PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Max House (ranked 2181 p4p, 1721 weight class) and Phil Graves (ranked 254 p4p, 214 weight class). House comes into the arena with HonestKey- Keep Fightin' blaring out of the sound system. Graves has chosen I Bring The Darkness. as his entrance music. 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.

House
vs
Graves

178 cm
25
180
11 - 10 - 0

185 cm
24
174
7 - 1 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL ALL T-Shirts!)
Tempo Athletics

Shadow Realm Apparel
Groove Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Max House!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Phil Graves!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graves uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from House.
House has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Temple of Fitness in the buildup to the fight.
Max House seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graves moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
House throws a hook but Graves blocks it.
House misses with a jab to the body
and Graves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The fighters circling - Graves throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
House swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Good exchange - Graves coming out on top.
House fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Graves manages to avoid it.
It seemed like Graves was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
House scores with a crisp jab that stopped Graves in his tracks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves moves away from the strike by House.
Jab, jab by House - just one landing.
That kick from Graves tenderised House's leg. House is trying to keep his angry face on.
Graves's coach down at Berloga was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Graves's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
A big left from House misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves scores with a nice body kick.
Graves misses with a hook. House ducked under it nicely.
House misses with a lunging right hand
and Graves counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Max House has been cut.
Graves throws a wild body kick that House sees coming a mile off.
Graves defending well as House loads up on a big left hand.
House misses with a body shot.
It seemed like Graves was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
House's corner calls for a 1-2. House obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
House misses with an uppercut. Graves saw that one coming.
Graves was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Graves blocks a jab.
House swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
House throws a body shot but no joy.
A little jabbing left from Graves on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves misses with an uppercut.
House ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Graves moves away.
Graves appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Graves moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
House misses with an uppercut.
House backing away here, and Graves unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
House lands with a good body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
House digs a good body shot into Graves's ribs.
Graves looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Graves throws a good cross that connects.
House checks a low kick from Graves.
House misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Graves.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Graves! But no joy.
Graves throws out a loose jab but House uses good head movement to avoid it.
House ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Graves moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice shot lands for Graves.
A telegraphed right hand from House misses the target.
House misses with a body shot
and House takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A nice inside leg kick there by Graves. That's going to slow House down.
A telegraphed right hand from Graves misses the target.
Graves keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Graves lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Graves getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Graves. House shrugs it off though.
Graves pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
House takes a swing at Graves's ribcage but misses.
Graves misses with a lunging right hand
and House counters with a right hand to the body.
Graves throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Graves will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
House takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Graves keeps House at a distance using the push kick.
Graves misses with a hook to the body
and House counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Graves lands a nice leg kick that just misses House's sensitive parts.
House walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
House takes a swing at Graves's ribcage but misses.
Graves is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! House had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Graves.
House takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Graves.
Graves throws a body shot but no joy.
House tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Graves was well out of range. Poor timing from House.
Graves misses the body punch
and House counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Graves moves out of range of the strikes.
Graves cracks House with an open hand slap.
House lands an overhand right.
Graves avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
House will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
House takes a swing at Graves's ribcage but misses.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
House misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Graves.
A telegraphed right hand from House misses the target.
House lands with a nice combination. Graves backs away looking to recover.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Graves is looking to land body kicks.
A little feinted left hand from House on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Graves throws an ugly left hook that misses
and House counters with a straight right hand.
Graves slips a jab from House.
Graves was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
House swings for the body but Graves moves out of range.
Graves on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Graves throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
House swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Graves lands a nice leg kick that just misses House's sensitive parts.
Graves uses good head movement to avoid the hook from House.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Graves lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Graves with the inside leg kick.
House lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Graves scores with a punch to the head.
Graves slips under a jab.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Graves - that will leave a mark!
House misses with a hook. Graves ducked under it nicely.
Graves throws out a counter right but House avoids it with no problem.
Graves avoids a punch combination nicely.
Graves has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Graves slips a straight right by House.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
House misses with a wild combination.
Graves throws a head kick that House semi-blocks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Graves swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling House to counter with a crisp jab.
Graves keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from House.
Graves lands a nice looking body shot.
House blocks a head kick by Graves.
It looked like House wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
House steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Graves.
House lands with a shot to the body.
House misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Graves tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Graves swings widly with a right hand
and House counters with a stiff right hand.
House lands with a right hand.
House fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Graves manages to avoid it.
House works Graves's body with a nice hook.
House 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.
House avoids the head kick by Graves.
House misses with a hook. Graves ducked under it nicely.
Graves throws a leg kick but House sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Good leg kick by Graves.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Phil Graves will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Max House's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

House tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Graves was well out of range. Poor timing from House.
Graves thows a left - swing and a miss!
House rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Graves counters with a nice body shot.
Graves comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Graves comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Graves misses the body punch
and House counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Graves misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves misses with a looping left.
It looked like House wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Graves pushes House away with a front kick.
Good leg kick by Graves.
House throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves misses with a body shot.
Decent striking displayed by House there.
Graves misses with a shot to the body
and House counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
House feints a jab promting Graves to slip. House then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Graves slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Graves with a nice calf kick.
House misses with a body shot
and Graves counters with a body kick.
A big right from House misses.
Graves uses good head movement to avoid the hook from House.
House loads up on a big right hand but Graves slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
House moves out of range of the strikes.
Graves walks into a jab.
House waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Graves.
Graves moves out of range of the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
House misses with a double jab
and Graves counters with a nice low kick that buckles House's knee momentarily.
House misses with an uppercut.
House is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
House misses with a lunging right hand
and Graves counters with a nice leg kick.
House misses with a body shot.
Graves lands a straight punch to the body, keeping House at a distance.
Phil Graves seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
House throws a hook but Graves avoids it easily.
Graves only half commits to the counter leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves jabs House right on the nose. House blinks but takes it well.
House lands with an uppercut that bounces Graves off the cage and back into range.

Graves forces House back against the cage and clinches.

Graves's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
House misses with a series of wild punches.
House looks to throw the jab but Graves is out of range.
It seemed like Graves was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
House blocks a jab.
A counter left hand to the body from House misses its target.
Graves fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Graves uses good head movement to avoid the hook from House.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves throws a push kick but House slaps the foot to one side.
Graves closes the distance and lands a one-two.
House misses with a right hand
and Graves makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Graves moves away from the strike by House.
House misses with a looping left.
Graves was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Graves misses the shot to the body.
House throws a jab but it's blocked by Graves.
House scores with a hook.
House ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Graves wants to clinch.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
House throws an off balance right hand
enabling Graves to counter with a crisp jab.
The fighters circling - Graves throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A telegraphed right hand from House misses the target.
House throws a lazy uppercut
and Graves counters with a low kick, right behind House 's knee.
House lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Graves circles away quickly and effectively.
House misses with a double jab.
Graves takes a swing at House's ribcage but misses.
Graves tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but House was well out of range. Poor timing from Graves.
Graves keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from House.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Graves looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Graves scores with a shot to the body.
House uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Graves.

Graves gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Graves pushes House back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A right handed body shot lands from Graves.
House working hard to break the clinch.
Graves doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
House blocks a body shot from Graves.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short right from Graves on the inside.
House lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Graves backwards.
Graves misses with a punch to the body.
Graves has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
House being controlled against the cage.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Graves can't find room to land a body shot as House controls the action.
Graves tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
House is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Graves misses with a punch on the inside.
House prevents a body shot from Graves.
Graves has House pressed against the cage, preventing House from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Graves lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of House backwards.
A hook to the body from Graves.
A left hand lands to the body for Graves.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Graves.
A body shot lands from Graves.
House is trying to push Graves away but Graves has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nice body punch from Graves.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Graves working aggressively here.
A short right from Graves on the inside.
Graves lands a body shot in the clinch.
House takes a shot to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Graves.
Graves misses with a punch to the body.
Graves misses with a punch on the inside.
A hook to the body from Graves.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Graves creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Graves throws a head punch that misses.
Graves lands with a short punch from the clinch.
House blocking some punches.
House working hard to break the clinch.
Graves lands a shot to the body.
Graves tried to land a shot to the body but connects with House's elbow.
House wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Graves has him pressed against the cage.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Graves lands with a light punch inside.

