PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lance Nasri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcus Graham has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nasri
vs
Graham

173 cm
19
155 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

167 cm
25
135 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lance Nasri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marcus Graham!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graham misses with a takedown attempt
and Nasri counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Graham keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nasri looks to land a combination but Graham avoids it well.
Nasri swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Graham counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Nasri is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Graham is controlling him.
Graham trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nasri's guard.
Graham pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nasri is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Marcus Graham was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nasri pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nasri throws a jab when Graham was well out of range.
Nasri takes a swing at Graham's ribcage but misses.
Lance Nasri is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Graham is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nasri lands a glancing blow to the side of Graham's head.
Nasri throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nasri misses with a two punch combination.
Graham misses with a takedown
and Nasri counters with a left and a right that stings Graham.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Nasri, as that shot connected.
Graham has a takedown stuffed.
Lance Nasri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Graham.
Graham lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Lance Nasri has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Graham fails with the takedown.
Nasri misses with a two punch combination.
Graham changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nasri tries to avoid it but Graham manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nasri to the ground. Nasri escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Graham with that takedown attempt.
Nasri lunges at Graham with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Graham's hand.
Nasri throws a right and a left that both miss.
Graham with a poor takedown
and Graham takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nasri swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Graham tries to clinch there but Nasri circles away.
Graham shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nasri sprawls well. Nasri wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Graham gets slowly back to his feet.
Graham shoots in but Nasri avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Graham needs to keep his hands up - Nasri had a free shot at his head there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nasri throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nasri misses with a series of wild punches.
Nasri takes a swing at Graham's ribcage but misses.
Nasri scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Graham has a takedown stuffed.
Nasri lands a jab to the nose.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nasri lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A swing and a miss from Nasri.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Graham shoots in looking for a takedown but Nasri manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Graham's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nasri throws a jab but it's blocked by Graham.
Graham fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nasri lands a body shot.
Nasri throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Graham counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Nasri pushes Graham off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Nasri misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lance Nasri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch but Nasri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nasri stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nasri wants it to stay on the feet.
Lance Nasri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Graham.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Graham fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nasri lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Graham circles away quickly and effectively.
Nasri misses with a double jab.
Nasri stalks Graham and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Graham's face. Graham staggers backwards, shaken.
Nasri lands a two punch combo.
Nasri leaves Graham with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nasri scores with a hook.
Graham fails with the takedown

and Nasri decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Graham's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Graham bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nasri's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nasri swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Graham works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Graham is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Graham passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Nasri!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nasri bucks up and throws Graham to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Graham tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nasri swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nasri.
Graham closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nasri circles away.
Nasri swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Graham decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nasri's guard.
Graham won't allow Nasri to get back to his feet.
Nasri on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nasri tries to get out of the position.
Graham pushes down on Nasri's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Graham wants to work for an arm triangle but Nasri is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marcus Graham will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Lance Nasri's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Graham avoids the body shot from Nasri.
Graham shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nasri as he avoids it easily.
Nasri lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Graham circles away quickly and effectively.
Nasri lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Nasri just misses with a punch to the body.
Nasri lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Graham circles away quickly and effectively.
Graham shoots in and drives through. Nasri sprawls well.
Nasri lands with a shot to the body.
Lance Nasri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graham shoots in and drives through. Nasri sprawls well.
Lance Nasri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Graham.
Nasri throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Graham.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nasri but Nasri pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nasri misses with a lunging right hand

and Graham counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Graham slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Nasri is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Graham asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Graham is trying to move to mount but Nasri reverses beautifully and ends up in Graham's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nasri wants to control from the top but Graham keeps moving.
Nasri is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nasri lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Graham is looking to sweep but instead, Nasri has passed into half guard.

Nasri is looking for a kimura but Graham is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nasri to get the leverage.
Nasri looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Nasri wants to stand but Graham has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nasri wants to work for an arm triangle but Graham is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Graham is trying to stand up here but Nasri is controlling him well.

Graham looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nasri wants to pass to mount but Graham is defending the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nasri is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Lance Nasri did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Lance Nasri'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.

Nasri throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Nasri throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Graham fails with a takedown attempt.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nasri swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Graham shoots for a takedown but Nasri saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Graham shoots in and drives through. Nasri sprawls well.
Lance Nasri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Graham.

Graham drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nasri knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Graham on the ground.
Nasri wants to stand and escape but Graham is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nasri keeping full guard, as Graham tries to pass.
Graham is pushing down on Nasri's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nasri is fighting to maintain full guard but Graham has managed to sneak the leg through.

Graham is working for a kimura but Nasri is defending it quite comfortably.

Graham is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nasri has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Graham is trying to work for a kimura but Nasri is defending well.
Nasri is trying to stand back up but Graham is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Graham seems to be looking for submissions.
Graham works his way into side control.

Graham decides to stand up, so the ref orders Nasri to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Graham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nasri throws a one two combo.
Graham shoots for a double leg takedown but Nasri sprawls well. He's pushed Graham's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nasri keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nasri ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sloppy strikes from Nasri. Those never looked like landing.
Nasri scores with a one two! Graham had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Graham dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Lance Nasri's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Graham.
Nasri misses with a combination

and Graham decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nasri's guard.

Graham stands up from Nasri's guard - Graham perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nasri throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Some wild striking there from Nasri.
Nasri loads up on a big right hand but Graham slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nasri cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Graham uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nasri.
Nasri fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Nasri stuffs the takedown attempt from Graham. Graham gets slowly back to his feet.
Lance Nasri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Graham.
Nasri looks to land a combination but Graham avoids it well.
Nasri misses with the combination.
Graham fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham misses with a takedown
and Nasri counters with a right hand to the body.
Nasri will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Graham misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nasri throws a combination that misses
and Graham counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Graham takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Graham shoots in for a takedown but Nasri shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nasri stuffs the takedown.
Nasri swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nasri tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Graham was well out of range. Poor timing from Nasri.
Graham doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Nasri counters with a nice uppercut.
Graham shoots in but Nasri avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Graham takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nasri throws a one two combo.
Graham doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Nasri counters with a three punch combo that has Graham backing up. Graham nods at Nasri to acknowledge the strikes.
Graham shoots for a takedown but Nasri saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham dives in and grabs Nasri's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nasri pushes down on Graham's head and hops out.
A shot to the liver by Nasri. Beautiful body shot.
Graham takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nasri works over Graham's head and body with a nice combination.
Nasri fails to land with a series of punches.
Graham shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nasri throws an overhand right that lands on Graham's shoulder, as Graham tries to avoid the shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nasri scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Graham is trying to work for a sweep but Nasri has mounted him!
Graham slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

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 Lance Nasri.
I think Nasri 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Lance Nasri!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Marcus Graham!

The fight ends as a draw!