PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Galen Graham (ranked 24719 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barristan Selmy (ranked 4832 p4p, 0 weight class). Barristan Selmy will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Graham
vs
Selmy

169 cm
18
193 lbs
3 - 3 - 1

184 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Galen Graham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Barristan Selmy!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Russell Pearce and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Selmy has managed to clinch.

Selmy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Selmy manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Graham on his heels. He'll look to pass Graham's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Selmy wants to control from the top but Graham keeps moving.

Graham looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Selmy wants to control from the top but Graham keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Selmy stands up and waves to Graham to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Selmy instigates a clinch.

Selmy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice sprawl there from Graham as Selmy shoots in.
Graham feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Selmy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Selmy tries to keep at a distance but Graham has taken the fight into the clinch.
Graham is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Selmy gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Selmy pulls Graham into guard.
Graham really is a fat lump.
Selmy looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Selmy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Selmy wants to sweep but no luck.
Graham postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Graham with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Graham throws a big elbow that misses.
Selmy looking for a sweep. Not yet Selmy, not yet.
Graham is looking to work some ground and pound but Selmy has wrist control.
Selmy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Graham working some strikes from top position.
Selmy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Graham is in close to Selmy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Selmy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Graham is one step ahead there.
Selmy trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Selmy is looking to stand up but Graham isn't so interested in that idea.
Graham postures up.
Graham throws a big elbow that misses.
Graham keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Selmy's head.
Selmy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Graham manages to get himself to full guard.

Graham tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Graham has Selmy pulled in close to control his posture.
Graham keeping moving, preventing Selmy from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Selmy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Selmy throws a strike but Graham rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Graham keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Selmy's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Selmy escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Graham gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Selmy looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Barristan Selmy will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Selmy changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Graham looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Selmy looking to control but instead Graham has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Selmy is looking to stall here but Graham recovers full guard.
Selmy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Graham's guard.
Graham keeping moving, preventing Selmy from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham pulls Selmy in close to prevent any damage.
Selmy passes into half guard.
Selmy throwing shots but Graham is blocking nicely.

Selmy wants to work for an arm triangle but Graham is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Selmy is looking to stall here but Graham recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Graham keeping moving, preventing Selmy from controlling successfully.
Selmy has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Graham is proving hard to escape from.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Selmy wants to clinch up but Graham keeps it at a distance.
Selmy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Graham sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Selmy somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Selmy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Graham pinned against the cage. Graham gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice sprawl there from Graham as Selmy shoots in.
Galen Graham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barristan Selmy.
Selmy is breathing heavily.

Graham drives through and clinches with Selmy against the cage.
Selmy wants to take the fight to the mat but Graham manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Graham tries to pull guard but Selmy forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Selmy gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Graham has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Selmy is on him like a limpet, forcing Graham back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Selmy is pressed up against the cage. Graham has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Selmy down to the mat. Selmy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Graham closes the distance and pushes Selmy back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Selmy breaks from the clinch.

Selmy gets caught napping as Graham dives in and scores a takedown. Selmy manages to retain guard.

Selmy has his feet on Graham's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Selmy circles away from the clinch attempt.
Selmy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Graham as he jumps to the side.
Graham tries to close the distance and clinch up but Selmy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Selmy throws a fast counter high kick but Graham manages to duck under it in time.
Barristan Selmy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Graham moves to clinch but Selmy breaks away
and Selmy counters with a lovely shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Selmy scores with a three punch combo!
Selmy scores with a shot to the body.
Selmy with a lazy takedown attempt

and Graham holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Selmy goes for a takedown attempt but Graham pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Selmy gets tackled into the cage by Graham. Graham maintains the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Selmy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Selmy drags the fight down to the ground.
Selmy is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Graham is controlling him.
Selmy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Graham postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Selmy trying to control the position here.
Graham stands up over Selmy, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Graham throws a big right hand that misses.
Selmy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Graham with a nice head shot there.
Graham throwing strikes but missing.
Selmy tries to strike from the bottom.
Graham postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Graham with a nice head shot there.
Galen Graham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Graham trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Graham is working Selmy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Graham postures up in Selmy's guard and throws a big left but Selmy blocks it.
Graham works over Selmy with some ground and pound from guard.
Graham has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Graham keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Selmy's head.
Selmy has momentary wrist control but Graham slips an elbow through the middle.
Graham working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Graham working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Selmy's head.

Selmy is looking for a triangle but Graham pushes his legs off easily.

Selmy is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Graham is working Selmy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Graham landing with the ground and pound.
Graham distracts Selmy with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham connects with a couple of short punches.
Graham connects with a couple of short punches.
Graham postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Selmy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Graham is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Graham is working Selmy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Graham scoring with some ground and pound.
Graham cracks Selmy with a solid left hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Graham's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Graham cracks Selmy with a solid left hand.
Graham scoring with some ground and pound.
Selmy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Selmy has momentary wrist control but Graham slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham is in close to Selmy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Graham with a nice head shot there.
Graham postures up and lands a big shot to Selmy's brow.
Selmy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Graham might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Graham is in close to Selmy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Graham's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Graham content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Graham scoring with punches to the head and body.
Graham landing with the ground and pound.

Selmy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Graham defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Selmy looking for a guillotine here but Graham defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Galen Graham showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Graham 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28

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