PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alex Graves (ranked 3494 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Leen (ranked 17680 p4p, 0 weight class). Graves comes to the cage accompanied by London Calling. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Graves
vs
Leen

190 cm
39
198 lbs
19 - 22 - 0

186 cm
26
189 lbs
3 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 22 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Jim Leen!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Andrew Berry and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graves tries for a takedown but Leen circles away easily
and Leen counters with a nice uppercut.
Leen throws out a leg kick but Graves moves out of range and Leen only half commits.
Leen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Graves gets a double leg takedown into Leen's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Graves pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Leen is keeping the position for now.
Graves works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Graves is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Graves is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leen is trying to control but can't.

Graves is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Leen sees it coming and defends easily.
Graves frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graves swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Leen is now in Graves's guard. A big mistake from Graves there, giving up the dominant position!

Graves looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Graves has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Leen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Leen won't allow Graves to sweep him here.

Graves looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Leen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Graves throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Leen escapes and throws Graves's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Graves is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Graves seems a little lost for a moment, as Leen dominates the positioning.
Graves is looking for a sweep.
Leen works to advance to full mount. Graves defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Leen controlling from mount.
Graves is squirming around, avoiding Leen's attempts to control the action.
Graves is in all sorts of trouble here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leen controlling from the full mount.
Graves keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Leen tries to control but Graves wriggling away.
Graves can't escape the position.
Graves is working hard here to advance position.
Leen tries to control but Graves wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves is wriggling around trying to escape.
Leen content just to control the position here.
Graves is trying to escape the mount.
Leen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Graves is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leen controlling the pace for now.
Graves is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Leen dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Graves walks forward, straight into a front kick from Leen.
Graves shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Leen pinned against the cage. Leen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Leen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Graves has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Leen throws a push kick but Graves slaps the foot to one side.
Nice straight punches there by Leen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Leen.

Leen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leen keeping full guard, as Graves tries to pass.
Leen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Graves's guard.

Graves is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leen controlling from the top position.
Graves tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Graves had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Leen defends it easily.

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

Graves is looking for a triangle but Leen pushes his legs off easily.
Alex Graves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Leen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Leen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Graves working for a triangle but Leen defends it easily.
Leen won't allow Graves to sweep him here.

Graves is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Graves has his foot on Leen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Leen works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Graves throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Graves can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Leen controls the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Graves shoots in but no luck this time.
Leen thumps Graves with a low kick.
Leen thuds his shin into the meat of Graves's side.
Leen scores with a hook to the body. Graves takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Graves checks a low kick from Leen.
Graves walks into a jab.
Jim Leen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Graves fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Graves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Graves.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Leen! But no joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Graves as he checks the leg kick.
Leen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Leen cracks Graves with an open hand slap.
Graves walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Leen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Graves appears to be looking for a big counter.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Graves has his takedown stuffed
and Leen counters with a nice leg kick.
Graves goes for a double leg but Leen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Leen continues to drive forward.
Leen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Leen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Jim Leen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A low kick from Leen misses

and Graves counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Graves is looking to pass Leen's guard but actually Leen recovers to full guard.
Leen is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Leen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Graves takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Leen leaves Graves with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Leen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Graves.
Leen throws a head kick that misses.
Graves steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Leen. That one must have hurt.
Alex Graves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Graves moves out of range of the body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leen scores with a head kick. Graves tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Graves darts in looking for a takedown but Leen gets double underhooks and turns Graves into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Graves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Graves throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Leen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Graves is in Leen's guard.
Leen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Graves's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leen stays in close to Graves's body and controls the position.

Graves is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

Graves throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Graves looking for a guillotine here but Leen defends easily.
Leen looking to pass the guard.
Jim Leen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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

Graves looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Leen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Graves throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Leen escapes and throws Graves's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves seems a little lost for a moment, as Leen dominates the positioning.
Graves is trying to get back to half guard.
Graves manages to work his way to half guard, despite Leen's best efforts.
Leen not doing much here.

Graves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Leen pulls his head out easily.
Leen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Graves wants to get back to full guard but Leen has passed into side control.

That's four 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.
Graves is looking for a sweep.
Leen is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Graves's shoulder. That is not cool.
Graves is looking to reverse the position.
Leen controls the position.
Let's hope that Leen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Graves is looking to regain half guard here but Leen keeps moving and retains side control.
Leen taking a breather here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
More stalling from Leen.
Alex Graves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Graves is trying to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Leen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Leen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Leen!
After winning the bout, Jim Leen thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Alex Graves was interviewed post fight and said 'This isn't over. That was luck and we will be back to breaking arms and spirits very soon!'.