PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rick Stanley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Trygve Graudheim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stanley
vs
Graudheim

190 cm
25
282 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

186 cm
25
250 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick Stanley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Trygve Graudheim!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Graudheim looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Graudheim tries to clinch but Stanley is having none of it.
Graudheim tries to clinch but Stanley is having none of it.
Stanley misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Graudheim closes the distance and pushes Stanley back into the cage.
Stanley is trying to break the clinch but Graudheim has him pressed against the cage.
Stanley throws an elbow but it misses.
A body shot lands from Graudheim.
Graudheim is trying to drag Stanley to the mat but Stanley just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Stanley crunches a lovely knee into Graudheim's ribcage.
Stanley lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Graudheim.
Graudheim has Stanley pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stanley manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Graudheim breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stanley pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Stanley lands a head kick. Graudheim smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Graudheim lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Stanley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stanley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Graudheim drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Graudheim tries to score with some ground and pound. Stanley controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Stanley is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Graudheim asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanley managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Graudheim.

Graudheim goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Stanley rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Graudheim's guard! Nice work there by Stanley!
Graudheim trying to strike off his back.
Graudheim trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Graudheim trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

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.

Stanley stands up and waves to Graudheim to follow him.
Stanley connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Graudheim looks gassed!
Stanley throws a sloppy head kick and Graudheim moves out of range easily.
Stanley throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Stanley throws a series of punches but Graudheim avoids them all with ease.
Stanley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A combination from Graudheim does no damage.
Stanley tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stanley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Graudheim throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Graudheim fails in his attempt to clinch.
Graudheim defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stanley.
Graudheim fails with the takedown.
Rick Stanley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trygve Graudheim.
Stanley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A head kick misses from Stanley.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graudheim blocks a head kick by Stanley.
Stanley doesn't manage to clinch there - Graudheim circles away.
A head kick misses from Stanley.
Stanley connects with a high kick.
Graudheim tries to clinch up
and Stanley counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Graudheim is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Nice takedown defense from Stanley. No joy for Graudheim on that attempt.
Stanley tries a head kick but it misses.
Stanley throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stanley lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Stanley fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Graudheim takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Graudheim blocks a head kick by Stanley.
Stanley tries a head kick but it misses.
Stanley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Graudheim shoots for a double leg takedown but Stanley sprawls well. He's pushed Graudheim's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Graudheim tries to bum rush Stanley with a series of wild strikes but Stanley uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Stanley throws a head kick that misses.

Graudheim rushes Stanley and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stanley tries to break free but Graudheim pushes him back against the cage.

Graudheim breaks from the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Graudheim wants to clinch up but Stanley keeps it at a distance.
Stanley scores with a head kick.

Graudheim looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Stanley!
Graudheim thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Stanley blocking the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Graudheim throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Stanley because Graudheim loaded up on that one.
The referee warns Stanley that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Graudheim tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stanley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Graudheim fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stanley goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Graudheim slips a jab and a cross from Stanley.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Stanley lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Graudheim moves in looking to clinch but Stanley pushes him off.
Graudheim closes the distance but Stanley moves to the side
and Stanley counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Graudheim thinking.
Stanley throws a head kick that Graudheim semi-blocks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stanley shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Graudheim defends it nicely.
Stanley shoots in looking for a takedown. Graudheim tries to sprawl out of it but Stanley keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Graudheim manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Graudheim scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stanley scores with a leg kick.
Stanley tries for a takedown but Graudheim sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Stanley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graudheim tries to close the distance and clinch but Stanley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stanley lands a high kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanley misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rick Stanley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Graudheim shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Stanley holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Stanley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stanley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Graudheim swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Graudheim tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stanley tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stanley throws a head kick but Graudheim moves out of range.

Graudheim moves into the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Graudheim as the two fighters clinch.

Stanley manages to break the clinch.
Graudheim throws a nice inside leg kick.

Graudheim scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Graudheim not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Graudheim not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Graudheim thows a huge punch but Stanley dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanley keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Graudheim stops Stanley from getting back to his feet.
Graudheim throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Graudheim thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Graudheim thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Stanley to regain full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stanley is looking to clinch but Graudheim is avoiding it.
Stanley throws a series of strikes that have Graudheim backpedaling.
Stanley throws a head kick that misses.
Stanley throws a head kick but Graudheim moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Graudheim throws a knee to the head but misses.

