PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shelby Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Athos Pigna (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
Pigna

178 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shelby Graham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Athos Pigna!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pigna tries to clinch but Graham is having none of it.

Pigna closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Graham did well to prevent Pigna getting side control.
Pigna seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Graham does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Graham keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pigna throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Graham controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Pigna is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pigna working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Graham slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.

Graham pushes Pigna off and gets back to his feet.
Pigna stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pigna wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pigna closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Pigna really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Graham. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Graham struggling a bit here.
Graham manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Pigna is looking to get back to full guard here but Graham has managed to pass to side control instead.
Pigna is trying to improve his position.
Graham connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Pigna some visible discomfort.
Pigna looks to move to half guard but instead Graham has passed into mount! Damn!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pigna tries to reverse the position but Graham maintains control.
Pigna is trying to stand up.
Pigna tries to hold on but Graham pushes him away.
Pigna looks winded!
Pigna wants to get back to his feet.
Graham working Pigna over with strikes here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Graham fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Graham lands a big shot there that rocks Pigna but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pigna is trying to escape the mount.
BOOM! Graham connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Graham is landing with some decent strikes but Pigna is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Graham unloading with bombs!
Graham is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Graham can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Pigna is looking to escape.
Pigna working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham raining down hammerfists from mount.
Graham dominating with strikes here.
Graham working Pigna over with strikes here.

It looks like Athos Pigna has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Graham landing shots from mount.
Graham looking to finish Pigna with some ground and pound. This is bad for Pigna!
Pigna taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shelby Graham dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Athos Pigna's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Graham shoots in and drives through. Pigna sprawls well.
Shelby Graham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Pigna moves into range and clinches up with Graham.

Graham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pigna tries to clinch but Graham is having none of it.
Pigna tries to clinch there but Graham circles away.

Pigna closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Graham's guard.
Pigna has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Graham is proving hard to escape from.
Pigna is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pigna passes Graham's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Graham manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Shelby Graham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pigna is posturing up here but Graham has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Pigna tries to roll out but it's too tight and Pigna has to tap! Slick submission there by Graham!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Shelby Graham!