PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Randy Graham (ranked 3142 p4p, 1415 weight class) and Mamed Khalidovic (ranked 375 p4p, 198 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Khalidovic's choice of entrance music: Зима-мама 25/17. 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.

Graham
vs
Khalidovic

182 cm
22
162
4 - 3 - 0

183 cm
25
157
8 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Randy Graham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Mamed Khalidovic!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Bruno Lombardi and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khalidovic's jab looks to have found its range, popping Graham under the eye.
Khalidovic lands a glancing blow to the side of Graham's head.
Graham bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It looked like Graham was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Khalidovic.
Khalidovic throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Graham ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Khalidovic moves away.
Khalidovic loads up on a big right hand but Graham slips the punch.
Nice jab there from Graham.
A good leg kick by Khalidovic.
Khalidovic misses with a lunging right hand
and Khalidovic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Khalidovic throws a jab but it's blocked by Graham.
A little feinted left hand from Graham on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Khalidovic throws a body shot but no joy.
As Khalidovic looks to move away, Graham throws a big counter combo but Khalidovic just gets out of the way.
Graham tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Graham swings widly with a right hand
and Khalidovic counters with a left to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Khalidovic with a nice calf kick.
Graham uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Khalidovic.
Khalidovic pivots, looking for a leg kick but Graham is out of range and Khalidovic settles back down.
It looked like Graham wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidovic fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Graham has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Graham gets tackled into the cage by Khalidovic. Khalidovic maintains the clinch.
Khalidovic misses with a punch to the body.
Graham misses with a hook from the clinch.
Graham tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Khalidovic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Graham tries a body shot but Khalidovic blocks it.
Graham blocks a body shot from Khalidovic.
Graham can't find room to land a body shot as Khalidovic controls the action.
Graham lands a body punch in the clinch.
Graham takes a shot to the head.
Graham tries to work over Khalidovic's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Graham tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Khalidovic's elbow.
Graham lands with a short shot to the head.
Khalidovic can't find room to land a body shot as Graham controls the action.
A short right from Graham.
I was talking to Graham's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Khalidovic throws a punch but it's blocked by Graham.
Khalidovic misses with a hook from the clinch.
Khalidovic tries to work over Graham's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Graham working aggressively here.
Graham has a couple of punches blocked by Khalidovic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalidovic misses with a hook from the clinch.
Khalidovic scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Khalidovic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Graham fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Graham fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Khalidovic lands a right hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Khalidovic.
Graham struggles to land a body shot inside as Khalidovic controls his hands.
Khalidovic lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Graham backwards.
Khalidovic throws a head punch that misses.
Graham lands a shoulder strike.
Graham lands with a short shot to the head.
Graham lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Graham creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Graham throws a head punch that misses.
Khalidovic throws a punch but it's blocked by Graham.
Khalidovic prevents a body shot from Graham.
Khalidovic misses with a hook from the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Khalidovic.
Graham blocks an uppercut.
Graham lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Khalidovic backwards.
Khalidovic lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham is leaning against Khalidovic and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Khalidovic has a couple of punches blocked by Graham.
Graham goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Khalidovic has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Graham seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Khalidovic can turn it around.

Khalidovic breaks the clinch.
Khalidovic misses with a leg kick
and Graham counters with a leg kick.
Graham ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Khalidovic moves away.
Khalidovic tries to clinch but Graham is having none of it.
Khalidovic lands with a nice body punch.
Graham avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
An attempted straight right counter from Graham misses the target.
Khalidovic connects with a single shot there.

Khalidovic has Graham up against the cage in a clinch.
Graham misses with a hook to the ribs.
Khalidovic pushes off an throws an elbow but Graham leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Khalidovic misses with a punch to the body.
Khalidovic blocking some punches.
Graham lands with a light punch inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham lands a shoulder strike.
Still in the clinch, Graham scores with a nice short uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khalidovic lands an uppercut.
Graham swings wildly with an uppercut but Khalidovic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Khalidovic lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Khalidovic swings wildly with an uppercut but Graham uses good head movement to avoid it.
Khalidovic misses with some punches.
Khalidovic swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Graham tries to throw a body punch but Khalidovic avoids it by throwing Graham back against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Khalidovic.
Graham working aggressively here.
Graham blocks an uppercut.
Khalidovic misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Khalidovic.
Khalidovic working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Khalidovic scores with a shoulder strike.
Khalidovic lands an uppercut.
Graham goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Graham scores with a hook to the body.
Khalidovic blocking some punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mamed Khalidovic dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Graham looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Graham throws a shot to the body.
Graham misses with a hook.
Graham doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Graham on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Khalidovic. Khalidovic obviously looking to wear him down.
Graham throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Khalidovic fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Khalidovic throws a lazy uppercut
and Graham counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Khalidovic cracks Graham with an open hand slap.
Khalidovic throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Graham slips a jab from Khalidovic.
Graham defending well as Khalidovic loads up on a big left hand.
Khalidovic throws a jab when Graham was well out of range.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Graham chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Khalidovic can pounce on him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Graham misses the target.
Graham throws a nice looking combination but Khalidovic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Khalidovic scores with a nice head shot.
Graham works Khalidovic's body with a nice hook.
A right-left combo lands from Khalidovic.
Mamed Khalidovic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Graham is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Khalidovic thumps Graham with a low kick.
Khalidovic lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khalidovic pushes Graham away with a front kick.
Khalidovic thuds his right hand into Graham's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Graham throws a big shot that misses.
Khalidovic swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Khalidovic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Graham.
The fighters circling - Khalidovic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It looked like Graham was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Khalidovic misses.
Khalidovic tries to clinch but Graham is having none of it.
Graham misses with a combination
and Graham takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Khalidovic moves out of range of the strikes.
Khalidovic smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Khalidovic tries to clinch up.
Graham needs to keep his hands up - Khalidovic had a free shot at his head there.
A leg kick checked by Graham.
Good leg kick by Khalidovic.
Khalidovic lands with a right hand.
Khalidovic lands an overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidovic takes one to the side of the head.
Khalidovic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Graham was well out of range. Poor timing from Khalidovic.
Khalidovic swings away with a body shot that misses
and Graham counters with a good low kick that Khalidovic was not able to check.
Nice shot lands for Graham.

