PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Deon Graves (ranked 862 p4p, 2109 weight class) and Bella Miele (ranked 98 p4p, 205 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Graves might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to THE ZOO. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Graves
vs
Miele

182 cm
28
165
10 - 5 - 0

175 cm
23
165
5 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

âš”ï¸Conquest Nutritionâš”ï¸

FREECH! (free speech clothing inc with REFUNDS!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Deon Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bella Miele!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graves misses with a jab to the body

and Miele decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Graves's guard.
Miele is looking to work some ground and pound but Graves has wrist control.
Miele is looking to work some ground and pound but Graves has wrist control.
Miele sitting in guard here, content to control.
Graves is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Miele is pressing down on Graves's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Graves pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Miele is keeping the position for now.
We've been hearing good reports from Graves's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graves prevents Miele from getting back to his feet.

Miele working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Graves doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Graves manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Graves pushing down on Miele's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graves seems to be looking for submissions.
Graves wants to pass the guard but Miele is defending well.

Graves is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Miele looks like he's trying to stand up.
Miele is looking for a sweep. Graves is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Graves prevents Miele from standing back up.

Graves is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Miele doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Graves.
Miele manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Graves sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Miele's guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Miele manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

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

Miele must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Graves working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Miele has passed into half guard!
Miele trying to control from half guard but Graves is working away.
Miele not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Graves moves into full guard.

Graves looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Graves lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves wants to pass the guard but Miele is keeping the position.
Miele looking to control.
Graves trying to move into half guard but instead Miele has managed to sweep!

Graves working for submissions but it's allowed Miele to get to half guard.
Miele works his way into full mount!
Graves is looking to get to half guard.
Miele lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Graves hang on?
Graves is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miele can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Graves is looking to escape.
Graves is in all sorts of trouble here.
A nice elbow there by Miele.
Graves is looking to get to half guard.
Graves sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Graves works his way to full guard. Good work.

Graves has his foot on Miele's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Miele works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Graves looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Miele trying to control but Graves is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bella Miele dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Miele steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Graves.

Graves lands a left and a right that send Miele crashing to the mat, dazed. Graves thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Miele is rocked!
Graves misses with a two punch combination.
Miele is still on wobbly legs! Can Graves finish him?
Graves scores with a hook to the body. Miele takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Miele seems to have recovered his senses.
Graves scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Miele dives in and scores a takedown into Graves's guard.
Bella Miele has got the better of the ground game so far.

Graves isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Miele stacks Graves on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Miele!
Graves gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
We've been informed that Miele has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Miele is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Miele is nestled in close to Graves, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Graves is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Miele jumps into side control!

Miele is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Graves has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves is trying to work for a sweep but Miele has mounted him!
Graves is looking to improve his position but Miele isn't that keen on the idea.
Graves is working hard here to advance position.
Graves gets back to half guard.
Graves is looking for a sweep. Miele is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Graves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Miele pulls his head out easily.
Graves wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Miele jumps into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miele scores with punches from side control.
Graves is looking to regain half guard here but Miele keeps moving and retains side control.
Miele happy to just control the position for now.
Graves tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Miele presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Graves really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Miele looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves working to try and regain half guard.
BOOM! Miele connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Graves regains half guard.
Miele wants to control but Graves is keeping him busy.
Miele performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Graves is looking for a sweep. Miele is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Miele slips a nice elbow through Graves's hands, connecting with Graves's forehead.

Graves is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Miele pulls his head out easily.
Miele drops an elbow to the side of Graves's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves wants to get back to full guard.
Miele is keen to just control but Graves is a slippery customer.
Graves tries to get to full guard but Miele has control of the leg.
Miele lands strikes from half guard.
Miele wants to control but Graves is keeping him busy.

Miele is looking for a kimura but Graves is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Miele to get the leverage.
Graves is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Miele's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Miele's back!

Miele showing good submission defense here.

Miele is having to fend off submission attempts from Graves, who is looking to sink in the choke. Graves doesn't have the hooks in though and Miele manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Deon Graves will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Graves misses with a double jab

and Miele counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Miele perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Graves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Miele winds up and cracks Graves with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Graves looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Graves is not content to let Miele control the position.

Miele is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miele prevents Graves from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Miele lands a nice short elbow.

Miele is looking for a kimura here.
Graves is looking for a sweep. Miele is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Miele lands with a punch from half guard.

Miele is working for a kimura but Graves is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves wants to improve his position but Miele is controlling well.
Miele working the head and body with strikes.
Miele is looking to take a break and control but Graves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Graves is trying to get back to full guard.
Miele wants to pass the guard but Graves is defending well.

Miele is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Graves sees it coming and defends easily.
Graves slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miele with a flurry of punches that miss.
Graves wants to sweep here but Miele controlling him for the moment.

Graves working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Miele doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Miele manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Miele won't allow Graves to sweep him here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Graves looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Graves 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.

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.
Miele scoring with some ground and pound.
Miele sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Graves's guard.

Graves looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Graves on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Well, if Miele is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Miele uses his free foot to push down on Graves's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Graves.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Miele takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Miele is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Graves has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Graves!

And that's the end of the fight!
Bella Miele comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Miele has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bella Miele!