PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Graham
vs
Taylor

168 cm
23
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
144 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexander Graham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Tim Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Richard Clark and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor tries to clinch but Graham is having none of it.
Taylor looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Graham shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Taylor as he avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Graham.
A combination from Taylor does no damage.

Graham drives through and clinches with Taylor against the ropes.
Taylor goes for a takedown attempt but Graham pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Graham scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Graham tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Graham cracks Taylor with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Graham controls the position from side control.

Graham is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Taylor is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham wants to control but Taylor is keeping him busy.

Graham thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Taylor is not content to let Graham control the position.

That's two 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.
An elbow from Graham crashes against the mat.

Graham wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Taylor, who protects the arm well.
Graham wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taylor keeps working.
Taylor manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Graham wants to pass the guard but Taylor is defending well.

Graham is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Taylor is just riding it out for now. Graham eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham passes the guard and advances to mount!
Taylor can't escape the position.
Graham looking to control and managing it successfully.
Taylor is bucking up trying to escape but Graham cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Graham has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Taylor's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Graham trying to control but Taylor is having none of it.

Graham with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Graham breaks from Taylor's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Graham goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Taylor turns into him and now he's in Graham's guard.
Graham trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Taylor won't allow Graham to sweep him here.

Graham working for submissions but it's allowed Taylor to get to half guard.
Graham is pressing down on Taylor's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Taylor passes into half guard.
Graham is trying to control but Taylor passes into side control!
Graham is looking to regain half guard here but Taylor keeps moving and retains side control.
Graham manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Graham works his way into full mount!
Graham tries to control but Taylor wriggling away.
Graham controlling from the full mount.

Graham goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Taylor is on top in guard.
Taylor preventing the sweep.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Graham controls Taylor momentarily but Taylor frees himself.

Graham working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Taylor doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Taylor manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Taylor avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Graham looking to control.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Graham is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Graham throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Graham escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Taylor gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Taylor postures up.

Graham working for a triangle but Taylor defends it easily.

Graham has his foot on Taylor's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Taylor works his way back into a safe position though.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from Graham.
Graham bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Taylor's guard.
Taylor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Graham tries to free his leg and advance position but Taylor is retaining full guard.
Graham makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Graham trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.

Graham drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Graham jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Graham dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Graham changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Taylor tries to avoid it but Graham manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Taylor to the ground. Taylor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Graham rushes Taylor and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Taylor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Graham fails with a takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Graham.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taylor takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Graham shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Graham trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Graham lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Graham has control of Taylor's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Taylor regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Graham looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Graham lands a nice shot to the head.
Graham postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Taylor looks a forlorn figure.
Alexander Graham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taylor reaches up to try and control the position but Graham seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Taylor rolls and tries to escape and now Graham has his back!
Will Graham go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Graham softening up his opponent with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Graham is persistently looking for the submission but Taylor is defending it well.
Graham throws strikes from the back but Taylor rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by Taylor.
Taylor has momentary wrist control but Graham slips an elbow through the middle.
Graham passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Graham decides to stand back up. Graham steps back and let's Taylor get back to his feet.

Graham shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Graham trying to control but Taylor is having none of it.
Graham has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Taylor's face.
Graham wants to control the pace but Taylor is squirming around nicely.
Graham with good strikes from the mount here!

Graham has control of Taylor's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Taylor regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Graham controlling from the full mount.
Graham working the ground and pound effectively.
Graham lands with some strikes.
Taylor is squirming around, avoiding Graham's attempts to control the action.
Graham working Taylor over with strikes here.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Taylor can't escape the position.
Graham can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Taylor is looking to escape.

Graham moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Taylor has worked his arm free - good work by Taylor!
Graham laying and praying for a moment but Taylor takes advantage and regains half guard.
Graham sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Graham works his way into full mount!
Graham sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Graham scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Taylor?
Graham controlling from mount.
Graham can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Taylor is looking to escape.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Graham scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Graham lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Taylor hang on?

Graham is working for a guillotine from mount but Taylor frees his head quite easily.
Graham trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Graham quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Graham but it's paid off an Taylor is forced to tap! Nice work by Graham.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alexander Graham!