuhov scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Obuhov closes the distance but Gravas moves to the side
and Gravas makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Anton Obuhov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Obuhov misses with a hook.
A quick step to the side and Gravas tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Obuhov checks a leg kick nicely.
Obuhov misses with an uppercut
enabling Gravas to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Anton Obuhov has been cut.
Gravas is looking to wear down Obuhov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gravas throws a sloppy head kick and Obuhov moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gravas swings for the body but Obuhov moves out of range.
Gravas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Obuhov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gravas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gravas looking for a sweep. Not yet Gravas , not yet.
Obuhov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Obuhov throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Obuhov preventing the sweep.
Obuhov cracks Gravas with a solid left hand.
Anton Obuhov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Obuhov stays in close to Gravas 's body and controls the position.
Obuhov tries to free his leg and advance position but Gravas is retaining full guard.
Obuhov wants to control from the top but Gravas keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Obuhov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Obuhov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Latka Gravas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Gravas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Obuhov is one step ahead there.

Gravas escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Obuhov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Gravas working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Obuhov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Obuhov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Obuhov trying to control but Gravas is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gravas is looking to score with low kicks.
Obuhov lands a head shot.
Obuhov moves out of range as Gravas throws a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gravas walks into a jab.
Obuhov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Latka Gravas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Obuhov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gravas !
Obuhov moves into full mount!
Obuhov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Obuhov wants to control the pace but Gravas is squirming around nicely.
Obuhov is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Obuhov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Obuhov raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gravas is trying to escape the mount.
Anton Obuhov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gravas tries to hold on but Obuhov pushes him away.
Gravas is trying desperately to improve position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Obuhov controlling from the full mount.
Obuhov has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gravas 's face.
Obuhov with a couple of short strikes.
Gravas in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anton Obuhov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Obuhov 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anton Obuhov!
After winning the bout, Anton Obuhov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.