PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Micky Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcus Tavares has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tavares
vs
Graham

190 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcus Tavares !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Micky Graham!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graham throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tavares throws a right hand that Graham ducks under and follows up with a left that Graham also avoids with ease.
Tavares throws a series of punches but Graham moves out of range.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tavares paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tavares lands a two punch combo.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tavares paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tavares throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Graham.
Tavares closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Graham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tavares really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Tavares throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Graham.
Some wild striking there from Tavares .
Tavares lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Graham circles away quickly and effectively.
The fight stays on the outside here - Graham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Graham avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice shot by Tavares .
Graham dodges the punch combination from Tavares .
Tavares swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Graham counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Tavares looks to land a combination but Graham avoids it well.
Tavares misses with the combination.
Graham fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Graham moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Graham dodges the punch combination from Tavares .
Tavares throws a left and a right that both miss

and Graham moves into the clinch.
Graham with a knee to the head.
Graham misses with a knee to the head.
Tavares working hard to break the clinch.
Graham misses with a knee to the head.
Tavares takes an elbow to the temple.
Tavares has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Graham is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Graham with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tavares tries for a takedown but Graham manages to get underhooks.
Graham throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Graham keeps control of Tavares as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Graham lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Tavares works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Tavares stops Graham from standing up.
Tavares trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Graham preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Tavares decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Graham looks gassed!
Tavares lands a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham fails with an attempt to clinch.
A punch combination from Tavares misses.
Tavares lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Tavares .

Tavares closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Graham misses with a knee to the head.

Graham is fighting off a takedown attempt but Tavares is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Graham to the mat. Graham regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Tavares stands up and waves to Graham to follow him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tavares looks to land a combination but Graham avoids it well.
Tavares throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Graham.
No joy there for Tavares , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tavares fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Graham clinches but Tavares breaks the clinch

and Tavares counters by clinching up.
Graham scores with a knee to the head.
Graham prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Tavares . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tavares tightens his grip and picks Graham up, before dumping him to the ground. Graham manages to land in guard.
Graham working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tavares .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham wants to stand and escape but Tavares is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tavares with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tavares throwing strikes from guard but Graham blocks nicely.
Graham utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Graham avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tavares throws a one two combo.
Tavares throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Graham.
Graham tries to clinch but Tavares moves away
and Tavares counters with a left and a right that stings Graham.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tavares scores with a one two! Graham had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Graham tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Tavares counters with a two punch combo.
Graham dodges the punch combination from Tavares .
Tavares tries to bum rush Graham with a series of wild strikes but Graham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tavares throws a right hand that Graham ducks under and follows up with a left that Graham also avoids with ease.
Tavares throws a series of punches but Graham avoids them all with ease.
Tavares tries to bum rush Graham with a series of wild strikes but Graham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tavares tries to bum rush Graham with a series of wild strikes but Graham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tavares swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A right-left combo lands from Tavares .
Marcus Tavares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tavares misses with a double jab
and Graham counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Tavares drives through and clinches with Graham against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tavares goes for a takedown in the clinch but Graham prevents it.
Graham tries a knee to the head but Tavares blocks it.
Tavares has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Graham gets underhooks to prevent Tavares 's takedown attempt.
Graham tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Tavares 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.

Tavares fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Good standup being displayed there by Tavares as he connects with a hook.
Graham avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tavares rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Graham moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tavares throws a series of punches but Graham moves out of range.
Graham fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tavares tries to bum rush Graham with a series of wild strikes but Graham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tavares misses with a double jab.
Graham tries to clinch but Tavares moves away
letting Tavares counter with a right hand.
Graham closes the distance but Tavares moves to the side
and Tavares counters with a left and a right that stings Graham.
Tavares scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graham clinches but Tavares breaks the clinch
and Tavares counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Tavares works over Graham's head and body with a nice combination.
Graham is breathing heavily.
Tavares scores with a one two! Graham had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Tavares closes the distance and clinches.
Graham landing knees to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares tries to circle away but Graham has him pinned against the cage.
Tavares wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tavares is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Graham with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Graham looking to throw knees to the head but Tavares is blocking nicely.
Tavares drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tavares has Graham pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Graham manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tavares wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Graham gets underhooks to prevent Tavares 's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Tavares . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graham connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tavares 's face.
Graham connects with a knee to the head.
Tavares has had enough of the clinch but Graham keeps him there for the moment.
Graham prevents the takedown attempt.
Graham lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Graham connects with a knee to the head.
Graham keeps control of Tavares as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tavares is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Graham gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Graham scores with a knee to the head.
Graham tries to land a knee to the head but Tavares blocks with his arms.
Graham comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Tavares drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Graham gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Graham gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tavares .
Graham lands an elbow that stopped Tavares in his tracks for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tavares tries to break free but Graham pushes him back against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Graham.
Graham misses with a knee strike.
Tavares is trying to break free.
Tavares drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Graham looking to throw knees to the head but Tavares is blocking nicely.
Graham connects with a knee to the head.
Tavares has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Graham avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Graham lands a knee to the head.
Tavares has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Graham is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Graham lands a nice elbow.
Graham landing knees to the head.
Tavares tries for a takedown. No joy.
Graham creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tavares 's defenses.
Graham prevents the takedown attempt.
Graham throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tavares blocks it with crossed arms.
Tavares can't break the clinch.
Graham misses with a knee strike.
Tavares is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Graham pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tavares is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Graham lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Graham misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tavares blocks it with crossed arms.
Graham misses with a knee to the head.
Tavares can't break the clinch.
Graham creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tavares 's defenses.
Tavares is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Graham creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Tavares wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Graham keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tavares 's efforts to push away.
Graham looking to throw knees to the head but Tavares is blocking nicely.
A frustrated look appears on Tavares 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Graham tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Graham using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tavares has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Graham is pressed up against the cage. Tavares has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Graham down to the mat. Graham avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Graham tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Tavares counters with a series of strikes. Graham will be more careful next time no doubt.
Tavares fails to land with a series of punches.
Tavares avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tavares misses with the combination.
Tavares misses with a wild combination.
Tavares misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Graham tries to clinch

