PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Inamen Rexus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Inamen Rexus has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rexus
vs
Graham

185 cm
18
210 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Inamen Rexus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Luke Graham!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paul Aken and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rexus shoots in and drives through. Graham sprawls well.
Inamen Rexus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Graham has managed to clinch.
Rexus looking to slow down the pace here.
Rexus has Graham pressed against the cage, preventing Graham from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rexus can't break the clinch.
Rexus tries to pull guard but Graham won't allow it.

Rexus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rexus fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rexus misses with a hook. Graham ducked under it nicely.
Graham connects with a body shot.
Rexus fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Inamen Rexus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graham swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rexus has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rexus there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rexus throws a hook but Graham avoids it easily.
Luke Graham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rexus loads up on a big right hand but Graham slips the punch.
Decent striking displayed by Rexus there.
Rexus clinches but Graham breaks the clinch
and Graham counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Graham clinches.

Rexus's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rexus wants to clinch but Graham slips to the side
and Graham counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rexus has a takedown stuffed.
Rexus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rexus dives in and grabs Graham's left leg, looking for a takedown. Graham pushes down on Rexus's head and hops out.
Rexus tries to clinch up
and Graham counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rexus shoots in but Graham avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Graham throws a body punch but Rexus moves out of range.
Rexus shoots in but no luck this time.
Rexus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Graham slaps away a takedown attempt from Rexus, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rexus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Graham will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Graham is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rexus rather than just go for the knockout.
Rexus avoids the body shot from Graham.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Graham gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Graham effectively controlling the action here.
Graham stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Graham lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rexus misses with the head strike.

Graham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Graham moves into the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rexus misses with a body punch.

Rexus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Graham closes the distance and clinches.
Graham prevents Rexus from breaking the clinch.
Rexus is trying to break the clinch but Graham is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rexus slows down the pace here.
Rexus wants to break free but Graham has control.
Rexus taking a breather.
Graham scores with a hook to the body.
Rexus drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Graham blocks an uppercut.
Rexus tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Graham just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rexus wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rexus goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Graham managing to block the knees to the body from Rexus.

Graham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Graham dominated that round.
That's time! Rexus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rexus tries to keep at a distance but Graham has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rexus is trying to force a seperation but Graham has the dominant position.
Graham lands a hook that snaps the head of Rexus backwards.
Rexus tries to pull guard but Graham won't allow it.
Rexus has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Graham manages to break the clinch.
Rexus darts in trying to clinch
and Graham counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rexus thinking.

Rexus rushes Graham and presses him up against the cage.
Rexus wants a takedown.
Rexus has had enough of the clinch but Graham keeps him there for the moment.
Rexus has a couple of punches blocked by Graham.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rexus is trying to maintain a safe position but Graham gets an underhook and turns Rexus into the cage.
Graham looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rexus lands a shot to the body.

Graham manages to break the clinch.
Rexus swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Graham.
Rexus tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Graham counters by clinching up.
A nice left hand lands by Graham.

Rexus breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Graham scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Graham moves into range and clinches up with Rexus.
Rexus swings wildly with an uppercut but Graham uses good head movement to avoid it.

Graham breaks from the clinch.
Graham scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rexus shoots for a takedown but Graham saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Inamen Rexus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graham scores with a nice strike.
Rexus will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rexus lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Graham scores with a hook to the body. Rexus takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
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!
Rexus tries to clinch but Graham moves away
letting Graham counter with a right hand.
Inamen Rexus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rexus fails with the takedown.
Graham misses the shot to the body.
Rexus fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rexus looks to throw the jab but Graham is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Graham clinches.
Rexus wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Graham.

Graham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rexus misses with a shot to the body
and Graham counters with a right hand to the body.
Rexus closes the distance looking to clinch

and Graham counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Graham taking a breather.
Rexus wants to break free but Graham has control.
Rexus working hard to break the clinch.

Graham manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham misses with a wild combination.
Graham slaps away a takedown attempt from Rexus, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rexus throws a left and a right that both miss

and Graham counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Graham.
Rexus is looking to control Graham's arms but Graham gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rexus has his back to the cage.
Rexus fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Graham tries to break free but Rexus pushes him back against the cage.
Rexus looking to stall.
Graham is trying to break free.
Rexus is looking to control Graham's arms but Graham gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rexus has his back to the cage.
Rexus is trying to break free.
Rexus is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rexus tries to circle away but Graham has him pinned against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Graham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Rexus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rexus gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Graham counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Graham jabs Rexus right on the nose. Rexus blinks but takes it well.
Graham stuffs the takedown attempt from Rexus. Rexus gets slowly back to his feet.
Rexus looks to clinch

and Graham counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rexus has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rexus tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Graham just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Inamen Rexus. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Graham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Graham stuffs the takedown.
Graham lands with a nice combination. Rexus backs away looking to recover.
Nice uppercut lands for Graham. That snapped Rexus's head back.
Graham's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Graham duly obliges.
Rexus has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rexus takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Graham fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rexus manages to avoid it.
Graham lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rexus gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Graham counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Graham effectively controlling the action here.
A short right from Graham.
Graham can't break the clinch.
Rexus keeps control of Graham as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rexus jumps guard but Graham stands there with Rexus around his waist. Rexus gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rexus.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham throws a series of punches but Rexus moves out of range.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Rexus. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Graham gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A hook to the body from Graham.
Graham wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rexus tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Graham's elbow.
Rexus fails to pull guard.

Graham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rexus tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Graham swivels and escapes.
Graham throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rexus fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Graham avoids it really well and circles away.
Rexus shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Graham but Graham pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rexus lands with a slapping head kick.
Rexus fails to land with a series of punches.

Graham moves into the clinch.
Rexus is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Graham gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rexus drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Graham keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rexus's efforts to push away.
Graham blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rexus throws a head punch that misses.
Rexus has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Graham is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rexus jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Graham walks away with a smile on his face. Rexus gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rexus falls off balance throwing a combination
and Graham counters with a straight right hand.
Graham misses with a wild body shot.
Rexus tries to clinch up
and Graham cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rexus clinches but Graham breaks the clinch
and Graham counters with a nice uppercut.
Luke Graham is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rexus clinches but Graham breaks the clinch

and Graham counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Graham.
Inamen Rexus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Graham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rexus throws a head kick that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Graham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Graham has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Graham!