PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alex Graves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emiliano Zapata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Graves comes to the ring accompanied by London Calling. Zapata is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: EINA. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Graves
vs
Zapata

190 cm
33
198 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

189 cm
26
190 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Emiliano Zapata!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zapata fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Graves has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Graves shoots in and drives through. Zapata sprawls well.
A little jabbing left from Zapata on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Zapata moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Graves shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zapata looks to land a combination. Graves sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Graves walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Nice sprawl there from Zapata as Graves shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Graves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zapata throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Alex Graves has been cut.
Graves fails to land the takedown.
Zapata throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zapata swings for the body but Graves moves out of range.
Graves tries to counter with a takedown but Zapata is quick to defend against it.
Zapata throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zapata moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Graves shoots in for a takedown but Zapata shows good takedown defense.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zapata, right into the meat.
Zapata throws a leg kick which misses Graves's front leg but catches the back leg as Graves tries to avoid it.
Graves on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Graves has been working on his boxing with his coaches at FIERCE in the buildup to the fight.
Graves closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zapata circles away.
Zapata lands a right hook to the body.
Graves gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapata connects with a leg kick. Graves looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Graves is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Graves moves out of range of the leg kick from Zapata.
Zapata leaves Graves with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zapata is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Zapata.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zapata scores with a kick to the midsection.
Graves takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Zapata fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Good standup being displayed there by Zapata as he connects with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Graves or perhaps it was just good defense by Zapata, which made it look bad.
Graves with a poor takedown
and Zapata counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zapata fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zapata listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Zapata lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Graves at a distance.
Both fighters circling a little - Zapata finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Graves is breathing heavily.
Zapata lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Zapata misses with a jab, cross combination.
Graves misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zapata fakes the leg kick and cracks Graves in the body.
Zapata misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Graves changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
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!
Zapata throws a nice inside leg kick.
Graves looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zapata is fending him off so far but Graves persists. Nope, Zapata circles away and we're back to standing.
Zapata scores with the left hand. Graves knows he should have avoided that one.
Zapata lands with a shot to the body.
Zapata lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Graves is rocked!
Zapata throws a pinpoint strike between Graves's hands that connects right on the jaw and sends Graves crashing to the floor! He's out before he even hits the mat and Zapata scores a great knockout victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Emiliano Zapata!
After winning the bout, Emiliano Zapata thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
In defeat, Alex Graves stepped up to the mic, saying 'No way, no way. That crap was stopped too soon!'.