and Tavares counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Graham prevents Tavares from breaking the clinch.
Tavares is looking to break free of the clinch but Graham has double underhooks.
Graham throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tavares wants to break free but Graham has control.
Graham misses with a knee strike.
Tavares is trying to break the clinch but Graham has him pressed against the cage.
Graham tries to land a knee to the head but Tavares blocks with his arms.
Tavares drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Graham gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Graham tries to land a knee to the head but Tavares blocks with his arms.
Graham throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tavares tries for a takedown. No joy.
Graham connects with a knee to the head.
Graham prevents the takedown attempt.
Tavares drops down looking for an ankle pick but Graham pulls his leg out and moves away.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tavares swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tavares throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Graham closes the distance but Tavares moves to the side
and Tavares counters with a series of strikes. Graham will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Marcus Tavares will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Tavares misses with a two punch combination.
Graham darts in trying to clinch
and Tavares counters with a stiff right hand.
Graham tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Tavares counters with a series of strikes. Graham will be more careful next time no doubt.
Tavares is working the combinations to good effect here.
Tavares tries to bum rush Graham with a series of wild strikes but Graham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tavares will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tavares falls off balance throwing a combination

and Graham counters by moving into the clinch.
Tavares has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Tavares tries for a takedown. No joy.
Graham with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Graham throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tavares is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Graham gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graham with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tavares lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Graham gets underhooks to prevent Tavares 's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Tavares . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graham tries a knee to the head but Tavares blocks it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tavares has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Graham avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Graham throws a knee to the head but misses.
Graham tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Tavares pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tavares misses with a double jab

and Graham counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Tavares has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Graham avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Graham lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tavares wants to get back to striking at distance but Graham won't allow it.
Graham connects with a knee to the head.
Graham throws a knee to the head but misses.
Graham with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Graham tries to land a knee to the head but Tavares blocks with his arms.
Graham pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Tavares looking for a takedown.
A shot in the inside from Tavares .
Graham lands a knee to the head.
Graham lands a knee to the head.
Graham throws a knee to the head but misses.

Tavares has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Graham regains guard immediately.
Tavares throws and elbow that misses. Graham uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tavares 's guard. Nice move by Graham!
Tavares tries to strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Graham decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tavares , up you get!
Graham closes the distance but Tavares moves to the side

and Tavares counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tavares .
Tavares is looking to break free of the clinch but Graham has double underhooks.
Graham throws a knee to the head but misses.

Tavares has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Graham is trying to keep an underhook but Tavares manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Graham kicks off Tavares and gets to his feet.
Graham wants to clinch.
Tavares looks to land a combination but Graham avoids it well.
Tavares lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Graham darts in trying to clinch
and Tavares counters with a left and a right that stings Graham.
Tavares moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares misses with a series of wild punches.
Tavares misses with a two punch combination.
Tavares swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Graham moves into the clinch.
Tavares looking for a takedown.
Graham with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Graham creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tavares 's defenses.
Tavares is trying to break free.
Tavares is working for takedown but Graham is calmly controlling the position for now.
Graham misses with a knee to the head.
Tavares tries for a takedown. No joy.
Tavares is working for takedown but Graham is calmly controlling the position for now.
Graham misses with a knee strike.
Graham with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tavares wants to break the clinch but can't.
Graham tries to land a knee to the head but Tavares blocks with his arms.
Graham keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tavares 's efforts to push away.
Graham misses with a knee to the head.

Tavares gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Tavares throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares throws and elbow that misses. Graham uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tavares 's guard. Nice move by Graham!

Graham stands up and waves to Tavares to follow him.
Graham tries to clinch up.
Graham tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Tavares counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Tavares misses with a series of wild punches.
Tavares throws a one two combo.
Micky Graham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marcus Tavares is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tavares throws a series of punches but Graham avoids them all with ease.

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 Marcus Tavares .
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tavares , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Tavares !