PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Grady Potter (ranked 9941 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valera Razum (ranked 8009 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Potter
vs
Razum

198 cm
21
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Grady Potter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Valera Razum!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Potter gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Razum drags the fight down to the ground.

Razum had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Potter defends it easily.
Potter lands a couple of elbows.
Potter loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Razum utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Potter throws a big right hand that misses.

Razum is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Potter is looking to work some ground and pound but Razum has wrist control.
Potter scoring with some ground and pound.
Potter really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Razum is on top in guard.

Potter pushes Razum off and gets back to his feet.
Razum circles away from the clinch attempt.
Razum throws a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potter is looking to clinch but Razum is avoiding it.
Razum throws a leg kick but Potter moved away.
Razum shoots in looking for a takedown. Potter tries to sprawl out of it but Razum keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Potter manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Potter tries to counter by clinching up but Razum breaks away and moves out of range.

Potter gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Potter tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Razum smiles and moves away.
Potter lands with a kick to the temple. Razum shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Razum misses with a jab, cross combination.
As Razum tries to get set, Potter tries to push him back and clinch up but Razum manages to avoid the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Potter darts in and clinches Razum up against the cage.
Potter wants a takedown but no success here.
Potter tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grady Potter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Potter tries to pull guard but Razum forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Razum wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Potter has him pressed against the cage.
Razum is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Potter fails to pull guard.
Potter is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Razum to keep the fight standing.
Potter tries to pull guard but Razum holds him up against the cage and eventually Potter drops back down to his feet.
Potter gets underhooks to prevent Razum's takedown attempt.

Potter pulls Razum into guard.
Razum throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Razum missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Razum drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Potter manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Razum has Potter in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potter throwing strikes from guard but Razum blocks nicely.
Potter being controlled here momentarily.
Potter is looking to work some ground and pound but Razum has wrist control.
Razum 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.
Potter throws a big elbow that misses.
Potter is in close to Razum's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Potter wants to stand but Razum is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Potter postures up in Razum's guard and throws a big left but Razum blocks it.
Razum 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.
Potter postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Potter throws a big elbow that misses.
Razum keeping moving, preventing Potter from controlling successfully.
Potter stopping the sweep attempt from Razum.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Potter is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Razum is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Razum has escaped and now he's on top!

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Potter is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grady Potter dominated that round.
That's time! Potter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Razum pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Razum tries for a takedown but Potter circles away easily

and Potter counters by moving into the clinch.
Potter wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Potter is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Razum can do to turn this around?
Potter tries to score a body lock takedown but Razum shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Razum has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Potter is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Potter is looking to take this one to the mat.
Razum fails to pull guard.
Grady Potter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valera Razum.

Razum successfully pulls guard.

Potter is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Razum is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Razum has escaped and now he's on top!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Potter wants to stand up but Razum is controlling him.
Potter not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Potter manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Potter manages to pull guard.
Potter is wriggling around but Razum manages to pass to half guard.
Potter pushes Razum off looking to stand but Razum dives back in and keeps control.
Razum stalling.
Potter tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Razum manages to move to mount!
Razum trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Valera Razum has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potter avoids a series of strikes thrown by Razum.
Potter is in all sorts of trouble here.
Razum takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Razum throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Potter because Razum loaded up on that one.
Razum trying to control but Potter is having none of it.
Potter tries to hold on but Razum postures up.
Potter is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Potter wants to hold on but Razum pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potter is desperately trying to improve his position but Razum has a good base and remains in mount.
Razum trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Potter sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Razum thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Potter's head.
Razum trying to pass the guard but Potter defending well.
Potter tries to kick Razum off but Razum keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Potter wants to stand back up but Razum manages to pass into side control.
Potter manages to work his way to half guard, despite Razum's best efforts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Potter pushes Razum off but Razum dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Razum takes a little break here. Potter wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Potter is trying to work for a sweep but Razum has mounted him!
Potter is looking to improve his position but Razum isn't that keen on the idea.
Potter tries to buck Razum off but he can't manage it.
Razum looking to control but Potter is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Potter is looking to improve his position but Razum isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Potter is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valera Razum showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Razum misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Razum shoots in for a double leg but Potter sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Razum misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Razum shoots in for a double leg but Potter sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Grady Potter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valera Razum.

Razum clinches with his opponent.
Potter tries to pull guard but Razum won't allow it.
Potter tries to pull guard but Razum holds him up against the cage and eventually Potter drops back down to his feet.
Razum jumps guard but Potter turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Razum takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Potter has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Razum is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Potter breaks the clinch.
Potter stuffs the takedown attempt from Razum. Razum gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Razum misses with a takedown

and Potter counters by moving into the clinch.
Razum prevents a body shot from Potter.
Potter jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Razum walks away with a smile on his face. Potter gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Potter tries to close the distance and clinch but Razum swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Potter tries to clinch up but Razum circles away and keeps his distance.
A head kick misses from Razum.
Potter defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Razum.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Potter is trying to pull guard but Razum has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Potter jumps into guard, dragging Razum to the mat.

Potter has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Razum is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Razum manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Potter tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Razum smiles and moves away.
Potter tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Razum paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Razum has his takedown stuffed

and Potter counters by clinching up.
Potter jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Razum walks away with a smile on his face. Potter gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Potter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Razum gets tackled into the cage by Potter. Potter maintains the clinch.
Razum is looking to control Potter's arms but Potter gets an underhook and turns him. Now Razum has his back to the cage.
Potter has Razum pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Razum manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Potter jumps guard but Razum turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Razum wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Razum is working for takedown but Potter is calmly controlling the position for now.
Razum tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Grady Potter has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Potter is trying to pull guard but Razum turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Potter tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Razum just stands there and leans against the cage.

Potter pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Potter tries to clinch up.
As Potter backs off Razum throws a huge counter combo but Potter manages to avoid it all.
Razum closes this distance looking for a takedown but Potter circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potter moves in looking to clinch but Razum pushes him off.
Razum throws a counter combo.
Potter tries to clinch up.
Razum closes the distance and clinches up with Potter, looking for a takedown. Razum pushes Potter against the cage but Potter circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Potter is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Razum.
Razum circles away from the clinch attempt
and Razum counters with a left and a right that stings Potter.

Potter has taken the fight to the clinch.
Potter tries to pull guard but Razum won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Potter decides to pull guard.
Razum controlling from the top position.
Potter wants to sweep here but Razum controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grady Potter showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Potter has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grady Potter!