PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Emil Pasanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Graf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Pasanen
vs
Graf

195 cm
30
205 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

180 cm
26
225 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Emil Pasanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Chris Graf!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pasanen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Graf to the mat! Graf manages to get full guard.

Pasanen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pasanen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Graf is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Pasanen trying to control but Graf is working from the bottom.
Pasanen is fighting to break Graf's control of his arms but Graf is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Pasanen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Graf dives on top into guard.
Graf stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pasanen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pasanen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pasanen keeping moving, preventing Graf from controlling successfully.
Pasanen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Graf stays in close to Pasanen's body and controls the position.
Graf trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
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.
Graf stopping the sweep attempt from Pasanen.

Pasanen working for a triangle but Graf defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Pasanen can't keep his opponent in guard - Graf advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Graf is taking a breather. Pasanen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Graf seems to be working for a kimura but Pasanen defends the submission attempt.
Pasanen won't allow Graf to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pasanen is looking to improve his position.
Graf takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Pasanen is looking to control Graf's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pasanen avoid being mounted?
Graf is trying to control. Pasanen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pasanen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Pasanen trying to control the position.
Pasanen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Graf's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Pasanen pushing down on Graf's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Graf wants to improve his position but Pasanen is controlling well.
Pasanen content to control rather than advance.

Pasanen wants to work for an arm triangle but Graf is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Graf is looking to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Pasanen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
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 Emil Pasanen will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pasanen fails with the takedown

and Graf decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pasanen's guard.
Pasanen looking for a sweep. Not yet Pasanen, not yet.
Pasanen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Graf is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Graf pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pasanen is keeping the position for now.
Pasanen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pasanen throws his legs up looking for a submission but Graf uses it to pass to side control.

Graf wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pasanen, who protects the arm well.
Graf trying to control the action but Pasanen is working from the bottom.
Graf takes a little break here. Pasanen wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pasanen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pasanen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Pasanen is trying to get back to full guard.

Graf is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Pasanen is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.
Pasanen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Pasanen working a defensive guard but Graf manages to pass into side control anyway.
Pasanen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Pasanen gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pasanen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Graf tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Graf showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Graf shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pasanen misses with a takedown attempt

and Graf counters with a nice double leg into side control. Pasanen won't be happy with that.
Pasanen tries to bench press Graf off him but Graf keeps the position.
Pasanen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Pasanen wants to improve his position but Graf is controlling well.
Graf with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Graf looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Pasanen is looking for a sweep. Graf is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pasanen is refusing to be controlled, as Graf sits in half guard.
Graf is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Chris Graf wasn't active enough on the ground.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Graf.

Pasanen gets caught flat footed, as Graf shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Graf wants to control from the top but Pasanen keeps moving.
Pasanen looking to control.
Graf pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pasanen is keeping the position for now.
Pasanen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pasanen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Graf trying to control the position from guard on top but Pasanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pasanen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Graf trying to control but Pasanen is working from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Chris Graf wasn't active enough on the ground.

Pasanen scores a takedown into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graf tries to hold on but Pasanen pushes him away.

Pasanen jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Graf is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Graf and Pasanen has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Graf struggling a bit here.
Pasanen wants to control but Graf is keeping him busy.

Pasanen swings around for an armbar but Graf sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Pasanen's guard.
Pasanen looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Graf wants to control from the top but Pasanen keeps moving.
Graf looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Pasanen trying to control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pasanen wants to hit a switch here but Graf passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Pasanen there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Graf comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Graf has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Graf!