PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Djuro Zec (ranked 1585 p4p, 1852 weight class) and Angus Graham (ranked 207 p4p, 247 weight class). Angus Graham will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Zec
vs
Graham

184 cm
27
220
5 - 4 - 0

186 cm
27
212
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Heavy handed

Highland Clothing

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Djuro Zec!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Angus Graham!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Dirk Anderson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zec misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Graham.
Zec fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zec moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromGraham.
Graham throws a leg kick but Zec sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Zec.
Zec is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Graham will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Zec trying to control the position but Graham is working away.
Zec moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ground and pound from Zec seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Graham parries the strikes from Zec easily there. Zec is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Graham to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zec throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Zec throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Zec creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Zec wants to control but Graham is keeping him busy.
Zec fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Zec misses with the ground and pound.
Zec trying to control the action but Graham is working from the bottom.
Zec throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Zec has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zec's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zec throwing shots but Graham is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Graham blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zec.
Graham really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zec. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zec thows a huge punch but Graham dodges it nicely.
Zec thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Graham's head.
Zec throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Graham can do anything to dispel that myth.
Graham is trying to control but can't.
Zec not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zec working the head and body with strikes.
Zec slips a nice elbow through Graham's hands, connecting with Graham's forehead.
Zec working Graham over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zec misses with a head shot. Graham uses the momentum to regain guard.
Zec lands a couple of elbows.
Zec throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Graham works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zec sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zec looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Zec postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Graham preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zec looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Zec throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Graham working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zec.
Zec trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zec is in close to Graham's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Zec advances to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zec is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zec in particular looking to stall.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Djuro Zec dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Graham misses with a body kick.
Zec tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Graham defends well and Zec ends up having to push Graham into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Graham breaks from the clinch.
Zec is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Graham can do to turn this around?
Zec just misses with a punch to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Graham. That's going to slow Zec down.
A head kick misses from Graham.
Zec darts in looking for a takedown but Graham gets double underhooks and turns Zec into the cage.

Graham manages to break the clinch.
Graham throws a hook to the side of Zec's head but Zec sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zec shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Graham as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Djuro Zec. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zec has a takedown stuffed.
Zec will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zec fails with the takedown.
Djuro Zec seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graham works the jab nicely.
No luck for Zec with that takedown attempt.
Graham has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham leaves Zec with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Graham misses with a double jab.
Zec shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Graham counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Graham lands with an uppercut that bounces Zec off the cage and back into range.
Zec misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Angus Graham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fighters circle momentarily. Graham darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Graham darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Graham goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Graham lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Zec tries to score a power double leg takedown but Graham sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zec somewhat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Graham's corner calls for a 1-2. Graham obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zec swings for the body but Graham moves out of range.
Zec throws a shot from downtown. Graham moves away and avoids it.
Graham works Zec's body with a nice hook.
Zec takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Zec looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zec wants to control from the top but Graham keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zec accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Graham working a defensive guard here.
Zec controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Zec in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zec loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zec is looking to work some ground and pound but Graham has wrist control.
Zec trying to control the position from guard on top but Graham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zec.
Graham scores with a head kick.

Zec drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zec stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Graham swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zec throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham keeping moving, preventing Zec from controlling successfully.
Zec throwing strikes from guard but Graham blocks nicely.
Graham avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zec won't allow Graham to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zec accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zec is looking to work some ground and pound but Graham has wrist control.
Zec working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zec throwing strikes from guard but Graham blocks nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Angus Graham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Zec's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Zec shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Graham sprawls well. Graham wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zec gets slowly back to his feet.
Graham swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Graham is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Zec takes a jab right on the kisser.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Graham enables Zec to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Graham manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Zec pushing down on Graham's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Zec is trying to control the action in half guard but Graham is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Graham keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zec wants to free his trapped foot but Graham is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Graham is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zec scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zec lands with a punch from half guard.
Graham on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zec not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Graham wants to control but Zec is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Graham keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zec is looking to pass Graham's guard but actually Graham recovers to full guard.
Zec throws an elbow that misses. Graham uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zec's guard. Nice move by Graham!

Zec managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zec has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Graham is looking to stand up but Zec won't let him.
Zec controlling Graham's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zec tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Graham got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zec has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Graham has managed to get both his arms back between Zec's legs - danger averted.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Graham plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Djuro Zec has been cut.

Zec shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Zec thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zec sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Graham defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zec not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zec lands a nice short elbow.
Zec missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zec throwing shots but Graham is blocking nicely.
Zec not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zec throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Graham keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Graham keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zec not doing much here.
Graham blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zec.

And that's the end of the fight!
Djuro Zec showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zec 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight for Djuro Zec!
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight for Angus Graham!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Djuro Zec!

Djuro Zec wins by split decision!
Djuro Zec thanked the fans post fight for their support.