PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dude Graham (ranked 5928 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miki Starikov (ranked 5887 p4p, 547 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
Starikov

175 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Inexperienced

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dude Graham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miki Starikov!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donk. Starikov catches Graham right on the button with a cross.

Graham gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Graham has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Starikov regains guard immediately.

Starikov pushes Graham off and gets back to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Starikov. Graham does a little dance to reset his feet.
Starikov throws a nice looking combination but Graham bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Starikov throws a shot from downtown. Graham moves away and avoids it.

Graham shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Starikov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Graham just content to control the position.
Starikov pushes Graham away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Graham gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Graham decides to stand back up. Graham steps back and let's Starikov get back to his feet.
Graham takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Graham shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starikov misses with a two punch combination.
Sloppy strikes from Starikov. Those never looked like landing.
Starikov dips to his left and cracks Graham with an uppercut!

Graham scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Starikov throws Graham to one side and escapes!

Graham decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Starikov manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Graham slips under a jab from Starikov.
Graham displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Starikov throws out the jab.

Graham throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Starikov was covering up waiting for the punch and Graham finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Starikov wants to get back to his feet but Graham passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Graham working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Starikov pushes Graham off looking to stand but Graham dives back in and keeps control.
Graham slows the pace down in half guard.

Graham escapes and gets back to his feet.
Starikov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Starikov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Graham circles away quickly and effectively.
As Starikov looks to move away, Graham throws a big counter combo but Starikov just gets out of the way.
Graham uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Starikov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starikov lunges at Graham with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Graham's hand.
Starikov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Graham manages to avoid it.
Starikov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Starikov misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Graham counters by clinching up.

Graham breaks from the clinch.
Starikov misses with a hook. Graham ducked under it nicely.
Starikov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Graham moves away.
Starikov lands a body shot.

Graham shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Graham stands up from Starikov's guard - Graham perhaps looking for a knockout.
Starikov ducks under a wild hook from Graham.
Nice jab there from Starikov.
Graham throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Starikov.
Miki Starikov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Starikov tests Graham's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Graham slips a jab and a cross from Starikov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Graham moves into the clinch.
Starikov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Graham has him pressed against the cage.

Graham pulls Starikov into guard.

Starikov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Starikov throws a series of punches but Graham avoids them all with ease.
Starikov swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Graham moves into the clinch.
Starikov tries to break free but Graham pushes him back against the cage.

Graham breaks from the clinch.
Starikov lands a glancing blow to the side of Graham's head.
Starikov scores with a nice head shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Graham gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Graham is breathing heavily.
Starikov is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Graham asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miki Starikov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Starikov misses with a double jab

and Graham counters by clinching up.

Graham decides to pull guard.

Starikov stands and steps away. Graham gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Starikov cracks Graham with an open hand slap.

Graham moves into the clinch.
Graham taking a breather.

Graham has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Starikov uses from the top position.

Graham looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graham is adopting a defensive guard.
Graham looking for a sweep. Not yet Graham, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham is controlling Starikov's posture.

Starikov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Starikov misses the jab.
Graham moves forwards but Starikov connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Graham fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Starikov, pushing him back against the cage.

Graham pulls guard effortlessly.
Starikov wants to stand but Graham has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham wants to sweep but no luck.

Graham is working an open guard so Starikov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Starikov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Graham holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Starikov is trying to break free.
Graham will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Starikov up against the cage.

Graham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Graham clinches with his opponent.
Graham has Starikov pressed against the cage, preventing Starikov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Starikov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Starikov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Graham jumps guard.
Graham has control of Starikov's left arm, preventing Starikov from doing any damage.
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.
Graham throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Graham looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Graham has a closed guard, preventing Starikov from standing up.

Starikov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Graham misses with a takedown attempt - Starikov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Graham dodges the punch combination from Starikov.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Starikov.
Starikov misses with a looping left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dude Graham dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Graham moves into range and clinches up with Starikov.

Graham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Starikov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Graham holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Starikov wants to take the fight to the mat but Graham manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Graham pulls guard successfully.
Graham has control of Starikov's left arm, preventing Starikov from doing any damage.
Dude Graham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Starikov wants to stand but Graham has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Starikov stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Starikov throws a shot from downtown. Graham moves away and avoids it.
Graham keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Starikov.

Graham has Starikov up against the cage in a clinch.
Starikov working hard to break the clinch.

Graham decides to pull guard.
Graham throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Graham will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Graham 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 frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starikov squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Graham lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Starikov is trying to stand up.
Graham working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Starikov tries to buck Graham off but Graham takes his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Graham.
Graham controlling from the back.
Starikov trying to get back to his feet but Graham is in full control for now.

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.
What can Starikov do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Graham patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Graham working for a choke but Starikov is defending well.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Graham. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

And that's the end of the fight!
Dude Graham showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Graham 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dude Graham!