Max House's cut is getting worse.
Graves has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
House is trying to break free.
Graves tried to land a shot to the body but connects with House's elbow.
Graves lands a nice uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Graves.
Graves misses with a body punch.
Graves struggles to land a body shot inside as House controls his hands.
Graves blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Graves on the inside.
Graves working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A right hand to the body from Graves.
Graves tried to land a shot to the body but connects with House's elbow.
Graves stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Graves misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Graves throws a punch but it's blocked by House.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Graves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Max House's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

House uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Graves.
House works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
House throws out a loose jab but Graves uses good head movement to avoid it.
House throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
House swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A nice side step and Graves releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Graves misses with an uppercut. House saw that one coming.
Graves doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves misses with an uppercut
enabling House to counter with a crisp jab.
A thudding body kick lands there by Graves!
House takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves tries to clinch but House moves out of range.
That kick from Graves tenderised House's leg. House is trying to keep his angry face on.
House misses with an uppercut
and Graves counters with a stiff right hand.
House throws a sloppy body shot
and Graves counters with a nice low kick that buckles House's knee momentarily.
Graves finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
House misses with a straight right.
House misses with an uppercut. Graves saw that one coming.
A swing and a miss from House.
Graves is looking to clinch.
House moves out of range as Graves strikes.
An attempted straight right counter from House misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
House misses with a body shot.
House lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Graves buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Graves lands an overhand right.
Graves misses with a looping right.
Some wild striking there from Graves.
A counter left hand to the body from House misses its target.
House digs a good body shot into Graves's ribs.
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!
Graves misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Graves. Beautiful body shot.
House moves away from the strike by Graves.
House throws a lazy uppercut
and Graves counters with a straight right hand.
Graves is looking to slow House down with leg kicks.
House misses with a body punch
and Graves counters with a low kick, right behind House 's knee.
A swing and a miss from Graves.
Graves lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

House gets tackled into the cage by Graves. Graves maintains the clinch.
Graves struggles to land a body shot inside as House controls his hands.
Phil Graves seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Graves swings wildly with an uppercut but House uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Graves lands a body shot.

House escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
House swings widly with a right hand
and Graves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
House swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Graves feints a counter leg kick.
Graves takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Graves bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Graves fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt House.
House missing with a left hand there. Graves was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Graves! But no joy.
House ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Max House has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Phil Graves is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - House throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
House backing away here, and Graves unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Graves thows a left - swing and a miss!
An inside leg kick lands from Graves.
Graves looks to land a right hand but House moved out of range.
Graves moves out of range of the strikes.
House takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Graves slips a straight right by House.
Graves thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on House if he has to take too many more of those.
House throws a right hand that misses
and Graves counters with a straight right hand.
Graves connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed House momentarily.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Graves throws a wild body kick that House sees coming a mile off.
Graves wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Graves throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
House rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and House takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Graves takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Graves takes the fight into the clinch.
House blocks a body shot from Graves.
House lands a right hand.
Graves swings away with an uppercut that misses.
House lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Graves.
House looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
House lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Graves backwards.
Graves swings away with an uppercut that misses.

House breaks from the clinch.
House misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Graves counters with a straight right hand.
Graves throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
House swings and misses with a hook to the body.
House throws a predictable looking body shot
and House takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A big right from Graves misses.
House throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Graves showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from House.
House jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Graves counters with a body kick.
Graves gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Graves lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
House misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Graves.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Graves uses good head movement to avoid the hook from House.
Graves misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from House.
House ducks under a wild hook from Graves.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Graves drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
House takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Graves forces House back against the cage and clinches.
House blocks an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from House.
Graves misses with a short punch on the inside.
Graves lands a nice uppercut.
Graves tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
House's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Graves can't find room to land a body shot as House controls the action.
Graves lands a body shot in the clinch.
Graves blocking some punches.
Graves lands with a short punch from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phil Graves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Graves 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Graves!
Phil Graves decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.