PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josh Laston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ephraim Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laston's entrance music is The Nortorious Big feature Bone Thug N Harmony-Notorious Thugs. A fine choice. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Laston
vs
Graham

185 cm
20
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
187 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

LOD: Affordable Quality

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Laston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ephraim Graham!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Laston closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Laston lands in his opponent's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Laston is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Laston wants to pass the guard but Graham is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Laston throws a big elbow that misses.
Laston stopping the sweep attempt from Graham.
Graham lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Laston!
Graham looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Laston is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Laston trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Graham content just to control the position here.
Laston is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Graham controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laston wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Ephraim Graham has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Graham has closed the distance and engaged Laston in a clinch.
Graham lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Graham scores with a hook to the body.
Laston takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Josh Laston has been cut.
Graham lands a nice shot to the body.
Laston looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Graham with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham stalls.

Graham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Graham looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Graham moves into range and clinches up with Laston.
Laston takes an elbow to the temple.
Nice elbow from Graham.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Graham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laston looks to land a combination but Graham avoids it well.
Laston shoots in and drives through. Graham sprawls well.
Ephraim Graham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laston is breathing heavily.
Graham tries to clinch up.
Graham throws a head kick that Laston semi-blocks.
Graham's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Graham duly obliges.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Graham rushes Laston and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Laston is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Graham is defending well.
A short right from Graham on the inside.

Graham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Laston shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Graham defends it nicely.

Graham moves into range and clinches up with Laston.

Graham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Laston with that takedown attempt.
Graham throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Laston.

Graham closes the distance and pushes Laston back into the cage.
Graham connects with a nasty looking knee right to Laston's face.

Graham breaks the clinch.

Graham has closed the distance and engaged Laston in a clinch.
Graham lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Laston.
Laston is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Laston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graham works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Graham.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Graham.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham crunches a lovely knee into Laston's ribcage.
Graham lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Graham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Graham fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Graham closes the distance and pushes Laston back into the cage.
Laston being controlled against the cage.

Graham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Graham tries to bum rush Laston with a series of wild strikes but Laston uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Graham closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Graham digs a right hand underneath Laston's ribcage. Laston let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Graham comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Laston has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Graham avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Graham lands an elbow inside that Laston shrugs off.
Graham lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Laston backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laston has Graham pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Graham manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Graham with a knee to the head.
Laston tries for a takedown. No joy.
Graham lands a knee to the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Graham takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The crowd are getting on Graham's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

Graham breaks the clinch.
Laston 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.
Graham lands a nice hook to Laston's body. Laston takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Graham moves into the clinch successfully.
Graham works on Laston's body with a couple of short punches.
Graham dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Graham obliges.
Graham stalling in the clinch.

Graham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Graham fails with an attempt to clinch.
Graham's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Graham duly obliges.
Graham lands a two punch combo.

Graham gets a clinch.
A right hand to the body from Graham.
A body shot lands from Graham.
Laston is working for takedown but Graham is calmly controlling the position for now.
Graham landing knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice left hand lands by Graham.

Graham breaks the clinch.

Graham closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Graham.
Graham is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Graham lands a shoulder strike.
Graham lands a knee to the body.
Graham is pressed up against the cage. Laston has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Graham down to the mat. Graham avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Graham rushes Laston and presses him up against the cage.
Graham taking a breather.
Laston changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Graham fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Graham connects with a high kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Laston dives in for a single leg takedown but Graham sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Graham breaks the clinch.
Graham throws a series of punches but Laston moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ephraim Graham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Josh Laston's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Graham connects with a high kick.
Sloppy strikes from Graham. Those never looked like landing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Laston is defended easily by Graham.

Graham darts in and clinches Laston up against the cage.
Graham is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Graham lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Graham stalls.
Graham is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Graham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Graham stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Graham wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Laston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laston takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Graham clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Graham lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Graham has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Graham lands a slapping body shot.
Ephraim Graham seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Graham pushes Laston up against the cage in a clinch.
Graham lands an elbow inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Graham continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Graham landing knees to the body.
Graham digs a right hand underneath Laston's ribcage. Laston let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Graham breaks the clinch.

Graham clinches up with Laston and pushes him back against the cage.
Graham lands a good knee to the midsection. Laston won't want to take too many of those.
Laston's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Graham scores with a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Graham is pushing Laston up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Laston is trying to force a seperation but Graham has the dominant position.
A left hand lands to the body for Graham.
Graham creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Laston's defenses.
Ephraim Graham seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Graham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Josh Laston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Graham fails in his attempt to clinch.
Graham lands with a nice combination. Laston backs away looking to recover.
Graham swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Laston misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Graham gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Laston changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Graham fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Graham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Graham lands with a slapping head kick.

Graham moves into the clinch.
Graham throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Graham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Laston closes this distance looking for a takedown but Graham circles away.
Laston shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Graham but Graham pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Graham closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Graham lands a nice knee to the body.
Graham lands a knee to the head.
Graham dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Graham manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Graham misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ephraim Graham is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Laston tries to score a power double leg takedown but Graham sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Laston somewhat.

Graham fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Laston, pushing him back against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Graham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Graham throws a sloppy head kick and Laston moves out of range easily.
Graham doesn't manage to clinch there - Laston circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Graham gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Laston accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ephraim Graham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Graham winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ephraim Graham!
Josh Laston was interviewed post fight and said 'I loss, so what I will come back, and you will see a better me.'.