PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Lee (ranked 2889 p4p, 2162 weight class) and Stepan Grachev (ranked 340 p4p, 278 weight class). Bruce Lee looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Lee
vs
Grachev

173 cm
28
165
11 - 11 - 0

175 cm
29
165
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

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 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bruce Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stepan Grachev!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Paul Tew and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Grachev.
Grachev avoids the head kick by Lee.
The fighters circling - Grachev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've been told by Lee's head coaches at Iron Wolf Private Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Lee drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Grachev swinging wildly here.
Nice body kick there by Grachev.
Grachev uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Grachev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lee appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Grachev throws a jab but it's blocked by Lee.

Grachev clinches with his opponent.
Lee lands an elbow just above Grachev 's eye.

Grachev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lee takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lee tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Grachev was well out of range. Poor timing from Lee.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Grachev! But no joy.
Lee tries a head kick but it misses.
Grachev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee tries a head kick but it misses.
Grachev scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Grachev drives through and clinches with Lee against the cage.
Grachev cracks Lee with a nice body shot.
A frustrated look appears on Lee's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short right from Grachev on the inside.
Grachev working aggressively here.
Lee is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lee works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Grachev breaks the clinch.
Grachev just misses with a punch to the body.

Grachev pushes Lee up against the cage in a clinch.
Grachev has Lee pushed against the cage.

Grachev manages to break the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Grachev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lee misses with a head kick.
Lee looks to land a combination but Grachev avoids it well.
Stepan Grachev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slow jab from Lee misses its intended target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lee moves out of range of the strikes.
Lee missing with a left hand there. Grachev was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lee moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Grachev drops his hands momentarily and Lee takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Grachev scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Grachev moves into range and connects with a jab.
Grachev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lee.
Grachev only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Grachev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lee.
Grachev let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Grachev looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Grachev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Grachev lands a head shot.
Grachev throws a good cross that connects.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grachev swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lee.
Lee looks to land a left hand but Grachev moved out of range nicely.
Grachev keeps the fight on the outside.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Grachev.
Lee takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Grachev throws a shot from downtown. Lee moves away and avoids it.
Lee takes a kick to the side of the head.
Lee throws a right and a left that Grachev avoids nicely.
Grachev swings for the body but Lee moves out of range.

Lee gets tackled into the cage by Grachev. Grachev maintains the clinch.
Lee takes a shot to the head.

Lee breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grachev is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grachev jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Grachev misses with a straight right.

Grachev clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grachev lands with a left to the head.
Grachev scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Lee has had enough of the clinch but Grachev keeps him there for the moment.
Grachev lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Good body shot from Grachev.
Lee tries to break free but Grachev pushes him back against the cage.
Lee is trying to break the clinch but Grachev is controlling him.
Lee lands a right hand.
Grachev lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Lee is breathing heavily.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Lee is trying to break free.
Grachev works on Lee's body with a couple of short punches.
Lee is trying to break the clinch but Grachev is controlling him.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A short right from Grachev.
Grachev throws a punch but it's blocked by Lee.
Grachev lands a body punch.
Grachev is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Lee tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Grachev avoids the head kick by Lee.
Lee throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lee throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Grachev connects with a right hand. Lee shakes it off.
Lee keeps the fight on the outside.
Grachev lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Lee tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Grachev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grachev tries to clinch but Lee moves out of range.
Lee swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Grachev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lee throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Grachev throws out a counter right but Lee avoids it with no problem.
Grachev with a jab.
Lee drops his hands momentarily and Grachev takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Grachev connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Grachev swats away the attempt to clinch by Lee.
Lee dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grachev lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lee's sensitive parts.
Lee misses with a wild body shot.
Lee takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Lee takes one to the chin there.
Lee avoids the body shot from Grachev.
Grachev just misses with a punch to the body.
Lee swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Grachev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Grachev throws out a powerful jab.
Lee tries to clinch but Grachev is having none of it.
Grachev misses with an uppercut. Lee saw that one coming.
Grachev just misses with a punch to the body.
Grachev scores with a sloppy right hand. Lee should have avoided that one.
Lee tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A cross from Grachev lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grachev with a jab.
Lee throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stepan Grachev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Grachev connects with a crisp jab.
Grachev ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Grachev scores with a leg kick.

