PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paul Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Old English (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Graham
vs
English

175 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Paul Graham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Old English!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graham throws a one two combo.
English misses with a two punch combination.
Graham throws a head kick that misses.
Graham scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

English instigates a clinch.
Graham tries for a takedown but English manages to get underhooks.
Graham tries to break the clinch but English is controlling the position.
Graham is trying to break the clinch but English has him pressed against the cage.
English keeps control of Graham as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

English breaks from the clinch.
Graham misses the shot to the body.

English has managed to clinch.
Graham stops a takedown attempt from English.
Graham is trying to push English away but English has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

English breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham misses with a head kick.
Graham throws a head kick that English semi-blocks.
Graham misses with a combination
and English counters with a nice leg kick.
Graham misses with an uppercut. English saw that one coming.
English walks into a left hand.
English shoots for a takedown but Graham saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Graham shoots for a double leg takedown but English sprawls well. He's pushed Graham's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Graham is breathing heavily.
English scores with a nice head shot.
English throws a one two combo.

It looks like Paul Graham has been cut.

English clinches up with Graham and pushes him back against the cage.
Graham is trying to break the clinch but English has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Graham has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

English escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Graham tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Graham throws a head kick that half lands.
English stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graham throws a head kick but English moves out of range.
Graham throws a sloppy head kick
and English counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

English clinches up against the cage.
English is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Graham gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
English can't get the takedown.
Graham jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as English walks away with a smile on his face. Graham gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Graham tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
English avoids the head kick by Graham.

English decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
English not landing any meaningful shots this time.

English postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Graham to stand up.

English shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Graham's guard.
English preventing the sweep.

English stands and steps away. Graham gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Paul Graham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graham swinging wildly here.

English closes the distance and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
English slowing the pace effectively.
Graham misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham is trying to break free.
Graham fails to pull guard.
Graham wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Graham looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

English has hold of one of Graham's legs. Graham is fighting the takedown attempt but English gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Graham is trying to control the position but English postures up.
English trying to control the position from guard on top but Graham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Graham wants to stand but English is controlling the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Graham looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Old English dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Paul Graham's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Graham throws a head kick that misses.

English clinches up against the cage.
Graham throws a head punch that misses.

English tightens his grip and picks Graham up, before dumping him to the ground. Graham manages to land in guard.
Graham is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Graham keeping moving, preventing English from controlling successfully.
English must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Graham working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. English doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. English manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
English connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
English trying to control but Graham is working from the bottom.
Graham lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for English!
Graham unloads with some shots from mount but English bucks and avoids them well.
English tries to hold on but Graham pushes him away.
Graham throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Graham unloads with some shots from mount but English bucks and avoids them well.
Graham avoids the attempt from English to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham working away from the top, dropping strikes.
English is looking to get to half guard.
English manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Graham throwing shots but English is blocking nicely.
Graham missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ground and pound from Graham.
Graham thows a huge punch but English dodges it nicely.
Graham tries to pass to full mount but English defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
English is looking for a sweep. Graham is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Old English has got the better of the ground game so far.
English is looking to control Graham's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can English avoid being mounted?
Graham tries to pass the half guard into mount. English knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Graham trying to control the action but English is working from the bottom.
Graham sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. English defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed English's head.
Graham not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Graham stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows English to get to his feet.
English stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Graham.
Graham misses with a leg kick.
English stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Graham.
Nice uppercut there from Graham.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Graham leaves English with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Graham tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Graham dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Paul Graham's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Graham throws a head kick but English moves out of range.
Graham stuffs the takedown attempt from English. English gets slowly back to his feet.
Graham fails with an attempt to clinch.
Graham has a takedown stuffed.
Paul Graham is winning the standup battle so far.
Graham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Graham feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to English's calf.
English tries to close the distance and clinch up but Graham swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Graham just misses with a punch to the body.
English cracks Graham with a good jab.

Graham tries to sprawl but English drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham tries to kick English off but English keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Graham blocking the ground and pound attempt from English.
Graham is trying to get back to full guard.

English postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Graham to stand up.
English looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Graham is fending him off so far but English persists. Nope, Graham circles away and we're back to standing.
Graham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
English shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Graham defends it nicely.
Paul Graham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Old English.
Graham misses with a jab, cross combination.
Graham feints and then cracks English's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow English down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham fakes high and swings low for a body shot but English manages to avoid it.
English changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Graham tries to avoid it but English 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 stuffs the takedown.
Graham pulls out of a head kick attempt.
English gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Graham.
English is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
English rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Graham moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Graham. That's going to slow English down.
Graham throws a head kick that misses.
English fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Graham avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham connects with a body shot.
Graham throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Graham will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
English's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and English duly obliges.
Graham lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
English throws a head kick that misses.
Graham throws a leg kick which misses English's front leg but catches the back leg as English tries to avoid it.
Graham throws a head kick but English moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham throws out a leg kick but English moves out of range and Graham only half commits.
Graham shoots in but English avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Graham throws a head kick that misses.
Graham throws a push kick but English slaps the foot to one side.
English shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Graham as he jumps to the side.
Graham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Graham buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
English on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Jab from English.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Paul Graham.
I think Graham 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Paul Graham!