PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Fusion Weapon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Weapon's entrance music is Run This Town Tonight. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Weapon
vs
Graham

175 cm
23
149 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

175 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fusion Weapon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robert Graham!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Joseph Jones and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Weapon gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Weapon jumps guard and drags Graham to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Graham prevents Weapon from getting back to his feet.
Graham being controlled here momentarily.

Graham drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Weapon dives on top into guard.
Weapon working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Graham's head.
Weapon works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Weapon is pressing down on Graham's thigh, looking to free his foot. Graham is holding on for now.
Weapon winds up and cracks Graham with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Graham tries to get to full guard but Weapon has control of the leg.
Graham pushes Weapon off looking to stand but Weapon dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weapon throwing shots but Graham is blocking nicely.
Weapon throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Graham is trying to stand back up but Weapon is controlling him
Graham throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Weapon looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Graham with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Graham wants to get back to his feet.

Graham looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Weapon thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Graham's head.
Graham won't allow Weapon to pass to mount.
Graham tries to kick Weapon off but Weapon keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Weapon missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Graham is refusing to be controlled, as Weapon sits in half guard.

Graham looking for submissions off his back.
Graham is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Weapon looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Weapon decides to return to a standing position.
Weapon fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A combination from Weapon does no damage.
Weapon swinging wildly here.
Graham fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Weapon.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Some wild striking there from Weapon.
Graham on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
No joy there for Weapon, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Weapon gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Graham pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Weapon is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weapon 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.
Weapon has a closed guard, preventing Graham from standing up.
Weapon 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.
Weapon wants to stand and escape but Graham is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Weapon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Graham trying to control the position from guard on top but Weapon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Graham stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Weapon.
Weapon trying to control the position but Graham is working away.
Graham regains half guard.
Weapon is trying to control. Graham wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Weapon thows a huge punch but Graham dodges it nicely.
Graham gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fusion Weapon dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Graham shoots in for a double leg but Weapon sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Graham drives through and clinches with Weapon against the cage.
Weapon missing with knees to the body.
Weapon lands a nice knee to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Weapon.
Weapon putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Graham in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Weapon lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Graham wants to break the clinch but can't.
Weapon missing with knees to the body.
Weapon landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Weapon using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Weapon breaks from the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Graham. Those never looked like landing.
Graham shoots in and drives through. Weapon sprawls well.
Weapon swinging wildly here.
Weapon throws a combination. Graham tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Graham is breathing heavily.
Weapon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Graham.
Weapon throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Graham fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Weapon sprawls well initially but Graham persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Weapon is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Weapon pushes Graham off and gets back to his feet.
Weapon with a jab.
Weapon misses with the combination.

Weapon has Graham up against the cage in a clinch.
Weapon landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Graham goes for a takedown in the clinch but Weapon prevents it.
Fusion Weapon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Graham.
Graham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Graham is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Weapon drags the fight down to the ground.
Graham prevents Weapon from getting back to his feet.
Graham trying to control but Weapon is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Weapon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Graham looking to sit in guard and control but Weapon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Graham uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Graham feints and as Weapon raises his hands in defense, Graham changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Graham gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Graham fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Graham tries for a takedown but Weapon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Weapon moves into range and clinches up with Graham.
Graham takes a knee to the side of the body.

Weapon works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Weapon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Graham works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Graham wants to stand up but Weapon is controlling him.
Weapon pushes down on Graham's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Weapon has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fusion Weapon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Weapon controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Graham really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Weapon connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Weapon controlling from mount.
Graham is in a horrible position here. Weapon smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Weapon working the ground and pound effectively.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Graham is in a horrible position here. Weapon smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Weapon working Graham over with strikes here.
Weapon trying to control but Graham is having none of it.
Weapon landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fusion Weapon dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Graham looks to land a combination but Weapon avoids it well.

Weapon shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Graham manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Graham wants to stand but Weapon is controlling the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Weapon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Graham is keeping the position for now.
Weapon landing with the ground and pound.
Weapon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Graham works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Weapon distracts Graham with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Graham wants to stand but Weapon is controlling the position.
Weapon with a flurry of punches that miss.
Weapon throwing strikes from guard but Graham blocks nicely.
Weapon is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Weapon is looking to work some ground and pound but Graham has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graham pushes Weapon off and gets back to his feet.
Graham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Graham drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Weapon is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Graham is controlling him.
Weapon has a closed guard, preventing Graham from standing up.
Weapon is looking to stand up but Graham isn't so interested in that idea.
Graham is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weapon wants to stand up but Graham is controlling him.
Weapon trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Weapon keeping full guard, as Graham tries to pass.
Graham slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weapon tries to improve position but can't.
Weapon wants to get back to his feet but Graham drags him back down.
Graham creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Weapon sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Graham thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Graham postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Graham fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Weapon is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Graham swings around for an armbar but Weapon sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Graham's guard.
Robert Graham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Weapon stops Graham from standing up.
Weapon is working Graham over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Robert Graham.
Well Weapon has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fusion Weapon!