PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Artem Graf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Micah Magnum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Micah Magnum told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Graf
vs
Magnum

178 cm
24
162 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

173 cm
21
155 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Artem Graf!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Micah Magnum!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graf throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Magnum dodges the punch combination from Graf.

Graf fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Magnum, pushing him back against the cage.
Magnum stops a takedown attempt from Graf.
Come on Magnum - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Graf working hard to break the clinch.
Graf can't get the takedown.
Graf pushes Magnum back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Magnum taking a breather.
Magnum stalling in the clinch but Graf improves position.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Magnum.
Graf tries for a takedown but Magnum manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artem Graf. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Micah Magnum.
Magnum tries to close the distance and clinch up but Graf swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Micah Magnum is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magnum moves out of range as Graf strikes.
Graf tries to clinch but Magnum is having none of it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Magnum.
A punch combination from Graf misses.
Graf throws a right and a left that both miss.
Graf checks a leg kick.
Graf throws a combination. Magnum tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Artem Graf seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Magnum forces Graf back against the cage and clinches.
Magnum taking a breather.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Magnum just misses with a elbow thrown towards Graf's brow.
Magnum is looking to control Graf's arms but Graf gets an underhook and turns him. Now Magnum has his back to the cage.
Graf drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Magnum gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Magnum taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magnum prevents the takedown attempt.
Graf tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nice body punch from Graf - that landed with a thud.
Magnum's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Graf breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Magnum tries to clinch but Graf is having none of it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Magnum stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Magnum wants it to stay on the feet.
Magnum tries to clinch up but Graf circles away and keeps his distance.
Graf swats away the attempt to clinch by Magnum.
Magnum tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Graf paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Magnum tries to clinch but Graf moves out of range.
Graf throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graf misses with a wild combination.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Magnum enables Graf to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Magnum manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Graf connects with a couple of short punches.
Graf throws and elbow that misses. Magnum uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Graf's guard. Nice move by Magnum!

Graf is working an open guard so Magnum takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Magnum throws a push kick but Graf slaps the foot to one side.
Magnum avoids a punch combination nicely.
Magnum needs to keep his hands up - Graf had a free shot at his head there.
Graf fails with the takedown.

Graf tries to keep at a distance but Magnum has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graf goes for a takedown in the clinch but Magnum prevents it.
Graf wants a takedown but no success here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Magnum content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Graf as Magnum tries to tie him up.
Magnum is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Magnum with a knee to the head.
Magnum dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Micah Magnum.

Graf clinches up with Magnum and pushes him back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Magnum.
Magnum continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

Graf has picked Magnum up - he's going for a ride! Graf dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Artem Graf will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Magnum moves in looking to clinch but Graf pushes him off.
Artem Graf is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Magnum tries a head kick but it misses.
Graf misses with the combination.

Magnum clinches.
Graf looking for a takedown.
Graf can't get the takedown.
Magnum gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Graf.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artem Graf. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Magnum using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Graf has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Graf is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Magnum taking a breather.
Graf drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Magnum gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Stalling in the clinch from Magnum.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magnum looking to slow down the pace here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Magnum.
Magnum is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Graf breaks from the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Graf circles away from the clinch attempt.
Magnum tries to clinch up.
Graf circles away from the clinch attempt.
Graf rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Magnum moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Graf keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Magnum swings for the body but Graf moves out of range.
Magnum throws an overhand right that lands on Graf's shoulder, as Graf tries to avoid the shot.
Graf scores with a nice head shot.
Graf misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Graf will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Graf.
Magnum misses the shot to the body.
Graf lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Magnum circles away quickly and effectively.
Magnum misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Graf.
Graf throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Magnum's waist but Magnum gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Graf off to one side.
Graf displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Graf moves in looking to clinch but Magnum pushes him off.
Magnum swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Graf stalks Magnum and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Magnum's face. Magnum staggers backwards, shaken.
Good work by Graf as he checks the leg kick.

Magnum rushes Graf and presses him up against the cage.
Graf avoids a wild elbow strike from Magnum.
Magnum taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Magnum tries a knee to the head but Graf blocks it.
Magnum taking a breather.
Graf goes for a takedown in the clinch but Magnum prevents it.
Magnum taking a breather.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Micah Magnum.
Graf staying out of range there.
Graf swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Magnum looks to clinch

so Graf counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Graf throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Graf trying to control the position from guard on top but Magnum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Magnum wants to get back to his feet but Graf is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magnum keeping moving, preventing Graf from controlling successfully.
Graf thows a big elbow that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Graf throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Magnum works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Magnum is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Graf with a flurry of punches that miss.
Graf throws and elbow that misses. Magnum uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Graf's guard. Nice move by Magnum!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Micah Magnum will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Graf's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Graf shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Magnum as he avoids it easily.
Magnum displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Graf.

Magnum forces Graf back against the cage and clinches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Micah Magnum seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Magnum's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Magnum tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Magnum is trying to maintain a safe position but Graf gets an underhook and turns Magnum into the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Magnum.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Micah Magnum.
Graf shoots in for a takedown but Magnum shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artem Graf. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graf wants to clinch.
Magnum throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graf uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Magnum.
Some bone on bone action there as Graf checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Graf is trying hard to land a takedown here. Magnum sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Magnum throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Graf gets the takedown into side control.

Graf is trying to get an arm triangle but Magnum is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Magnum is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Magnum really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Graf. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Magnum keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magnum is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Graf scores with a couple of nice shots.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Graf lands a nice short elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Graf thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Magnum's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Graf trying to control the action but Magnum is working from the bottom.
Magnum blocking the ground and pound attempt from Graf.
Magnum controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Magnum looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magnum is trying to get back to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Magnum can do anything to dispel that myth.
Graf thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Graf missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Graf is trying to control the action in half guard but Magnum is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Graf seems to be working for a kimura but Magnum defends the submission attempt.
Magnum is pressing down on Graf's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graf tries to free his leg and advance position but Magnum is retaining full guard.
Graf throws a big right hand that misses.
Graf throwing strikes but missing.
Graf throws a strike but Magnum rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Magnum wants to stand but Graf is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Magnum thows a big elbow that misses.
Magnum would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Artem Graf.
I think Graf 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!