PBP Commentary

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

Graham
vs
Savage

167 cm
25
135 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

171 cm
20
143 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marcus Graham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eli Savage!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savage avoids the head kick by Graham.

Savage gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Graham to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Graham avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Graham advances to half guard.
Savage is trying to control but can't.
Savage wants to improve his position but Graham is controlling well.

Savage kicks Graham off and gets back to his feet.
A jab from Savage finds it's way through Graham's defenses.
Savage missing with a left hand there. Graham was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Graham with a poor takedown
and Savage counters with an outside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Savage ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage swinging wildly here.
Graham avoids the body shot from Savage.
Savage fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Graham looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Graham shoots in looking for a takedown but Savage manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Graham's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Graham tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Savage manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Graham dodges the punch combination from Savage.
Graham shoots and misses
and Savage counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Savage moves into the clinch.

Graham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Savage misses the shot to the body.
Savage tries to clinch but Graham moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Savage shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Savage showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savage works his way into full mount!
Graham wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Savage.
Savage landing strikes from the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage working the ground and pound effectively.
Graham manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Savage throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Savage not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Savage lands a nice short elbow.
Nice strikes from Savage there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Graham is trying to stand up here but Savage is controlling him well.
Graham is staying active underneath Savage, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Savage not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham gets full guard.

Graham has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Savage can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Savage postures up in Graham's guard and throws a big left but Graham blocks it.
Savage missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Savage trying to control the position from guard on top but Graham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Savage throws a strike but Graham rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Graham is pushing down on Savage's leg trying to pass to half guard. Savage is fighting to maintain full guard but Graham has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Savage dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Savage lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Savage throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Savage lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Eli Savage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graham looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Savage is fending him off so far but Graham persists. Nope, Savage circles away and we're back to standing.
Graham closes this distance looking for a takedown but Savage circles away.
Savage throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Graham counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Savage tries to close the distance and clinch but Graham swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Graham fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Graham takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Savage throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Graham.
Savage throws a body punch but Graham moves out of range.
Graham fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham moves out of range as Savage strikes.
Graham takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Graham catches Savage with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Savage tries to clinch up but Graham circles away and keeps his distance.
Savage throws a head kick that misses.
Savage throws a hook to the side of Graham's head but Graham sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Savage attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Graham checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Graham displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Savage throws out the jab.
Savage looks to land a combination but Graham avoids it well.
Marcus Graham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Graham is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Savage.
Graham closes this distance looking for a takedown but Savage circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage connects with a crisp jab.
Savage throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Graham.
Savage throws a nice looking combination but Graham bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Graham wants to clinch up but Savage keeps it at a distance.
Graham keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Savage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Graham dives in and scores a takedown into Savage's guard.

Savage is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Graham is aware though and is defending well.

Savage uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Savage bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Graham's head.
Graham fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Savage.
Savage is looking to clinch but Graham is avoiding it.
Savage misses with the combination.
Savage misses with a straight left.
Savage pivots, looking for a leg kick but Graham is out of range and Savage settles back down.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Savage!
Eli Savage seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Graham fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Savage tries to clinch up but Graham circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Savage misses with a jab, cross combination.

Graham fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Savage, pushing him back against the cage.
Savage letting Graham take a breather here.
Savage fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Graham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Graham scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savage trying his best to control but Graham has mounted him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Savage keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Graham is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Savage has managed to escape the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Savage showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Graham tries to keep at a distance but Savage has taken the fight into the clinch.
Graham drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Savage tries to work over Graham's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Graham tries for a takedown but Savage manages to get underhooks.
Graham blocks an uppercut.
Savage tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Graham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Savage lands an overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Savage misses.
Graham fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Graham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Graham swats away the attempt to clinch by Savage.
Savage moves out of range of the body kick from Graham.
A slow jab from Savage misses its intended target.

Savage clinches with his opponent.
Savage is looking to break free of the clinch but Graham has double underhooks.
Graham keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Savage's efforts to push away.
Graham goes for a takedown attempt but Savage pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Savage gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Savage stalling in the clinch but Graham improves position.
Savage scores with a nice hook to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Savage creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Graham throws a knee to the head but misses.
Savage misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Savage.
Graham throws an elbow that misses.
Graham wants a takedown but no success here.

Savage drags the fight down to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Savage has an active guard here but Graham has managed to pass into half guard.
Savage wants to control but Graham is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Savage tries to get to full guard but Graham has control of the leg.
Savage wants to control but Graham is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Graham is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Savage moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Savage is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Graham 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.
Graham won't allow Savage to sweep him here.
Savage really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Graham. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Graham thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Graham prevents Savage from getting back to his feet.
Eli Savage is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Graham thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Savage wants to stand and escape but Graham is having none of it.
Marcus Graham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Graham working some strikes from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eli Savage comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Savage 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eli Savage!