PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Latka Gravas (ranked 85 p4p, 15 weight class) and Junkyard Dog (ranked 147 p4p, 22 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gravas
vs
Dog

184 cm
31
185 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

182 cm
31
194 lbs
27 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!
UnderGround Clothing Co.

UnderGround Clothing Co.

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 13 - 5 - 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 27 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Junkyard Dog!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dog misses the shot to the body.

Dog darts in and clinches Gravas up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Gravas as the two fighters clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Gravas fails to land.
Dog working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gravas lands a shoulder strike.
A shot in the inside from Dog.
Dog has Gravas pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gravas manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dog goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Dog gets a trip takedown into half guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Dog working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Gravas actively working from the bottom here.
Dog throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gravas trying to control but Dog postures up.
Dog is nestled in close to Gravas , controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gravas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dog sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gravas defending well though.
Gravas wants to control but Dog is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gravas misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Dog thows a huge punch but Gravas dodges it nicely.
Dog sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gravas defending well though.
Dog misses with a head shot. Gravas uses the momentum to regain guard.

Gravas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dog has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gravas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dog.
Dog postures up and lands a big shot to Gravas 's brow.
Gravas is pulling down on Dog's head. It's preventing any offense from Dog, at least for the moment.

Gravas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gravas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gravas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dog passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gravas is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Dog working the head with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Gravas 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dog cracks Gravas with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Gravas is looking for a sweep.
Dog working the ground and pound from side control.
Gravas takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Dog working away.
Gravas takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gravas wants to control but Dog postures up.
Dog trying to control the position but Gravas is working away.
Gravas struggling a bit here.
Dog is trying to ground and pound but Gravas uses the momentary lack of control by Dog to regain half guard.
Gravas has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dog is working away from the top position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gravas is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junkyard Dog dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dog paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Gravas keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Gravas throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Junkyard Dog has been cut.
Gravas thuds his right hand into Dog's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Dog tries to clinch but Gravas moves out of range.
Gravas takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gravas swats away the attempt to clinch by Dog.
Gravas thumps Dog with a low kick.
Dog scores with a jab to the body.
Gravas tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice jab there from Gravas .
Latka Gravas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gravas looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gravas throws a head kick but Dog moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Dog on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gravas throws out a leg kick but Dog moves out of range and Gravas only half commits.
A solid body kick from Gravas .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dog looks for a takedown but Gravas sprawls well.
Gravas misses with a wild body shot.
Latka Gravas is winning the standup battle so far.
Gravas throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Gravas lands a body shot.
Gravas lands a really nice looking cross but Dog seems unphased.
Dog throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gravas misses with a body kick.
Dog steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Gravas throws a leg kick but Dog checks it.
Gravas takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Gravas fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Dog misses with a low kick.
Gravas misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gravas throws a head kick but Dog moves out of range.
Dog shapes to counter with a head kick.
Gravas takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Dog fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gravas bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gravas lands a nice looking body kick.
Dog throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dog misses with a body kick.
Gravas misses with a kick to the body

and Dog counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Gravas !
Dog working away.
Dog working the ground and pound.
Gravas can't do much from the bottom here.
Dog scores with punches from side control.
Gravas struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dog lands an elbow.
Gravas tries to buck Dog off but Dog is having none of it.
Dog scores with punches from side control.
Dog looks up at the clock and then as Gravas takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Dog smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Dog is working Gravas over with some ground and pound from side control.
Gravas is trying to improve his position.
Dog has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gravas takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Gravas is looking for a sweep.
Dog is working Gravas over with some ground and pound from side control.
Dog wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gravas keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dog in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Gravas struggling a bit here.
Gravas is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gravas is working hard here to advance position.
You can see the frustration on Gravas 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Junkyard Dog will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Junkyard Dog's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dog blocks the body kick.
Dog is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Gravas takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Dog bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gravas 's head.
Gravas misses with a wild body shot.
Dog checks a leg kick.
Gravas tries a head kick but it misses.
Gravas looks to throw a body kick
and Dog counters with a nice leg kick.
A slow jab from Gravas misses its intended target.
Gravas throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Dog throws a head kick that misses.
Dog misses the shot to the body.
Dog tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gravas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dog somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dog is looking to slow Gravas down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gravas bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gravas misses with a body kick.
Gravas scores with a body shot.
Dog connects with a right hand. Gravas shakes it off.
Dog lands a body shot.
Gravas throws a wild body kick that Dog sees coming a mile off.
Dog moves out of range of the body kick.
Dog throws out a loose jab but Gravas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dog lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Gravas just misses with a punch to the body.
Gravas takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gravas throws a sloppy head kick and Dog moves out of range easily.
Dog only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Gravas on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gravas on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gravas misses with the body kick
and Dog counters with an outside leg kick.
Latka Gravas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dog ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Dog, right into the meat.
Gravas throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Dog makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gravas takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Dog scores with a punch to the head.
Gravas throws a right and a left that Dog avoids nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gravas scores with a head kick. Dog tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Dog moves into range and clinches up with Gravas .
Gravas swings wildly with an uppercut but Dog uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gravas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Dog.
Dog lands a body punch in the clinch.
Dog softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Dog lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gravas backwards.
Dog is looking for a takedown.
Dog has a couple of punches blocked by Gravas .
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gravas .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Dog.
Dog tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gravas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Gravas is fighting off a takedown attempt but Dog is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Gravas to the mat. Gravas regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Dog postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gravas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gravas keeping full guard, as Dog tries to pass.
Dog postures up.

Gravas is looking for a triangle but Dog pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gravas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dog cracks Gravas with a solid left hand.

Gravas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dog working some strikes from top position.

Gravas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dog wants to pass the guard but Gravas is keeping the position.
Dog cracks Gravas with a solid left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Junkyard Dog comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dog winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Glass scores the fight 28:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Junkyard Dog!
A relieved looking Junkyard Dog thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.