PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Johnson
vs
Graham

190 cm
22
198 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

184 cm
21
191 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kevin Graham!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Graham saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnson fails to land the takedown.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Graham sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Graham swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Graham fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the ropes.
Johnson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Johnson can't get the takedown.
Graham prevents the takedown attempt.

Graham manages to break the clinch.
Johnson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Graham lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Graham.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Graham turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Graham pushes Johnson up against the ropes in a clinch.

Graham manages to break the clinch.

Graham looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Johnson controls Graham momentarily but Graham frees himself.
Graham slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham scoring with punches to the head and body.
Graham loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Graham landing with the ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Graham avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Graham wants to stand but Johnson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Graham lands a couple of elbows.
Graham wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Graham wanted to stand there but Johnson had control of the position.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Graham is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson working for a triangle but Graham defends it easily.
Johnson looking to control.
Graham trying to stand up but can't free himself from Johnson's guard.

Graham decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The fight stays on the outside here - Graham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Graham counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Graham.

Graham works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Graham would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Graham dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A combination from Graham does no damage.
Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Graham swivels and escapes.
James Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Graham changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Johnson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Graham wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.

Graham stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Graham swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Graham sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Graham fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the ropes.

Graham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Johnson takes one to the chin there.

Johnson gets caught flat footed, as Graham shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Graham must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Graham gets to his feet. Johnson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Graham scores with a kick to the midsection.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Johnson gets a takedown into half guard.
Graham makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Graham.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graham is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Johnson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Graham gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Graham breaks from the clinch.
Graham throws a series of strikes that have Johnson backpedaling.
Graham stuffs the takedown attempt from Johnson. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Graham's waist but Graham gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
Graham looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.

Graham has closed the distance and engaged Johnson in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Graham gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Graham postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Graham controlling him for the moment.

Johnson working for a triangle but Graham defends it easily.
Johnson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Graham stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Graham loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Graham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Graham has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Johnson finds it's way round the side to connect with Graham's head.
Johnson shoots for a double leg takedown but Graham sprawls well. He's pushed Johnson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Graham circles away.

Graham shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Graham was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Graham looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Graham is landing with some decent strikes but Johnson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Johnson is working to get back to half guard.
Graham lands a heavy elbow.
Graham cracks Johnson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Graham postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Johnson looks a forlorn figure.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A nice elbow there by Graham.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Graham is going olschool here, as he tries to force Johnson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Johnson shrugs it off.
A nice elbow there by Graham.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Graham landing strikes from the mount.
Johnson is looking to get to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Graham.
Graham prevents Johnson from getting the reversal.
A nice elbow there by Graham.
Johnson is looking to get to half guard.
Graham lands a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to reverse the position but Graham maintains control.
Graham lands a heavy elbow.
The referee warns Johnson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Johnson is looking to improve his position but Graham isn't that keen on the idea.
Graham scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Johnson?
Kevin Graham has got the better of the ground game so far.
Graham scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Graham landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
BOOM! Graham connects with a massive shot to the dome!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Graham really 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.

Graham clinches up with Johnson and pushes him back against the ropes.

Graham breaks from the clinch.
Johnson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kevin Graham seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Graham throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Graham throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.
Graham looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Graham tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kevin Graham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Graham tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Graham to the ground. Graham escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Graham throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Graham shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graham pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Graham.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graham fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Johnson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Graham's waist but Graham gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Johnson off to one side.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Graham scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Johnson shoots in but Graham avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice sprawl there from Graham as Johnson shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Graham.
Johnson lands a two punch combo.
Graham lands with a thumping leg kick.
Graham shoots for a takedown but Johnson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Graham.
Johnson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Graham changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Graham manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Graham circles away easily
and Graham counters with a low kick, right behind Johnson 's knee.
Johnson shoots in and drives through. Graham sprawls well.
Johnson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Graham counters with a low kick, right behind Johnson 's knee.

Graham moves into the clinch successfully.

Graham breaks from the clinch.
Johnson fails with the takedown
and Graham counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson shoots in and bounces Graham off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.

Johnson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Graham dives on top into guard.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Graham is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Johnson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Graham's back instead.

Johnson looking for the choke but no joy.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Johnson looking for the RNC.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Graham dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johnson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Graham moves out of range as Johnson strikes.
Graham throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
Graham throws a left that rocks Johnson and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Graham dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Johnson regain composure!
Graham working the ground and pound but Johnson is defending the strikes.
Johnson tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Graham easily slips into full mount!
Johnson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Johnson is bucking up trying to escape but Graham cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Graham avoids the attempt from Johnson to control.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Graham tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Johnson tries to hold on but Graham postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Graham working the ground and pound effectively.
Graham lands a big shot there that rocks Johnson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Graham avoids the attempt from Johnson to control.
Johnson is bucking up trying to escape but Graham cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Johnson wants to control but Graham is having none of it.
Graham with shots to the head and body - Johnson looks very uncomfortable down there.
Graham postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Johnson looks a forlorn figure.
Graham has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Johnson's face.
Kevin Graham is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham prevents Johnson from getting the reversal.
Graham landing punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Graham can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Graham with a couple of short strikes.
Johnson tries to lock up and control but Graham gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Graham trying to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson tries to hold on but Graham postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Graham wants to control the pace but Johnson is squirming around nicely.
James Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Graham blocks Johnson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Graham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Graham 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 42:50
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 42:50
Judge George Francis scores the fight 42:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Graham!