PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Graves (ranked 3339 p4p, 458 weight class) and Johnny Lydon (ranked 2220 p4p, 331 weight class). Graves comes to the cage accompanied by London Calling. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Graves
vs
Lydon

190 cm
42
198 lbs
21 - 26 - 0

183 cm
22
205 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 21 - 26 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Johnny Lydon!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graves shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lydon defends it nicely.

Graves tries to keep at a distance but Lydon has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lydon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Graves's elbow.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lydon creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lydon can't find room to land a body shot as Graves controls the action.
Graves goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lydon prevents it.
Lydon tries to stall but Graves uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Graves tries for a takedown but Lydon manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Graves. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lydon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lydon drives through and clinches with Graves against the cage.
Graves tries to score a body lock takedown but Lydon shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Lydon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Lydon has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lydon tries to work over Graves's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lydon told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Graves tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lydon pushes Graves back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lydon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Graves's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lydon doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Graves looking for a takedown.
Graves is trying to drag Lydon to the mat but Lydon just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Graves changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lydon fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Graves looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Lydon darts in and clinches Graves up against the cage.
Lydon is leaning against Graves and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Lydon gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Graves.
Lydon gets underhooks to prevent Graves's takedown attempt.
Graves misses with a hook from the clinch.

Lydon breaks the clinch.
Lydon swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lydon falls off balance throwing a combination

and Graves counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Graves.
Graves trying to control but Lydon is working from the bottom.
Lydon is looking to stand up but Graves isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves wants to control from the top but Lydon keeps moving.
Graves advances position into side control!

Graves tries for a kimura but Lydon is defending well.

Graves is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lydon is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lydon is pushing Graves's head away, looking to escape. Graves manages to hold on to the position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Lydon really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Graves. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Graves tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Graves is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Lydon is trying to escape and Graves transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Lydon is forced to tap! Nice work there by Graves! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alex Graves!
After winning the bout, Alex Graves thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.