PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matt Manuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Graham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manuel's entrance music is Lay Low. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Graham's choice of entrance music: Get Ready To Deal. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Manuel
vs
Graham

172 cm
27
155 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

170 cm
24
147 lbs
14 - 3 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Manuel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Graham!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manuel avoids the body shot from Graham.
Manuel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Graham.
A jab from Graham misses.
Graham cracks Manuel with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Manuel tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Graham is able to avoid easily.
Graham avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Manuel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Manuel doesn't manage to clinch there - Graham circles away.
Graham works over Manuel's head and body with a nice combination.
Manuel ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Manuel lands a nice shot to the body.
Manuel with a jab.
Graham keeps the fight on the outside.
Manuel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Graham.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham dips to his left and cracks Manuel with an uppercut!
Graham looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Graham thows a left - swing and a miss!
Manuel wants to clinch.
Graham shoots for a takedown but Manuel saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Graham pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Manuel lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Manuel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Manuel.
Manuel tries to throw a body punch but Graham avoids it by throwing Manuel back against the cage.
Graham lands with a left to the head.
Graham can't find room to land a body shot as Manuel controls the action.
A right handed body shot lands from Manuel.
Manuel cracks Graham with a nice body shot.
Manuel tries to work over Graham's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel is trying to maintain a safe position but Graham gets an underhook and turns Manuel into the cage.
Manuel misses with the head strike.
Manuel can't find room to land a body shot as Graham controls the action.
Graham drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Manuel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Graham is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Manuel pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Matt Manuel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Graham.
Graham prevents a body shot from Manuel.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Manuel is working Graham over against the cage.
Graham prevents a body shot from Manuel.
Graham trying to control the position but instead, Manuel has worked for underhooks and has pushed Graham into the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Manuel - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Manuel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Manuel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Manuel obliges.
Manuel stalling in the clinch.
Manuel lands a right hand.
Manuel prevents a body shot from Graham.
Manuel works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Manuel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Manuel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Manuel misses with a hook from the clinch.

Graham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Graham throws a series of punches but Manuel avoids them all with ease.
Graham misses with a straight right.
Manuel throws a hook but Graham avoids it easily.
Manuel walks into a left hand.
Graham throws the left hand but Manuel avoids the punch easily.
Manuel moves out of range of the strikes.
Graham misses with a straight right.
Manuel leaves Graham with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Manuel misses with a body shot
and Graham connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham looks to land a left hand but Manuel moved out of range nicely.
Graham throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Graham misses with a double jab
and Manuel counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Graham thinking.
Manuel tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Graham counters with a three punch combo that has Manuel backing up. Manuel nods at Graham to acknowledge the strikes.
Graham might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Graham misses with a double jab.
Manuel ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Graham takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Manuel tries to clinch there but Graham circles away.
A slow jab from Graham misses its intended target.
Graham throws an overhand right that lands on Manuel's shoulder, as Manuel tries to avoid the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Manuel dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Manuel with a nice cross.
Graham swats away the attempt to clinch by Manuel.
Manuel tries to clinch up but Graham circles away and keeps his distance.
Graham shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Manuel defends it nicely.
Manuel throws a jab when Graham was well out of range.
Graham throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manuel turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Manuel looks to score with a jab to the body but Graham is just out of range.

Graham shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Graham showed some decent athleticism there.
Manuel tries to roll over but Graham keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graham seems to be looking for submissions.
Manuel 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!
Manuel controlling the position well here. Graham rolled but Manuel kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Graham rolls, trying to escape but Manuel keeps control of the position.
Manuel controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Graham prevents Manuel from getting a body triangle.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Matt Manuel just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Graham throws the left hand but Manuel avoids the punch easily.
Manuel moves out of range as Graham strikes.
Manuel ducks under a wild hook from Graham.
Graham looks to land a combination. Manuel sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Matt Manuel has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel tries to clinch but Graham is having none of it.
Manuel moves in looking to clinch but Graham pushes him off.
Graham cracks Manuel with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Graham throws a series of punches but Manuel avoids them all with ease.
Manuel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Graham moves away.
Manuel slips a straight right by Graham.
Manuel tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Graham counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Graham scores with a body shot.
Manuel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Graham checks a leg kick.
A good leg kick by Manuel.
Graham thows a left - swing and a miss!
Matt Manuel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham misses with a double jab
and Manuel counters with a thumping low kick.
A big right from Graham misses.
Manuel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Manuel connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Graham momentarily.
Manuel takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Manuel is looking to wear down Graham with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Manuel just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Graham. That snapped Manuel's head back.
Manuel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Graham.
Good leg kick by Manuel there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Manuel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Graham.
Graham throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Manuel counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Graham thinking.
Manuel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Graham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matt Manuel's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Graham throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Manuel takes a swing at Graham's ribcage but misses.
Graham looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Graham swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Manuel misses with a two punch combination.

Manuel forces Graham back against the cage and clinches.

Graham manages to break the clinch.
Graham swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Manuel throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manuel is looking to clinch but Graham is avoiding it.
Graham slips a jab and a cross from Manuel.
Graham looks to throw the jab but Manuel is out of range.
Manuel clinches but Graham breaks the clinch
letting Graham counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Graham looks to score with a jab to the body but Manuel is just out of range.
Manuel throws a leg kick but Graham moved away.

