PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fletcher Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexio Denilson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Graham
vs
Denilson

210 cm
17
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fletcher Graham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alexio Denilson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Luis Engracia and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Denilson. Graham does a little dance to reset his feet.
Graham misses with a two punch combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Denilson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Graham jumps guard but Denilson stands there with Graham around his waist. Graham gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Graham keeps control of Denilson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Denilson takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Alexio Denilson has been cut.
Graham tries to pull guard but Denilson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Graham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Graham tries to clinch there but Denilson circles away.
Denilson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Graham manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Denilson has closed the distance and engaged Graham in a clinch.
Graham tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Denilson smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fletcher Graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Denilson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Denilson wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denilson swats away the attempt to clinch by Graham.
Graham tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Denilson swivels and escapes.
Nice sprawl there from Denilson as Graham shoots in.
Graham shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Denilson but Denilson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Denilson feints and as Graham raises his hands in defense, Denilson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Denilson gets to his feet. Graham looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Denilson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Graham napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Graham is breathing heavily.
Denilson passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Graham!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Denilson working Graham over with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denilson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Graham in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Denilson dominating with strikes here.
Denilson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Graham is bucking up trying to escape but Denilson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Denilson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Denilson looking to isolate an arm here. Graham doesn't see it coming and as Denilson extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Denilson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alexio Denilson!