Stanley breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graudheim looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Graudheim is looking to clinch.
Rick Stanley is winning the standup battle so far.
Stanley looks to land a combination but Graudheim avoids it well.
Graudheim avoids the head kick by Stanley.

Stanley forces Graudheim back against the cage and clinches.
Stanley is looking to break free of the clinch but Graudheim has double underhooks.
Graudheim lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Stanley working Graudheim over with knees to the body.
Stanley lands an elbow inside that Graudheim shrugs off.
Stanley is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Graudheim is keeping busy.
Graudheim lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Graudheim makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Graudheim working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Stanley with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Graudheim scores with a nice short uppercut.

Stanley breaks from the clinch.
Graudheim tries to clinch up.
A head kick from Stanley lands but Graudheim takes it in his stride.
Stanley takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Graudheim blocks a head kick by Stanley.
Stanley doesn't manage to clinch there - Graudheim circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graudheim throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Stanley on the side of the head.

Graudheim moves into range and clinches up with Stanley.
Stanley pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Stanley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stanley pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Graudheim clinches up with Stanley and pushes him back against the cage.
Graudheim lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Stanley connects with a nasty looking knee right to Graudheim's face.
Graudheim has Stanley pressed against the cage, preventing Stanley from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stanley taking a breather.
Graudheim scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A nice left hand lands by Graudheim.
Graudheim lands a hook to the side of the head.

Graudheim pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Stanley as Graudheim shoots in.
Stanley throws a head kick but Graudheim moves out of range.
Stanley connects with a high kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A solid body kick from Graudheim.

Graudheim closes the distance and pushes Stanley back into the cage.
Stanley with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stanley avoids the elbow strike from Graudheim, against the cage.
Graudheim just leaning against Stanley, taking a breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Stanley dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Stanley throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Stanley throws a head kick but Graudheim moves out of range.
Graudheim tries to close the distance and clinch but Stanley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick misses from Stanley.

Graudheim clinches up against the cage.
Graudheim trying to control the position but instead, Stanley has worked for underhooks and has pushed Graudheim into the cage.
Stanley throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Graudheim blocks it with crossed arms.
Stanley looking to stall.
Graudheim lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Stanley or not.
Graudheim lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Graudheim lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Graudheim tightens his grip and picks Stanley up, before dumping him to the ground. Stanley manages to land in guard.
Stanley utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Graudheim in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Graudheim is looking to work some ground and pound but Stanley has wrist control.
Graudheim working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanley preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Graudheim with a flurry of punches that miss.
Graudheim throwing strikes but missing.
Stanley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Graudheim.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stanley shoots in for a double leg but Graudheim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Graudheim tries to clinch up.
Graudheim tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stanley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Graudheim is looking to clinch.
Stanley lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Stanley tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Stanley rushes Graudheim and presses him up against the cage.
Graudheim lands an elbow inside.

Stanley breaks the clinch.
Stanley gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Graudheim.
Stanley tries a head kick but it misses.
Graudheim wants to clinch up but Stanley keeps it at a distance.

Stanley clinches up against the cage.
Graudheim lands a nice uppercut.
Stanley has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Stanley working hard to break the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Graudheim lands a shoulder strike.

Graudheim lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Graudheim tries to pass the half guard into mount. Stanley knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Graudheim is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graudheim looks to land a strike but Stanley avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Graudheim throws a strike but Stanley rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Graudheim tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rick Stanley is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Graudheim throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Trygve Graudheim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Graudheim thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Stanley has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Graudheim is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stanley is controlling him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stanley throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Graudheim tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stanley paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stanley connects with a high kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stanley.
Stanley feints and then cracks Graudheim's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Graudheim down.

Stanley takes the fight into the clinch.
Stanley lands an elbow inside.

Stanley manages to break the clinch.
Graudheim fails to land with a series of punches.
Stanley throws a head kick that misses.
Graudheim throws a hook to the side of Stanley's head but Stanley sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Stanley moves into range and clinches up with Graudheim.

Stanley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rick Stanley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graudheim dives in and grabs Stanley's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stanley pushes down on Graudheim's head and hops out.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Trygve Graudheim.
I think Stanley has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Stanley!