PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fletcher Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raul Montano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fletcher Graham has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Graham
vs
Montano

210 cm
17
197 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

193 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 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, Raul Montano!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Montano drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Montano sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Graham keeping moving, preventing Montano from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Raul Montano was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Graham throws a head kick that Montano semi-blocks.
Montano moves to clinch but Graham breaks away

and Graham counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Montano tries to land knees in the clinch but Graham avoids the damage to the body.
Montano misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Graham.
Montano tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Graham avoids it.
Montano tries to land knees in the clinch but Graham avoids the damage to the body.
Graham avoiding damage as Montano throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham is looking to take this one to the mat.
Montano trying to land knees to the body.
Graham has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Montano is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Graham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Montano misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Graham.

Graham manages to break the clinch.
Montano 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.
Montano shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Graham sprawls well. Graham wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Montano gets slowly back to his feet.

Graham moves into the clinch.
Graham blocks an elbow strike.
Graham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Montano throws an elbow but it misses.
Graham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Graham really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Graham jumps guard but Montano turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fletcher Graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Montano working Graham over with knees to the body.
Graham is looking to break free of the clinch but Montano has double underhooks.
Graham avoiding damage as Montano throws knees to the body.
Montano missing with knees to the body.
Montano looks winded!
Montano comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Graham wants to break the clinch but can't.
Graham avoiding damage as Montano throws knees to the body.
Montano is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Graham is defending well for now.
Graham misses with a punch to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Graham is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Montano pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Montano scores a nice knee to the body.
Graham tries to pull guard but Montano won't allow it.
Montano tries to land knees in the clinch but Graham avoids the damage to the body.
Graham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham avoiding damage as Montano throws knees to the body.

Graham turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Montano wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Graham misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Graham decides to stand back up. Graham steps back and let's Montano get back to his feet.

Montano has Graham up against the cage in a clinch.

Graham manages to break the clinch.
Montano misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Graham clinches up with Montano and pushes him back against the cage.
Graham stalling against the cage.
Graham wants a takedown but no success here.
Graham is trying to maintain a safe position but Montano gets an underhook and turns Graham into the cage.
Montano lands a knee to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Montano lands a good knee to the midsection. Graham won't want to take too many of those.
Montano misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Graham.
Graham is trying to break free.
Montano lands an elbow just above Graham 's eye.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Montano tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Graham avoids it.
Graham managing to block the knees to the body from Montano.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Montano just misses with a elbow thrown towards Graham's brow.
Graham is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Montano dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Graham swats away the attempt to clinch by Montano.
Horrible takedown by Graham or perhaps it was just good defense by Montano which made him look bad.

Montano drives through and clinches with Graham against the cage.
Graham tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Montano smiles and moves away.
Montano wants to clinch.
Montano tries to clinch but Graham moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Graham or perhaps it was just good defense by Montano which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fletcher Graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Montano tries to clinch up but Graham circles away and keeps his distance.
Montano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Graham swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montano tries to clinch there but Graham circles away.

Montano drives through with a takedown into Graham's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Graham keeping moving, preventing Montano from controlling successfully.
Montano controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Montano trying to control the position from guard on top but Graham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Montano gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The fight stays on the outside here - Montano looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Montano looks to clinch

and Graham counters by clinching up.
Montano prevents a takedown attempt there.
Montano tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Graham avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Montano is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Graham is defending well for now.
Knees to the body from Montano.
Montano is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Graham is defending well for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Graham has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Montano avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Montano trying to land knees to the body.
Montano trying to land knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Montano.
Montano crunches a lovely knee into Graham's ribcage.
Graham is looking to take this one to the mat.
Knees to the body from Montano.
Montano is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Graham is defending well for now.
Montano tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Graham avoids it.
Graham wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Montano is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Graham is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montano tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Graham avoids it.
Montano working Graham over with knees to the body.
Graham can't break the clinch.
Graham tries to pull guard but Montano forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Knees to the body from Montano.
Graham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Graham tries for a takedown but Montano manages to get underhooks.
Montano comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Graham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Graham tries to pull guard but Montano forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Graham managing to block the knees to the body from Montano.
Montano misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Graham.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Montano throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Graham tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Montano is in Graham's guard.
Montano is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Graham keeping moving, preventing Montano from controlling successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Montano wants to stand but Graham is controlling his posture from full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Raul Montano.
Graham swats away the attempt to clinch by Montano.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Montano closes the distance looking to clinch
and Graham counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Montano thinking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Montano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Graham gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Montano trying to land knees to the body.
Montano lands a nice elbow.
Graham managing to block the knees to the body from Montano.
Graham wants to get back to striking at distance but Montano won't allow it.
Montano scores a nice knee to the body.
Montano putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Graham in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Graham avoiding damage as Montano throws knees to the body.
Montano is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Graham is defending well for now.
Graham fails to pull guard.
Graham tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Montano smiles and moves away.
Montano tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Graham counters with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Montano tries to clinch up but Graham circles away and keeps his distance.
Montano goes for a double leg but Graham avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Graham continues to drive forward.
Montano trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montano with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Graham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Montano missing with knees to the body.
Graham stalls.
Montano trying to land knees to the body.
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 Montano walks away with a smile on his face. Graham gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fletcher Graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Montano tries to clinch but Graham moves away
and Graham counters with a thumping low kick.
Montano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Montano dives in and grabs Graham's left leg, looking for a takedown. Graham pushes down on Montano's head and hops out.

Graham gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Graham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fletcher Graham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Graham gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Graham is trying to break the clinch but Montano has him pressed against the cage.
Montano tries to land knees in the clinch but Graham avoids the damage to the body.
Montano unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Montano missing with knees to the body.
Graham wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Graham tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Graham managing to block the knees to the body from Montano.
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 Montano walks away with a smile on his face. Graham gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Raul Montano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Montano wants to clinch but Graham slips to the side
and Graham counters with a head kick.
Montano throws a low kick but Graham moves out of range easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Graham throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Montano's waist but Montano gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Graham off to one side.
Graham misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Montano tries to clinch up
and Graham counters with a leg kick.

Montano gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Montano landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Graham is trying to break the clinch but Montano is controlling him.
Graham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Graham drags the fight down to the ground.
Graham is trying to keep Montano in close.

Montano stands up from Graham's guard - Montano perhaps looking for a knockout.
Graham defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Montano.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Montano 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.

Montano moves into the clinch.
Montano tries to land knees in the clinch but Graham avoids the damage to the body.
Graham is trying to pull guard but Montano has him pressed against the cage.
Montano lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Graham tries to break free but Montano pushes him back against the cage.
Graham managing to block the knees to the body from Montano.
Montano trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Graham has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Montano is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Montano landing knees to the body.
Fletcher Graham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raul Montano is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
With the fighters up against the cage, Graham throws an elbow but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raul Montano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Montano 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raul Montano!