PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Angus Graham (ranked 1795 p4p, 2395 weight class) and John Russo (ranked 236 p4p, 307 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that John Russo was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Graham
vs
Russo

186 cm
26
212
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
219
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Angus Graham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Russo!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russo keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Graham thows a left - swing and a miss!
Graham ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Graham throws the left hand but Russo avoids the punch easily.
Russo scores with a jab to the head.

It looks like Angus Graham has been cut.
Graham takes one to the side of the head.

Russo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Graham tries to get to full guard but Russo has control of the leg.
Russo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Russo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Russo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Graham trying to control here.
Russo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Graham defending well though.
Russo passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Graham!
Graham on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Graham tries to get out of the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Russo connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Graham holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Russo tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Graham wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Russo.
Russo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Russo throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Graham gets back to half guard.
Russo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Russo is nestled in close to Graham, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Russo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Graham knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Russo on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo misses with a head shot. Graham uses the momentum to regain guard.
Russo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Russo looking to pass the guard.
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 is pulling down on Russo's head to control his posture.
Russo throwing strikes from guard but Graham blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham keeping moving, preventing Russo from controlling successfully.
Russo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Graham is keeping the position for now.
Russo throws an elbow that misses. Graham uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Russo's guard. Nice move by Graham!

Graham controls from within his opponent's guard.
Graham advances to half guard.
Russo is pressing down on Graham's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Graham is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Graham looking to sit in guard and control but Russo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo postures up in Graham's guard and throws a big left but Graham blocks it.
Russo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Russo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Russo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Graham preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Russo looking to sit in guard and control but Graham gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Russo wants to sweep here but Graham controlling him for the moment.
Graham is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russo wants to stand up but Graham is controlling him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Russo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Angus Graham's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Russo catches Graham with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Graham slips a straight right by Russo.
Graham goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Graham definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Graham leaves Russo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Russo shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Graham is trying to defend but Russo finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Graham blocking the ground and pound attempt from Russo.
Graham won't allow Russo to pass to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graham wants to improve his position but Russo is controlling well.
Graham is controlling Russo's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Russo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Graham regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Russo.
Graham keeping full guard, as Russo tries to pass.
Russo wants to control from the top but Graham keeps moving.
Russo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Russo postures up in Graham's guard and throws a big left but Graham blocks it.
Russo throwing strikes but missing.
Graham preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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.
Russo stays in close to Graham's body and controls the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Russo looking to pass the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Russo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Graham is fending him off so far but Russo persists. Nope, Graham circles away and we're back to standing.
Graham is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Russo.
Graham tries a head kick but it misses.
Graham fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Russo checks it well.
Russo avoids the body shot from Graham.
Graham takes one to the side of the head.
Graham paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Russo takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Nice sprawl there from Graham as Russo shoots in.
Angus Graham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Russo.
Graham gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Russo throws a hook to the side of Graham's head but Graham sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Russo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Graham looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Russo instigates a clinch.
Graham scores with a shoulder strike.
Russo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham blocks an uppercut.
Russo is working for takedown but Graham is calmly controlling the position for now.
Russo is looking to take this one to the mat.
Russo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Graham avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Russo takes a shot to the head.
Russo wants to take the fight to the mat but Graham manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Russo is breathing heavily.
Graham throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Russos head.

Graham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Graham throws a body punch but Russo moves out of range.
Graham misses with a looping right.
A big right from Russo misses.
Graham misses with a kick to the body.
Russo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Graham.
Graham drops his hands momentarily and Russo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Russo swings for the body but Graham moves out of range.
Graham lands with a shot to the body.
Russo throws a body shot but no joy.
It appears Graham was looking to counter with a kick there.
Graham connects with a leg kick.
Russo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Graham. Graham obviously looking to wear him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Russo keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Graham fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Graham misses the target.
Russo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Graham takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Russo might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Graham misses with a straight right.
Russo lands with an overhand left.
A swing and a miss from Graham.
Graham lands with a good body shot.
Russo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Graham but Graham pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Graham connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Russo moves in looking to clinch but Graham pushes him off.
We've been informed that Russo has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Russo lands a jab to Graham's midsection.
Graham lands with a nice body punch.
Russo lands a really nice looking cross but Graham seems unphased.
Graham connects with a leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Graham.
Graham lands with an uppercut that bounces Russo off the cage and back into range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Angus Graham dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Angus Graham's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Graham throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Russo sees it coming and avoids it easily.

It looks like John Russo has been cut.
Russo connects with the punch.
Russo lands a jab to the nose.
Russo checks a low kick from Graham.
Graham moves out of range of the strikes.
Graham misses with a head kick.
Graham throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Russo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Russo throws out a loose jab but Graham uses good head movement to avoid it.
Russo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Graham.
Nice defenses there by Russo.
Graham tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Russo was well out of range. Poor timing from Graham.
Angus Graham is winning the standup battle so far.
Graham defending well as Russo loads up on a big left hand.
Graham looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Russo throws a jab when Graham was well out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russo bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Graham's head.
Russo jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Graham is rocked!
Graham uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Russo.
Russo blocks a jab.
Graham keeps Russo at a distance using the push kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Russo avoids the head kick by Graham.
Russo looks to land a left hand but Graham moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham connects with a good right hand that stumbles Russo. Russo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Graham waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Russo.
Angus Graham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Graham fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Russo.
Russo misses with a wild body shot.
Graham staying out of range there.
Russo throws a lazy right hand but Graham sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Graham feints a jab promting Russo to slip. Graham then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Russo slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Russo connects with a nice looking jab.
Nice takedown defense from Graham. No joy for Russo on that attempt.
Graham lands with a hook. Russo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Graham catches Russo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Graham lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Russo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Russo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Graham. Graham obviously looking to wear him down.
Graham lands with a cross.
Russo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Graham misses with a two punch combination.
Russo looks to land a right hand but Graham moved out of range.
Russo takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham connects with a single shot there.
Graham connects with a body shot that sends Russo's belly button to the back.
Russo ducks under a wild hook from Graham.
Graham fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Russo throws a jab when Graham was well out of range.
Russo moves out of range as Graham throws a body kick.
Russo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Graham defends well and Russo ends up having to push Graham into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Graham scores with a nice head shot.
Russo throws a body punch but Graham moves out of range.
Graham connects with a solid leg kick.
Graham moves into range and connects with a jab.
Russo digs a good hook to Graham's body.
Russo connects with a right hand. Graham shakes it off.
A swing and a miss from Russo.

Russo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Graham to the mat! Graham manages to get full guard.
Russo throws a big right hand that misses.
Graham pulls Russo in close to his closed guard and prevents Russo from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Russo wants to control from the top but Graham keeps moving.
Graham can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Russo controls the pace.
Graham is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Russo trying to control but Graham is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.
Graham takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Russo's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A head kick misses from Graham.

Russo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Graham to the mat! Graham manages to get full guard.
Russo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Russo throws a big right hand that misses.
Russo throws a big elbow that misses.
Graham avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Russo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Russo slips nicely into half guard.
John Russo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Russo misses with a head shot. Graham uses the momentum to regain guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Angus Graham.
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 David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Angus Graham!
During a confident post fight interview, Angus Graham thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.