PBP Commentary

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

Graham
vs
Mitchell

154 cm
21
177 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

176 cm
25
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Malcolm Graham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gavin Mitchell!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Donatello Bradman and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mitchell with a nice cross.

Mitchell throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Graham was covering up waiting for the punch and Mitchell finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Graham looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Graham might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mitchell distracts Graham with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Graham working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mitchell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mitchell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Graham throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Graham is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mitchell defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham keeping full guard, as Mitchell tries to pass.

Graham has his foot on Mitchell's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mitchell works his way back into a safe position though.
Mitchell is looking to work some ground and pound but Graham has wrist control.

Graham is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mitchell tries to free his leg and advance position but Graham is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Graham is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Graham really is a fat lump.

Graham kicks Mitchell off and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Graham looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mitchell!

Graham tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Graham has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Graham decides to take the fight back to the feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Graham shoots in and gets a takedown into Mitchell's guard.
Graham won't allow Mitchell to sweep him here.
Graham is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Graham thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham wants to control from the top but Mitchell keeps moving.
Mitchell throws a couple of heel strikes.

Graham got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mitchell has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Graham has managed to get both his arms back between Mitchell's legs - danger averted.
Mitchell working a defensive guard but Graham passes into half guard.
Mitchell tries to kick Graham off but Graham keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Mitchell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mitchell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mitchell actively working from the bottom here.

Graham looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Graham is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mitchell sees it coming and defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mitchell wants to get back to full guard.
Graham looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mitchell with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Graham dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Graham tries to clinch up.
A head kick misses from Mitchell.

Mitchell closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Graham has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Mitchell is on him like a limpet, forcing Graham back against the cage.

Graham manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mitchell looking to sit in guard and control but Graham gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Graham not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mitchell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graham drops back looking for a leg! Mitchell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mitchell manages to kick Graham off! Graham jumps back into Mitchell's guard.
Graham controlling from the top position.
Graham loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mitchell wants to improve his position but instead Graham has moved into half guard.

Graham is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Graham slips a nice elbow through Mitchell's hands, connecting with Mitchell's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham is trying to control. Mitchell wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Graham is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Graham looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Graham is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mitchell sees it coming and defends easily.
Mitchell tries to roll over but Graham keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Graham is working away from the top position though.
Graham is controlling the pace.
Mitchell is trying to get back to full guard.
Mitchell keeps trying to improve his position.
Mitchell wants to control but Graham is keeping busy.
Malcolm Graham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Graham is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mitchell doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Graham.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell wants to improve his position but Graham is controlling well.

Mitchell is defending against the submission attempts here by Graham.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Graham is looking for a kimura but Mitchell is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Graham to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Graham dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mitchell gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Graham to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Graham drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Graham jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mitchell wants to stand but Graham is controlling the position.
Graham missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Graham sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mitchell looking to control.

Graham decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mitchell scores with a nice strike.

It looks like Malcolm Graham has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
That kick from Graham tenderised Mitchell's leg. Mitchell is trying to keep his angry face on.

Graham looking to score a takedown here. Mitchell is defending well but Graham drives through and ends up in Mitchell's guard.
Mitchell is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Graham stands up and waves to Mitchell to follow him.
A decent looking cross lands there for Mitchell.

Mitchell gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Graham to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Graham drops back looking for a leg! Mitchell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mitchell manages to kick Graham off! Graham jumps back into Mitchell's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell controls Graham momentarily but Graham frees himself.
Graham engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mitchell keeping moving, preventing Graham from controlling successfully.

Graham is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Graham drops back looking for a leg! Mitchell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mitchell manages to kick Graham off! Graham jumps back into Mitchell's guard.
Mitchell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Graham scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mitchell keeping moving, preventing Graham from controlling successfully.

Graham drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Graham jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mitchell looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Graham is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Graham throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mitchell keeping moving, preventing Graham from controlling successfully.

Graham is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Graham stands up from guard. Let's bang!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mitchell changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Graham looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Graham sneaks back into half guard.
Gavin Mitchell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malcolm Graham is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Graham is controlling Mitchell's trapped leg to prevent Mitchell from advancing to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malcolm Graham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Graham, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malcolm Graham!