Manuel moves into the clinch successfully.
Manuel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Graham pushes Manuel back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Graham has had enough of the clinch but Manuel keeps him there for the moment.
Graham stalls.
Manuel misses with a punch to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Manuel.
Graham blocks a body shot from Manuel.
Manuel is leaning against Graham and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Manuel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Graham.
Manuel scores a nice knee to the body.
Manuel working Graham over with knees to the body.
Graham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Good body shot from Manuel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Graham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Manuel tries to clinch there but Graham circles away.
No joy there for Graham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Graham scores with a three punch combo!
Graham swats away the attempt to clinch by Manuel.
Manuel thumps Graham with a low kick.
Manuel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Manuel.
Manuel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Graham paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Manuel tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Graham counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Manuel is keeping the position for now.
Manuel wants to stand up but Graham is controlling him.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Manuel is on top in guard.
Graham working a defensive guard here.

Manuel stands and steps away. Graham gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Manuel moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Graham throws a lazy right hand but Manuel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Manuel tries a low kick but Graham avoids it.
Billy Graham seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel cracks the inside of Graham's front leg.
Graham throws a lazy right hand but Manuel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Manuel ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Manuel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Graham.
Graham tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Manuel was well out of range. Poor timing from Graham.
Manuel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Manuel throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Manuel ducks under a wild hook from Graham.
A big right from Graham misses.
Manuel wants to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Manuel. No joy for Graham on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Manuel clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Manuel's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Manuel tries to clinch up but Graham circles away and keeps his distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Graham.
A punch combination from Graham misses.
Manuel lands a jab to Graham's midsection.
Manuel throws a head kick that Graham semi-blocks.
Graham lands with a right hand.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Graham.
Manuel wants to clinch
and Graham counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Graham throws a series of punches but Manuel moves out of range.
Manuel with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham has his takedown stuffed
and Manuel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Matt Manuel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Graham.
Manuel lands with a kick to the ribs.
Manuel plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Manuel cracks the inside of Graham's front leg.
A solid leg kick lands there for Manuel.
Manuel lands with a kick to the temple. Graham shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Manuel tries to clinch there but Graham circles away.
Graham thows a left - swing and a miss!
Graham's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Manuel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Manuel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Graham manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Manuel misses its intended target.
Manuel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Graham.
Manuel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Manuel misses with a wild body shot.

Manuel pushes Graham up against the cage in a clinch.
Manuel throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Grahams head.
Manuel has a couple of punches blocked by Graham.
A head punch on the inside from Manuel fails to land.
Graham has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Graham is looking to break free of the clinch but Manuel has double underhooks.
Graham dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Manuel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Manuel misses with a body punch.

Graham manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Manuel.
Manuel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Manuel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Graham moves away.
Manuel misses with a looping left.
Manuel throws a head kick that misses.
Manuel doesn't manage to clinch there - Graham circles away.
Graham throws a jab but it's blocked by Manuel.
Manuel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Graham is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Manuel.
Graham swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Manuel makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Manuel tests Graham's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Graham swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Manuel counters with a leg kick.

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.
Manuel lands with a shot to the body.
Manuel attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Graham fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Manuel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Graham.

Manuel moves into the clinch successfully.
Graham taking a breather.

Graham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Graham scores with a body shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manuel lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Manuel cracks Graham with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Graham just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Manuel had his way with Billy Graham in that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Manuel's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Graham checks a low kick from Manuel.
Manuel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Graham.
Manuel with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Graham tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Manuel swivels and escapes.
Manuel cracks Graham with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Manuel tries to clinch but Graham moves out of range.
Manuel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Graham.
A chopping leg kick lands by Manuel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manuel lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Graham at a distance.
Manuel is looking to clinch.

Manuel instigates a clinch.
Manuel trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel presses Graham against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Come on Manuel - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Graham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Graham throws a right and a left that Manuel avoids nicely.
Graham throws out a powerful jab.
Graham moves forwards but Manuel connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Graham throws a combination. Manuel tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Manuel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Manuel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Graham.
Manuel tries to clinch up.
Graham misses with a series of wild punches.
Graham fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Manuel looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Matt Manuel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Manuel slips a jab from Graham.
Manuel is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Graham swats away the attempt to clinch by Manuel.
Manuel misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A right-left combo lands from Graham.
Manuel throws a head kick but Graham moves out of range.
Graham swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Graham keeps the fight on the outside.
Manuel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Graham looks to land a combination. Manuel sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Graham fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Manuel sprawls well initially but Graham persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Manuel tries to roll over but Graham keeps him under control.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Manuel is trying to control but can't.
Billy Graham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manuel wants to get back to full guard.
Graham stalling.
Manuel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel is refusing to be controlled, as Graham sits in half guard.
Manuel wants to get back to full guard but Graham has mounted him!
Graham fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Manuel tries to hold on but Graham postures up.
The referee warns Manuel that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Graham raining down shots from the mount!
Graham lands a big shot there that rocks Manuel but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Manuel tries to lock up and control but Graham gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Manuel bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Manuel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Graham has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Manuel has managed to get both his arms back between Graham's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Graham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Manuel 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 48:47
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 48:47
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Manuel!
Matt Manuel retains his featherweight title!