PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Otto Graf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sasha Lakovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sasha Lakovic is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Graf
vs
Lakovic

175 cm
20
183 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

189 cm
25
181 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
World class boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Otto Graf!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sasha Lakovic!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graf ducks under a wild hook from Lakovic.
Graf thuds a left hand into Lakovic's body.
Lakovic throws a front kick that sends Graf stumbling back into the cage.
Graf throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lakovic throws a low kick but Graf moves out of range easily.
Graf misses with an uppercut
and Lakovic counters with a low kick, right behind Graf 's knee.
Otto Graf seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graf sizes up Lakovic with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

It looks like Sasha Lakovic has been cut.
Graf throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lakovic blocks a jab.
Graf connects with a crisp jab.
Graf uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lakovic.
Graf throws a lazy uppercut
and Lakovic counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Graf throws an overhand right that lands on Lakovic's shoulder, as Lakovic tries to avoid the shot.
Graf misses with a jab to the body

and Lakovic counters with a shoot takedown. Graf fights it but they end up in guard.
Lakovic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Graf works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Graf might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lakovic wants to control from the top but Graf keeps moving.
Lakovic throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graf preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lakovic is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Graf 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.
Lakovic controls from within his opponent's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Graf keeping moving, preventing Lakovic from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lakovic pushes down on Graf's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Graf wants to get back to his feet.
Graf on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Graf tries to get out of the position.

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.
Lakovic content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Lakovic is looking for a kimura but Graf is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lakovic to get the leverage.
Lakovic trying to control from Graf's half guard. Graf has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Graf wants to stand but Lakovic is controlling the position.
Lakovic trying to control but Graf is working from the bottom.
Graf preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lakovic pushing down on Graf's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Graf wants to get back to his feet.
Graf is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lakovic sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Lakovic is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lakovic is trying to control. Graf wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lakovic missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lakovic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Lakovic is working for a submission of some sort.

Lakovic 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.
Lakovic is keen to just control but Graf is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lakovic trying to control the pace.
Lakovic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Graf keeps working.
Graf tries to kick Lakovic off but Lakovic keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Graf is staying active underneath Lakovic, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Graf knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lakovic on the ground.
Graf tries to kick Lakovic off but Lakovic keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sasha Lakovic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sasha Lakovic's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Graf misses with a left hand
and Lakovic counters with a nice uppercut.
Graf throws an ugly left hook that misses

so Lakovic counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lakovic wants to control from the top but Graf keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lakovic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lakovic postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lakovic trying to control but Graf is working from the bottom.
Graf is looking to stand up but Lakovic isn't so interested in that idea.
Lakovic missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lakovic has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lakovic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Graf works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lakovic looking to sit in guard and control but Graf gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lakovic manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Graf manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lakovic makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lakovic stays in close to Graf's body and controls the position.
Lakovic prevents Graf from getting back to his feet.
Lakovic wants to control from the top but Graf keeps moving.
Lakovic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Graf keeping moving, preventing Lakovic from controlling successfully.
Lakovic prevents Graf from getting back to his feet.

That's two 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.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Sasha Lakovic wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lakovic buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Lakovic misses with an uppercut. Graf saw that one coming.
Graf misses with a right hand
and Lakovic counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lakovic takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Graf swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Graf throws a lazy uppercut
and Lakovic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Graf.
Graf throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Lakovic looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Graf!

Lakovic goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Graf is on top in guard.
Lakovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Lakovic, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lakovic lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Graf!
Lakovic working the ground and pound effectively.
Lakovic dominating with strikes here.
Lakovic with the ground and pound from mount.
Graf is trying to stand up.
Lakovic thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Lakovic landing punches.

Lakovic with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Graf is squirming around, avoiding Lakovic's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graf has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Lakovic's lack of action.

Lakovic 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.
Graf is trying to stand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Graf makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sasha Lakovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sasha Lakovic's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Graf steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lakovic.
Graf misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Lakovic counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Graf's guard now.

Lakovic drops back looking for a leg! Graf is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Graf manages to kick Lakovic off! Lakovic jumps back into Graf's guard.
Lakovic thows a big elbow that misses.
Graf wants to stand but Lakovic is controlling the position.
Lakovic stays in close to Graf's body and controls the position.
Graf wants to stand and escape but Lakovic is having none of it.
Lakovic wants to pass the guard but Graf is keeping the position.
Lakovic lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lakovic loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Graf is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lakovic is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lakovic sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lakovic throws a big right hand that misses.
Lakovic is pushing down on Graf's leg trying to pass to half guard. Graf is fighting to maintain full guard but Lakovic has managed to sneak the leg through.
Lakovic not doing much here.
Lakovic is trying to control. Graf wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lakovic seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Graf is looking to escape.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Lakovic 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.
Still in half guard, Lakovic seems content to control.
Sasha Lakovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Graf is trying to stand back up but Lakovic is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lakovic controlling the action here.
Graf is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lakovic scores with a couple of nice shots.
Lakovic performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Lakovic's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sasha Lakovic hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Graf jabs Lakovic to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graf misses with a straight right.
Lakovic wants to clinch up but Graf keeps it at a distance.
Graf swings away with a body shot that misses
and Graf takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Graf rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Lakovic to counter with a crisp jab.
Graf misses with a lunging right hand
and Lakovic counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Graf misses with a hook
and Lakovic counters with a stiff right hand.
Graf misses with a combination
and Lakovic counters with a nice body shot.
Lakovic tries to clinch up.
Graf gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lakovic throws a head kick but Graf moves out of range.
Otto Graf has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Graf throws an off balance right hand

and Lakovic counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Graf's guard now.

Graf looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lakovic passes into half guard.
Well, if Lakovic is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sasha Lakovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lakovic 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sasha Lakovic!