PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Malcolm Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaiser Korga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Graham
vs
Korga

154 cm
21
177 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

188 cm
24
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite 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 3 - 4 - 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, Kaiser Korga!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Eliza Hachem and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Graham closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Korga to the mat! Korga manages to get full guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Graham loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Graham throws a big right hand that misses.
Graham trying to control but Korga is working from the bottom.

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

Korga has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Graham can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Graham drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Korga dives on top into guard.

Graham looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Korga loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korga wants to control from the top but Graham keeps moving.
Graham utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Graham preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Korga has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Korga trying to control the position from guard on top but Graham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Graham really is a fat lump.
Korga controls from within his opponent's guard.
Graham preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Graham is working an open guard so Korga takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Graham fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Korga.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Korga wants to control from the top but Graham keeps moving.
Korga in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Korga stands and steps away. Graham gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Graham enables Korga to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Graham manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Korga trying to control but Graham is working from the bottom.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korga in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Korga wants to control from the top but Graham keeps moving.
Korga throws a strike but Graham rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Korga is adopting a defensive guard.
Graham wants to stand but Korga has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Graham working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korga manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Korga can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Graham is looking to escape.

Korga is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Graham has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Graham avoids a series of strikes thrown by Korga.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Korga throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Graham keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaiser Korga dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Malcolm Graham's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Korga fails with an attempt to clinch.
Korga wants to clinch up but Graham keeps it at a distance.

Korga takes the fight into the clinch.
Korga pressing his opponent against the cage.

Korga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Korga tries to clinch up but Graham circles away and keeps his distance.

Korga bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Graham gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Korga is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Graham can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Kaiser Korga has got the better of the ground game so far.

Korga looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham is trying desperately to improve position.
Korga thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Korga punching from mount but Graham doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Korga goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Graham turns into him and now he's in Korga's guard.
Graham slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Korga.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Graham is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Graham is just content to waste time from the top position. Korga takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Graham looking to sit in guard and control but Korga gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Graham looking for a sweep. Not yet Graham, not yet.
Korga is looking to work some ground and pound but Graham has wrist control.

Korga stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Korga shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korga missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Korga is pressing down on Graham's thigh, looking to free his foot. Graham is holding on for now.
Graham keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Korga wants to control but Graham is keeping him busy.
Korga throwing shots but Graham is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Korga content to control rather than advance.
Korga not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham blocking the ground and pound attempt from Korga.
Korga is trying to control. Graham wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Graham wants to improve his position but Korga is controlling well.

Korga stands up out of the half guard.
Graham keeps the fight on the outside.

Korga has closed the distance and engaged Graham in a clinch.

Korga has clasped his hands together around Graham's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Graham is looking to reverse the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Korga in side control, throwing shots but Graham defends.
Graham prevents Korga from moving into mount.
Korga in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaiser Korga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Malcolm Graham's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Korga has Graham up against the cage in a clinch.
Korga is stalling here.
Graham fails to pull guard.

Korga pulls guard successfully.
Graham might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Graham postures up.
Korga is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Graham is trying to stand up here but Korga is controlling him well.
Korga not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Graham avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Korga.
Graham is looking to improve his position.
Korga thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham has hold of Korga's hands but Korga slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Graham pushes Korga off and gets back to his feet.
Korga tries to close the distance and clinch up but Graham swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Graham blocks a head kick by Korga.

Korga has taken the fight to the clinch.
Graham is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Korga to keep the fight standing.
Graham tries to pull guard but Korga won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcolm Graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Korga breaks from the clinch.
Korga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Graham paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Malcolm Graham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Graham gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Korga to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Korga throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korga trying to control the position from guard on top but Graham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Korga won't allow Graham to get back to his feet.
Graham can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Korga controls the pace.
Korga working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Graham is working an open guard so Korga takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Korga forces Graham back against the cage and clinches.

Korga breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Korga cracks Graham with a right hand to the side of the head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Graham is defended easily by Korga.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Korga gets a takedown into half guard.

Korga postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Graham to stand up.
Korga has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Korga scores with a takedown into Graham's guard.
Korga controlling from the top position.

Graham working for a triangle but Korga defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korga throwing strikes but missing.
Kaiser Korga is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Korga looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Korga loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaiser Korga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Korga 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaiser Korga!