PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shelby Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Bocceli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Graham
vs
Bocceli

178 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

193 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 2 - 3 - 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, Christian Bocceli!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bocceli tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Graham paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Graham seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Bocceli closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Graham did well to prevent Bocceli getting side control.
Graham is trying to get back to full guard.
Bocceli wants to lay and pray for a moment but Graham keeps working.
Graham trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bocceli wants to free his trapped foot but Graham is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Graham is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham trying to control here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Graham might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Graham is not content to let Bocceli control the position.
Graham wants to improve his position but Bocceli is controlling well.
Bocceli wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bocceli lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Shelby Graham has been cut.

Graham shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bocceli's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bocceli controls Graham momentarily but Graham frees himself.
Bocceli throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Bocceli looking for a guillotine here but Graham defends easily.
Bocceli is trying to keep Graham in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bocceli 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.
Graham postures up.
Bocceli lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bocceli trying to control but Graham is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Bocceli avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Graham is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bocceli passes into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bocceli wants to stand up but Graham manages to regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Bocceli dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shelby Graham's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bocceli throws a series of punches but Graham moves out of range.
Bocceli catches Graham with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Graham gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bocceli trying to control but Graham is working from the bottom.
Graham not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Graham has his foot on Bocceli's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bocceli works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Graham working for a triangle but Bocceli defends it easily.
Bocceli trying to control the position from guard on top but Graham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Graham could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bocceli stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Graham swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Graham knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bocceli on the ground.
Bocceli wants to control from the top but Graham keeps moving.
Bocceli is in close to Graham's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bocceli wants to stand but Graham has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Bocceli wants to pass the guard but Graham is keeping the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Shelby Graham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bocceli wants to clinch.

Graham looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bocceli wants to control but Graham is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Graham drops an elbow to the side of Bocceli's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham prevents Bocceli from improving his position.
Graham is thwarting Bocceli's attempts to control the position.
Christian Bocceli has got the better of the ground game so far.
Graham controlling the action here.
Graham stops Bocceli from getting back to his feet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bocceli tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Graham tries to sprawl but Bocceli drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Bocceli takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Graham is looking to improve his position.
Bocceli wants to stand but Graham has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Bocceli wants to free his trapped foot but Graham is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Graham looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Bocceli showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shelby Graham's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Graham on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Bocceli lands a head kick. Graham smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Graham showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bocceli.

Graham gets caught flat footed, as Bocceli shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bocceli trying to control the position from guard on top but Graham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Graham looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bocceli loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Graham has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bocceli can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bocceli trying to control the position from guard on top but Graham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Graham throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bocceli wants to pass the guard but Graham is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Bocceli drives through with a takedown into Graham's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Graham trying to control the position here.

Graham has his foot on Bocceli's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bocceli works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Graham keeping moving, preventing Bocceli from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bocceli is trying to keep Graham in close.
Bocceli throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Bocceli throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bocceli lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bocceli looking to pass the guard.
Graham keeping moving, preventing Bocceli from controlling successfully.
Shelby Graham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Christian Bocceli is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Graham escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bocceli gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Christian Bocceli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bocceli 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Christian Bocceli!