PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Piney Winston (ranked 3359 p4p, 3090 weight class) and Tua Graves (ranked 377 p4p, 350 weight class). Piney Winston had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.3lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Piney Winston has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Winston
vs
Graves

183 cm
19
170
6 - 2 - 0

179 cm
25
155
4 - 4 - 1

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Piney Winston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tua Graves!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Skip Squint and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Graves shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Winston is trying to defend but Graves finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Graves is working for a submission of some sort.
Graves throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Winston is looking for a sweep. Graves is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Winston wants to control but Graves is keeping busy.
Graves is looking to advance position but Winston won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Winston trying to hold on to Graves's head to control him but Graves postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Winston actively working from the bottom here.
Winston tries to get to full guard but Graves has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graves is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Winston doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Graves.
Winston wants to get back to his feet.

Graves wants to work for an arm triangle but Winston is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Winston blocking the ground and pound attempt from Graves.
Winston 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 looking for a kimura but Winston is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Graves to get the leverage.
Winston is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Rio Fight Academy, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

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.

Graves is working for a kimura but Winston is defending it quite comfortably.
Winston gets back to full guard.
Graves in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Winston throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Winston not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Graves landing with the ground and pound.

Winston is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Graves defends well.
Graves keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Winston's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Graves avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Graves looking to pass the guard.

Winston is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Graves is aware though and is defending well.
Graves working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Winston's head.
Graves wants to control from the top but Winston keeps moving.

Winston working for a triangle but Graves defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Graves's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Graves postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Winston is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Graves, into his guard.

Graves is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Winston passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Winston trying to control the position but Graves is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tua Graves dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Graves looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Graves forces his way into half guard.
Winston moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Winston keeping moving, preventing Graves from controlling successfully.
Graves is working Winston over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Winston keeping full guard, as Graves tries to pass.
Winston looking for a sweep. Not yet Winston, not yet.
Graves postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Graves keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Winston's head.
Graves trying to control the position from guard on top but Winston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Graves postures up and lands a big shot to Winston's brow.
Winston can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Graves controls the pace.
Graves tries to free his leg and advance position but Winston is retaining full guard.
Winston is trying to keep Graves in close.
Graves postures up and lands a big shot to Winston's brow.
Graves showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Winston controls Graves momentarily but Graves frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Graves controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Graves trying to control the position from guard on top but Winston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Winston is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Graves shoots in and gets a takedown into Winston's guard.
Tua Graves has got the better of the ground game so far.
Graves trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Graves has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Graves wants to control from the top but Winston keeps moving.
Graves postures up.
Winston lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Winston stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Graves swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winston advances position into side control!
Graves stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Winston misses with the ground and pound.
Winston tries to advance to mount but Graves denies him.
Graves sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Graves won't allow Winston to pass to mount.
Graves tries to get to full guard but Winston has control of the leg.
Winston is looking to take a break and control but Graves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves wants to get back to full guard.

Winston is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Graves doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Winston.
Winston wants to advance to full mount but Graves doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Winston passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Winston working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tua Graves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Winston throws a body shot but no joy.
Graves circles away from the clinch attempt.
Graves throws out a counter right but Winston avoids it with no problem.
Piney Winston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Winston gets caught flat footed, as Graves shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Winston is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Graves is aware though and is defending well.
Graves throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Winston works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Graves postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Graves trying to control the position from guard on top but Winston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Winston 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 must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Winston working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Graves doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Graves manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Graves engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Graves trying to control the position from guard on top but Winston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Winston working for a triangle but Graves defends it easily.

Graves is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Piney Winston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Graves trying to control but Winston is working from the bottom.
Graves makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Winston keeping moving, preventing Graves from controlling successfully.
Graves lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Graves content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Winston is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Graves postures up and lands a big shot to Winston's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winston is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Winston keeping moving, preventing Graves from controlling successfully.
Graves trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Graves cracks Winston with a solid left hand.
Graves trying to control but Winston is working from the bottom.
Graves is looking to pass into half guard but Winston pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Winston is in guard.

Winston wants to pass the guard but Graves is keeping the position.
Graves is trying to control the position but Winston postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winston is in close to Graves's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Winston trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Winston is working hard here to advance position.
Winston stands and throws Graves's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Winston is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Graves has escaped the position, nice work there.
Graves wants to control but Winston postures up.
Tua Graves is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Graves dodges the ground and pound from Winston.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Piney Winston.
I think Graves 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 28:29

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