PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roy Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jerome McGraw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson comes to the cage accompanied by Never Can Say Goodbye. McGraw comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Born Winner (Wretch 32) kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Nelson
vs
McGraw

190 cm
25
260 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

166 cm
27
240 lbs
12 - 8 - 1

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roy Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jerome McGraw!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGraw has a takedown stuffed.
McGraw shoots for a double leg takedown but Nelson sprawls well. He's pushed McGraw's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Roy Nelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nelson throws a series of punches but McGraw moves out of range.

McGraw shoots in and bounces Nelson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nelson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Nelson is trying to control the position but McGraw postures up.
Nelson has McGraw pulled in close to control his posture.
Nelson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nelson tries to get out of the position.
Nelson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McGraw's guard.
McGraw wants to stand up but Nelson is controlling him.
Nelson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
McGraw looking for a sweep. Not yet McGraw, not yet.

McGraw has his foot on Nelson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nelson works his way back into a safe position though.
McGraw not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McGraw seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
McGraw wants to stand but Nelson is controlling the position.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but McGraw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nelson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nelson stays in close to McGraw's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nelson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Roy Nelson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Nelson with a poor takedown

and McGraw counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nelson!
Nelson working to try and regain half guard.
Nelson is breathing heavily.

McGraw wants to finish this one by submission but Nelson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from McGraw.
Nelson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Nelson trying to control but McGraw postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGraw looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Nelson actively working from the bottom here.
McGraw passes to full mount!

McGraw is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Nelson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Nelson shrugs it off.
Nelson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

McGraw is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Nelson is surviving well by controlling McGraw's body position as best he can.

McGraw is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Nelson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Nelson!
Nelson trying to control but McGraw is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nelson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

McGraw scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

McGraw is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nelson has escaped the position, nice work there.

McGraw thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

McGraw working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nelson tries to bench press McGraw off him but McGraw keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome McGraw 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.

A head kick misses from McGraw.

Nelson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nelson trying to control the position but McGraw is working away.
Nelson remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
McGraw taking punishment in the form of punches.
McGraw gets back to half guard.
McGraw wants to improve his position but Nelson is controlling well.
McGraw moves into full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGraw looking for a guillotine here but Nelson defends easily.
McGraw managing to control the position.
Nelson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but McGraw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

McGraw looking for a triangle here. Nelson is fighting it but it looks tight! McGraw pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Nelson is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Jerome McGraw!