Grachev has Lee up against the cage in a clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A short right from Grachev on the inside.
Grachev has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Lee seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Grachev can turn it around.
Grachev has Lee pressed against the cage, preventing Lee from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stalling in the clinch from Grachev.
Grachev will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Lee up against the cage.
Grachev is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lee is keeping busy.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Grachev in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

Lee escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Grachev catches Lee with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grachev moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Grachev connects with an inside leg kick.
Lee throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Grachev counters with a stiff right hand.
Lee ducks under a wild hook from Grachev.
Grachev throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Grachev works Lee's body with a nice hook.
Lee takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A punch combination from Grachev misses.
Grachev with a nice calf kick.
Grachev throws a series of punches but Lee moves out of range.
Grachev smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Grachev moves into the clinch successfully.
Lee is trying to break free.
Lee wants to get back to striking at distance but Grachev won't allow it.
Lee blocks a body shot from Grachev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Grachev swings wildly with an uppercut but Lee uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grachev has Lee pressed against the cage, preventing Lee from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A short right from Grachev on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Lee's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Grachev pushes Lee back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Lee escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Grachev moves into the clinch.
Lee is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Grachev lands with a right to the head.
Lee working hard to break the clinch.
Grachev lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Grachev misses with a punch on the inside.
Lee lands a shoulder strike.
Lee prevents a body shot from Grachev.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Grachev as Lee tries to tie him up.
Lee wants to break free but Grachev has control.
Grachev can't find room to land a body shot as Lee controls the action.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stepan Grachev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Grachev is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Grachev moves out of range as Lee strikes.
Grachev bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Grachev scores with a hook to the body. Lee takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Grachev scores with a head kick.
Jab by Lee.
Grachev stuns Lee with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Lee 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Lee throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Grachev wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Grachev fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lee throws a looping overhand right but Grachev ducks down to avoid it.
Grachev throws a right hand that Lee ducks under and follows up with a left that Lee also avoids with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Grachev connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lee throws a sloppy head kick and Grachev moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Grachev.
Lee slips under a jab.
As Grachev tries to get set, Lee tries to push him back and clinch up but Grachev manages to avoid the attempt.
Lee just misses with a punch to the body.
Jab from Grachev.
Grachev lands a nice hook to Lee's body. Lee takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Grachev pushes Lee up against the cage in a clinch.
Grachev can't find room to land a body shot as Lee controls the action.
Grachev has Lee pressed against the cage.
Lee tries to break the clinch but Grachev is controlling the position.
Grachev lands with a right to the head.
Grachev lands a left hand.
Grachev lands a hook that snaps the head of Lee backwards.
Lee is looking to break free of the clinch but Grachev has double underhooks.
Grachev leaning his opponent against the cage.
Lee has had enough of the clinch but Grachev keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee working hard to break the clinch.
Grachev lands a shot to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Grachev.
Lee wants to break free but Grachev has control.
Grachev lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lee tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Grachev scores with a nice hook to the head.
Grachev tries a body shot but Lee blocks it.
Grachev digs a right hand underneath Lee's ribcage. Lee let out a lung full of air as it connected.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Grachev.
Grachev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lee can't break the clinch.
Grachev pressing his opponent against the cage.
Grachev lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Stepan Grachev seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Grachev lands a hook that snaps the head of Lee backwards.
Grachev leaning his opponent against the cage.
Stepan Grachev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Grachev.
Lee can't break the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Grachev working aggressively here.
Lee is trying to break the clinch but Grachev is controlling him.
Grachev keeps control of Lee as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lee working hard to break the clinch.
Lee throws a punch but it's blocked by Grachev.
Grachev has a couple of punches blocked by Lee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Lee escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Grachev scores with a jab to the head.
Grachev lands with a nice body kick.
Lee takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Lee clinches up with Grachev and pushes him back against the cage.
Grachev stalling the fight.
Lee wants to get back to striking at distance but Grachev won't allow it.
Lee is trying to force a seperation but Grachev has the dominant position.
Grachev misses with some punches.
Lee tries to break the clinch but Grachev is controlling the position.

Lee breaks from the clinch.
Lee gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Grachev throws a head kick that misses.
Bruce Lee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lee needs to keep his hands up - Grachev had a free shot at his head there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stepan Grachev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Grachev 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stepan Grachev!