PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Kralaiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jerome McGraw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McGraw has chosen Born Winner (Wretch 32) as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Kralaiev
vs
McGraw

191 cm
23
240 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

166 cm
26
240 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ivan Kralaiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jerome McGraw!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kralaiev.

Kralaiev clinches with his opponent.

Kralaiev breaks the clinch.

Kralaiev gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Kralaiev breaks the clinch.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from McGraw. Kralaiev shrugs it off though.
Kralaiev tries to clinch up.
McGraw shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kralaiev tries to clinch but McGraw is having none of it.
McGraw avoids the head kick by Kralaiev.
McGraw keeps the fight on the outside.

Kralaiev drives through and clinches with McGraw against the cage.
Kralaiev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McGraw jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kralaiev walks away with a smile on his face. McGraw gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kralaiev throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
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!
Kralaiev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McGraw blocks a head kick by Kralaiev.
Kralaiev misses with a kick to the body.
Ivan Kralaiev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kralaiev is looking to clinch.
McGraw looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ivan Kralaiev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jerome McGraw.
Kralaiev throws a head kick that half lands.

McGraw shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

McGraw is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Kralaiev to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Kralaiev shrugs it off.

Kralaiev defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from McGraw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kralaiev keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kralaiev is breathing heavily.

McGraw working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Kralaiev tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Kralaiev defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from McGraw.
Kralaiev tries to lock up and control but McGraw gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kralaiev tries to get back to half guard but can't.

McGraw is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Kralaiev to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Kralaiev shrugs it off.

That's two 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.
Kralaiev is working to get back to half guard.

McGraw is working for a guillotine from mount but Kralaiev frees his head quite easily.
Kralaiev doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kralaiev is trying to escape the mount.

McGraw has hold of Kralaiev's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Kralaiev manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Kralaiev tries to lock up and control but McGraw gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kralaiev is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGraw looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Kralaiev manages to control the position for a moment.
McGraw prevents Kralaiev from getting the reversal.
Kralaiev is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kralaiev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kralaiev is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Ivan Kralaiev just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Kralaiev tries to clinch up but McGraw circles away and keeps his distance.
Kralaiev lands with a kick to the temple. McGraw shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kralaiev tries to clinch but McGraw moves out of range.
McGraw fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kralaiev tries to close the distance and clinch up but McGraw swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kralaiev wants to clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kralaiev.
McGraw swats away the attempt to clinch by Kralaiev.
Kralaiev lands with a kick to the temple. McGraw shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Jerome McGraw has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McGraw takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kralaiev wants to clinch.
Kralaiev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick misses from Kralaiev.
McGraw misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Kralaiev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jerome McGraw's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kralaiev throws a head kick but McGraw moves out of range.

Kralaiev moves into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Kralaiev.
Kralaiev gets underhooks to prevent McGraw's takedown attempt.
Kralaiev is trying to break the clinch but McGraw has him pressed against the cage.
McGraw has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kralaiev is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
McGraw can't get the takedown.
Ivan Kralaiev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jerome McGraw.
Kralaiev landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Kralaiev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McGraw on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kralaiev. Kralaiev obviously looking to wear him down.
Kralaiev wants to clinch up but McGraw keeps it at a distance.
McGraw avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kralaiev lands with a slapping head kick.
McGraw blocks a head kick by Kralaiev.
Nice sprawl there from Kralaiev as McGraw shoots in.
A head kick misses from Kralaiev.
Kralaiev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kralaiev plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

McGraw shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kralaiev napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kralaiev wants to get back to his feet but McGraw drags him back down.

McGraw wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kralaiev, who protects the arm well.
McGraw prevents Kralaiev from escaping the position.
McGraw working away.

McGraw working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

McGraw tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

McGraw tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McGraw has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kralaiev is looking to regain half guard here but McGraw keeps moving and retains side control.
Kralaiev is working hard here to advance position.

McGraw tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McGraw has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kralaiev sneaks back into half guard.

McGraw wants to work for an arm triangle but Kralaiev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
McGraw stops Kralaiev from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGraw is looking for a kimura here.
Kralaiev controlling the position for now.

McGraw looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kralaiev is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McGraw's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McGraw's back!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Kralaiev's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's four 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.
Kralaiev looking to hold on to the position here but McGraw rolls and ends up regaining guard.

Kralaiev thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kralaiev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kralaiev trying to control but McGraw is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

McGraw shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. McGraw showed some decent athleticism there.
Kralaiev is looking to escape.
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 Ivan Kralaiev will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jerome McGraw's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

McGraw closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McGraw lands in his opponent's guard.
Kralaiev is trying to control the position but McGraw postures up.
McGraw tries to free his leg and advance position but Kralaiev is retaining full guard.
Kralaiev wants to sweep but no luck.
McGraw is fighting to break Kralaiev's control of his arms but Kralaiev is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
McGraw tries to free his leg and advance position but Kralaiev is retaining full guard.
McGraw forces his way into half guard.
Kralaiev pushes McGraw off looking to stand but McGraw dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kralaiev wants to control but McGraw is keeping busy.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kralaiev is trying to stand.

Kralaiev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Kralaiev gets caught flat footed, as McGraw shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kralaiev pulls McGraw in close to prevent any damage.
McGraw wants to pass the guard but Kralaiev is keeping the position.
McGraw won't allow Kralaiev to get back to his feet.
McGraw looking to pass the guard.
Kralaiev controls McGraw momentarily but McGraw frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGraw forces his way into half guard.
Kralaiev wants to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kralaiev looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kralaiev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ivan Kralaiev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

McGraw shoots in and bounces Kralaiev off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kralaiev looking to hit a scissor sweep but McGraw is one step ahead there.
McGraw is fighting to break Kralaiev's control of his arms but Kralaiev is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGraw drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and McGraw jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kralaiev pulls McGraw in close to his closed guard and prevents McGraw from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kralaiev keeping full guard, as McGraw tries to pass.

Kralaiev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McGraw is aware though and is defending well.
Kralaiev is trying to keep McGraw in close.

That's four 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McGraw misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kralaiev throws a head kick that misses.
McGraw keeps the fight on the outside.
McGraw avoids the head kick by Kralaiev.
Ivan Kralaiev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kralaiev doesn't manage to clinch there - McGraw circles away.

Kralaiev gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

McGraw drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and McGraw jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kralaiev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
McGraw stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kralaiev swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jerome McGraw comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kralaiev 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!