PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Monteiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Graham
vs
Monteiro

175 cm
23
155 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
22
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jimmy Graham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rodrigo Monteiro!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paulsen Ambrosius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graham shoots for a takedown but Monteiro saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Graham closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Graham lands in his opponent's guard.
Graham trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Graham prevents Monteiro from getting back to his feet.
Monteiro lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Graham!
Monteiro content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monteiro breaks from Graham's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Graham is in all sorts of trouble here.
Monteiro throws some wild stikes that Graham manages to avoid easily.
Graham is looking to improve his position but Monteiro isn't that keen on the idea.

Monteiro jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Graham manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Monteiro trying to control the position but Graham is working away.
Monteiro is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Graham will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Monteiro's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Monteiro scores with a body shot.
Monteiro keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Graham fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Monteiro avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Monteiro bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Graham's head backwards.

Graham shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Monteiro manages to get to full guard.
Graham is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Monteiro pushes Graham off and gets back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Monteiro. No joy for Graham on that attempt.
Graham takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Monteiro fails to land with a series of punches.
Graham closes this distance looking for a takedown but Monteiro circles away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Monteiro, as that shot connected.

It looks like Jimmy Graham has been cut.
Monteiro misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Monteiro fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jimmy Graham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Monteiro scores with a nice right hand.
Monteiro scores with a hook to the body. Graham takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Monteiro connects with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Monteiro cracks a nice hook into Graham's ribs.

Monteiro feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Monteiro showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Monteiro connects with a couple of short punches.
Monteiro is stalling in the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Graham escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Monteiro gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Monteiro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jimmy Graham's cut.
That's time! Graham's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Graham has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Graham doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Monteiro counters with a nice double leg into side control. Graham won't be happy with that.
Graham prevents Monteiro from improving position.
Monteiro slows the pace down.

Monteiro decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham fails with the takedown

and Monteiro counters with a single leg into guard. Graham didn't expect that.

Graham has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Monteiro can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Monteiro stays in close to Graham's body and controls the position.
Rodrigo Monteiro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Monteiro missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monteiro trying to control the position from guard on top but Graham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Monteiro wants to stand but Graham is controlling his posture from full guard.
Monteiro is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Monteiro looking to sit in guard and control but Graham gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Monteiro controls Graham momentarily but Graham frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rodrigo Monteiro just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Graham drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Monteiro stops Graham from passing to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Monteiro can do anything to dispel that myth.
Monteiro is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Graham is controlling him well.
Monteiro can't do much from the bottom here.
Monteiro is looking to regain half guard here but Graham keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Graham working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Monteiro throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Graham tries for a takedown but Monteiro circles away easily
and Monteiro makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Monteiro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jimmy Graham's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Graham scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Monteiro is looking to escape.

Graham is looking for a kimura here.

Graham seems to be working for a kimura but Monteiro defends the submission attempt.
Monteiro is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Graham's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Graham's back!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monteiro scores with punches from the back.
A lull in the action here.
What can Graham do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Monteiro throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Monteiro is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Monteiro trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Monteiro controlling from the back.
Graham rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Monteiro frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monteiro controlling the position easily from mount.
Graham sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Monteiro controlling the pace.
Monteiro wants to take a breather but Graham is having none of it.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rodrigo Monteiro just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Graham doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Monteiro counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Monteiro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monteiro trying to control the position from guard on top but Graham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Monteiro trying to stand up but can't free himself from Graham's guard.
Rodrigo Monteiro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Monteiro wants to control from the top but Graham keeps moving.
Monteiro looking to sit in guard and control but Graham gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Monteiro is looking to stand up but Graham isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Monteiro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Monteiro 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Monteiro!