PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between james hatfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Micky Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

hatfield
vs
Graham

176 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
180 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, james hatfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Micky Graham!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch up but hatfield swats him away and circles back towards the center.

hatfield scores with a takedown into Graham's guard.
hatfield wants to pass the guard but Graham is keeping the position.
hatfield looking to sit in guard and control but Graham gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
hatfield looking to control.
hatfield is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham wants to stand but hatfield is controlling his posture from full guard.
hatfield looking to hit a scissor sweep but Graham is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from hatfield.
hatfield is breathing heavily.

hatfield scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Graham wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

hatfield decides to stand back up.
Graham tries to clinch there but hatfield circles away.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but hatfield paws at him with a jab and circles away.
hatfield circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch but hatfield swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Graham moves in looking to clinch but hatfield pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Graham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Graham is looking to clinch.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch up but hatfield swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Graham tries to clinch but hatfield is having none of it.
Micky Graham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graham is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Graham stuffs the takedown.
Graham fails in his attempt to clinch.
Graham fails with an attempt to clinch.
Graham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Graham tries to clinch there but hatfield circles away.

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 moves into the clinch successfully.
hatfield is trying to force a seperation but Graham has the dominant position.
Graham throws an elbow but it misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Graham obliges.
Graham landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Graham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Graham tries to clinch up.
Graham wants to clinch up but hatfield keeps it at a distance.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch but hatfield swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch but hatfield swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch up but hatfield swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch but hatfield swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
hatfield avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Graham displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from hatfield.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for james hatfield. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but hatfield paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that james hatfield will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

hatfield shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Graham defends it nicely.
Graham tries to clinch but hatfield moves out of range.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch up but hatfield swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Graham wants to clinch up but hatfield keeps it at a distance.

hatfield shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
hatfield pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Graham is keeping the position for now.
hatfield trying to control but Graham is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Graham wants to stand and escape but hatfield is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
hatfield postures up in Graham's guard and throws a big left but Graham blocks it.

hatfield has gone for a leg lock! Graham slips out almost immediately though and dives into hatfield's guard.

Graham decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on hatfield, up you get!
Graham tries to clinch up but hatfield circles away and keeps his distance.
Graham tries to clinch up.
Graham is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Graham moves in looking to clinch but hatfield pushes him off.
hatfield shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
james hatfield is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Graham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Graham is looking to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from hatfield.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for james hatfield. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graham wants to clinch.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch but hatfield swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Graham defends well against a solid takedown attempt from hatfield.
Graham doesn't manage to clinch there - hatfield circles away.
Graham fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
hatfield fails with the takedown.
Graham tries to clinch there but hatfield circles away.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch but hatfield swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
hatfield closes the distance but Graham moves to the side

and Graham counters by clinching up.
hatfield tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Graham just stands there and leans against the cage.
hatfield throws a knee to the head but misses.
Graham is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Graham is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. hatfield is defending well for now.
Graham missing with knees to the body.
hatfield managing to block the knees to the body from Graham.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Graham obliges.
hatfield trying to control the position but instead, Graham has worked for underhooks and has pushed hatfield into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Graham is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
hatfield is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Graham is defending well for now.
hatfield is trying to break free.
Knees to the body from Graham.
Graham pushes off an throws an elbow but hatfield leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
hatfield is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

hatfield pulls guard successfully.
Graham has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of hatfield is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micky Graham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Graham tries to clinch but fails miserably

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

Graham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Graham closes the distance looking to clinch

and hatfield counters with a single leg into guard. Graham didn't expect that.
hatfield tries to free his leg and advance position but Graham is retaining full guard.
hatfield throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
hatfield looking to sit in guard and control but Graham gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
hatfield pulls Graham in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graham stands up from hatfield's guard - Graham perhaps looking for a knockout.
Graham tries to clinch but fails miserably

and hatfield counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

hatfield decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Graham clinches but hatfield breaks the clinch

and hatfield counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
hatfield prevents Graham from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
hatfield throws a big right hand that misses.
hatfield content to stall in guard here.
Graham wants to get back to his feet but hatfield is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Graham working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from hatfield.
Graham wants to stand but hatfield is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
hatfield controlling from the top position.
hatfield thows a big elbow that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

hatfield drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
hatfield is looking to take a break and control but Graham is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
hatfield scoring with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Graham is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
hatfield is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Graham will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
hatfield throwing strikes but Graham manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
james hatfield showed his dominance in that final round.
I think hatfield 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... james hatfield!