PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nik Fox (ranked 4448 p4p, 6270 weight class) and Benito Luigi Graffagnino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fox
vs
Graffagnino

185 cm
18
190
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
185
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 Los Angeles, Nik Fox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Benito Luigi Graffagnino!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fox rushes Graffagnino and presses him up against the cage.

Fox manages to break the clinch.
Graffagnino changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Fox shoots in looking for a takedown but Graffagnino manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fox's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Fox throws a head kick that misses.

Fox drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Graffagnino is looking for a triangle but Fox pushes his legs off easily.
Graffagnino trying to control the position.

Fox stands up from Graffagnino's guard - Fox perhaps looking for a knockout.
Fox tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Graffagnino manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graffagnino fails with an attempt to clinch.
Graffagnino has a takedown stuffed.

Fox clinches up with Graffagnino and pushes him back against the cage.
Fox misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Graffagnino.
Graffagnino blocks a body shot from Fox.

Fox escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fox displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Graffagnino.
Fox tries to counter by clinching up but Graffagnino breaks away and moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Graffagnino. No joy for Fox on that attempt.
Fox will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nik Fox. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graffagnino shoots in but no luck this time.
Graffagnino tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fox manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Graffagnino or perhaps it was just good defense by Fox, which made it look bad.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fox has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Graffagnino avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Graffagnino gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Fox makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Graffagnino fails in his attempt to clinch.

Fox scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Fox is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fox is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Fox postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Graffagnino to stand up.
Graffagnino scores with a three punch combo!
Fox moves to clinch but Graffagnino breaks away
and Graffagnino counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Fox thinking.
Graffagnino tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fox paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Graffagnino goes for a double leg but Fox avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Fox continues to drive forward.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fox.
Graffagnino closes the distance and clinches up with Fox, looking for a takedown. Graffagnino pushes Fox against the cage but Fox circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graffagnino throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Fox's head.
Fox swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A head kick from Graffagnino lands but Fox takes it in his stride.

Fox looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Graffagnino!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Graffagnino is looking to regain half guard here but Fox keeps moving and retains side control.
Fox has knee on belly momentarily but Graffagnino bucks him off and regains half guard.
Fox controlling the action here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nik Fox will probably get the nod.
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.

Fox shoots in for a takedown but Graffagnino shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Graffagnino shoots in for a takedown but Fox shows good takedown defense.

Fox moves into the clinch successfully.
Graffagnino blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Graffagnino lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Graffagnino tries to score a body lock takedown but Fox shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Graffagnino wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Graffagnino looking to slow down the pace here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fox pulls guard effortlessly.

Graffagnino has gone for a leg lock! Fox slips out almost immediately though and dives into Graffagnino's guard.

Fox is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox connects with a couple of short punches.
Fox's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Graffagnino wants to sweep but no luck.
Fox tries to free his leg and advance position but Graffagnino is retaining full guard.
Fox landing some decent shots from guard.
Fox stays in close to Graffagnino's body and controls the position.

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.
Fox is looking to advance position but Graffagnino has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Graffagnino trying to control but Fox is having none of it.
Graffagnino takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fox somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Benito Luigi Graffagnino seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Graffagnino shoots in for a takedown but Fox shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nik Fox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benito Luigi Graffagnino.
Fox fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fox misses with a wild combination.
Nik Fox is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fox tries to clinch up but Graffagnino circles away and keeps his distance.
Fox on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nice sprawl there from Fox as Graffagnino shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graffagnino closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fox circles away.
Graffagnino is breathing heavily.

Graffagnino tries to keep at a distance but Fox has taken the fight into the clinch.
Graffagnino trying to control the position but instead, Fox has worked for underhooks and has pushed Graffagnino into the cage.

Fox breaks the clinch.

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

Graffagnino pushes Fox off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Graffagnino is looking to clinch but Fox is avoiding it.
Fox throws a right hand that Graffagnino ducks under and follows up with a left that Graffagnino also avoids with ease.
Graffagnino shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fox as he jumps to the side.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nik Fox dominated that second round.
That's time! Fox's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Fox bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Graffagnino lands a nice shot to the body.
Horrible takedown attempt by Graffagnino or perhaps it was just good defense by Fox, which made it look bad.
Fox throws a big counter combination but Graffagnino scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Graffagnino misses with a takedown attempt - Fox sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fox 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.
Graffagnino tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Fox drives through and clinches with Graffagnino against the cage.

Fox breaks the clinch.
Graffagnino takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fox doesn't manage to clinch there - Graffagnino circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fox closes the distance and pushes Graffagnino back into the cage.
Graffagnino gets underhooks to prevent Fox's takedown attempt.

Fox escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Fox drives through with a takedown into Graffagnino's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Fox drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Graffagnino manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Fox has Graffagnino in his guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fox looking to control.
Fox looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fox has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Graffagnino is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Fox.
Graffagnino wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fox keeps working.

Graffagnino decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Graffagnino looks for a takedown but Fox sprawls well.
Nik Fox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benito Luigi Graffagnino.
Fox is looking to clinch but Graffagnino is avoiding it.
Graffagnino is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Fox shoots in and drives through. Graffagnino sprawls well.
Graffagnino wants to counter the offense by Fox and move into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graffagnino keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Fox dives in for a single leg takedown but Graffagnino sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Graffagnino flicks out a counter leg kick but Fox steps away.
Graffagnino is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Graffagnino has had enough of the clinch but Fox keeps him there for the moment.
Graffagnino trying to stall but Fox improves his position.
Graffagnino lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Fox swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Graffagnino digs a right hand underneath Fox's ribcage. Fox let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Fox avoiding damage.
Graffagnino displaying some good clinch control by pressing Fox up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graffagnino wants a takedown but no success here.
Graffagnino gets underhooks to prevent Fox's takedown attempt.
Graffagnino wants to get back to striking at distance but Fox won't allow it.
Graffagnino tries for a takedown. No joy.

Fox breaks the clinch.

Fox drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Graffagnino looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fox is one step ahead there.
Benito Luigi Graffagnino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nik Fox is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Graffagnino trying to strike off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Benito Luigi Graffagnino.
I think Fox 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nik Fox!