It looks like Mamed Khalidovic has been cut.
Graham uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Khalidovic.
Khalidovic lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Khalidovic misses with a body kick.
Graham uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Khalidovic.
Graham throws a right and a left that both miss.
Khalidovic only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Khalidovic looks to throw a body kick
and Graham counters with a straight right hand.
Khalidovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Graham misses the target.
Khalidovic misses the jab.
Khalidovic's jab looks to have found its range, popping Graham under the eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good exchange - Khalidovic coming out on top.
Mamed Khalidovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khalidovic missing with a left hand there. Graham was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
It looked like Graham wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Khalidovic misses with the combination.
Graham missing with a left hand there. Khalidovic was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Khalidovic scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Graham uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Khalidovic.
Khalidovic throws a poor cross that misses
letting Graham counter with a right hand.
Khalidovic misses with a leg kick.
Khalidovic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice defenses there by Graham.
Graham went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Khalidovic tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Graham throws a body punch but Khalidovic moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mamed Khalidovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mamed Khalidovic's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. 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.

Khalidovic misses with a looping right.
Graham catches Khalidovic with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Khalidovic looks to score with a jab to the body but Graham is just out of range.
Nice jab there from Khalidovic.
Graham looks to land a right hand but Khalidovic moved out of range.
Khalidovic misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Khalidovic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Khalidovic dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Good leg kick by Khalidovic.
Khalidovic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Khalidovic comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khalidovic lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Graham uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Khalidovic.
A solid body kick from Khalidovic.
Khalidovic throws a body punch but Graham moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidovic misses the jab.
A big left from Graham misses.
Graham jabs Khalidovic right on the nose. Khalidovic blinks but takes it well.
Khalidovic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Graham.
Khalidovic throws a big shot that misses.
Khalidovic thows a left - swing and a miss!
Graham looks to score with a jab to the body but Khalidovic is just out of range.
Khalidovic lands a nice shot that snaps Graham's head back.
Graham takes a swing at Khalidovic's ribcage but misses.
Khalidovic misses with a straight right.
Khalidovic looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Graham swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Graham is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Graham keeps the fight on the outside.
An attempted straight right counter from Graham misses the target.
Graham lands a really nice looking cross but Khalidovic seems unphased.
Mamed Khalidovic is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Khalidovic clinches up with Graham and pushes him back against the cage.
Graham lands a left hand.
Khalidovic lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Graham.
Khalidovic swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Graham.
Graham misses with the head strike.
Graham misses with a short punch on the inside.
Khalidovic pushes Graham back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Khalidovic scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Khalidovic lands a body punch in the clinch.
Khalidovic tries to throw a body punch but Graham avoids it by throwing Khalidovic back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Khalidovic.
Graham lands a body shot.
Mamed Khalidovic seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Graham swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Khalidovic lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Graham backwards.
Nice body punch from Graham - that landed with a thud.
Graham misses with a body punch.
Khalidovic blocks a body shot from Graham.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidovic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nice body punch from Khalidovic.
A head punch on the inside from Graham fails to land.
Khalidovic misses with some punches.
Khalidovic swings wildly with an uppercut but Graham uses good head movement to avoid it.
Khalidovic misses with some punches.
Graham throws a head punch that misses.
Graham tries to throw a body punch but Khalidovic avoids it by throwing Graham back against the cage.
Randy Graham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khalidovic throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Graham doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Graham doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Graham gets through Khalidovic's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Khalidovic tries to throw a body punch but Graham avoids it by throwing Khalidovic back against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Khalidovic.
Graham blocks an elbow strike from Khalidovic.
Khalidovic blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Graham misses with a punch to the body.
Graham lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham lands a hook that snaps the head of Khalidovic backwards.
A body shot lands from Graham.
Graham tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Khalidovic lands a right hand that snaps the head of Graham backwards.
Graham tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Khalidovic misses with the head strike.
Khalidovic cracks Graham with a nice body shot.
Khalidovic misses with an elbow strike.
Graham lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Khalidovic.
Graham tries a body shot but Khalidovic blocks it.
A short uppercut from Khalidovic.
Graham blocking some punches.
Graham works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Graham lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Graham.
Khalidovic blocks a body shot from Graham.
Khalidovic can't find room to land a body shot as Graham controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mamed Khalidovic.
Well Khalidovic 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mamed Khalidovic!
A very excited looking Mamed Khalidovic made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.