PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alex Graves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Durant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Graves comes to the cage accompanied by London Calling. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Graves
vs
Durant

190 cm
36
198 lbs
16 - 16 - 0

186 cm
28
192 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Revolution Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kevin Durant!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Steve Montenegro and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Graves with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Durant to score with a decent uppercut.
Durant feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Graves's calf.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Durant.
Graves has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Graves there as he acknowledges the shot.
Durant moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Durant throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Graves takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Durant looks to throw the jab but Graves is out of range.
Graves appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Graves darts in looking for a takedown but Durant gets double underhooks and turns Graves into the cage.
Durant throws a lazy head kick

and Graves counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Durant!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Durant is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Graves off and has taken his back!
Durant is trying to stick to Graves's back but Graves is turning into Durant. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Durant's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Graves.

Graves avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Graves looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Graves is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Durant knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Durant tries to buck Graves off but Graves is having none of it.
Durant stops Graves from passing to mount.
You can see the frustration on Durant's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Graves is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Durant has escaped the position, nice work there.
Durant tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Durant wants to control but Graves postures up.
Graves has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durant manages to work his way to half guard, despite Graves's best efforts.
Durant won't allow Graves to pass to mount.

Durant looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Graves wants to work for an arm triangle but Durant is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Graves is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Graves working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Durant's thigh. Durant counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Graves drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Graves jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Graves advances to half guard.

Graves is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graves looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Graves is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Graves advances position into side control!

Graves wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Durant, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Graves tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Durant tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Durant sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Durant is trying to stand up here but Graves is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Graves is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Durant defends it well.

Graves is working for a submission of some sort.
Durant desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Graves 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.
Durant wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kevin Durant will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Durant throws a looping overhand right but Graves ducks down to avoid it.
Durant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Graves.
Durant lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Graves misses with a takedown attempt
and Durant counters with a stiff right hand.
Durant misses with an uppercut. Graves saw that one coming.
Durant pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Good leg kick by Durant there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Graves shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Durant as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durant fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Graves throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Durant's waist but Durant gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Graves off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Graves. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Graves.
Graves feinted with a counter takedown.
Durant lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Durant pulls out of a head kick attempt.
An inside leg kick lands from Durant.
Durant lands a nice looking body shot.
Kevin Durant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Durant with a jab.
Graves shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Durant but Durant pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Graves gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Durant cracks a nice hook into Graves's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Alex Graves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Durant throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Graves stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Durant.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Durant pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Durant chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice takedown defense from Durant. No joy for Graves on that attempt.
A low kick from Durant misses

and Graves counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Durant manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Graves manages to get himself to full guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durant sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Alex Graves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Graves looking for a sweep. Not yet Graves, not yet.

Graves working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Durant doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Durant manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Graves bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Durant's guard.

Durant is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Durant is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Durant prevents Graves from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves moves into full guard.

Graves has his foot on Durant's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Durant works his way back into a safe position though.
Durant trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Graves throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Durant escapes and throws Graves's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Graves is looking to reverse the position.
Durant moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Durant trying to control the position but Graves is working away.
Graves regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Durant showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A head kick by Durant misses

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

Durant uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Kevin Durant seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Graves checks a leg kick.
Graves takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A big right from Durant misses.
Durant misses with a head kick.
Graves tries to counter with a takedown but Durant is quick to defend against it.
Durant tries a head kick but it misses.
Durant throws a body punch but Graves moves out of range.
Durant throws a body shot but no joy.
Graves tries to counter with a takedown but Durant is quick to defend against it.
Durant fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Durant throws a lazy right hand but Graves sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Graves attempts a counter takedown but Durant avoids it well and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durant lands a nice looking body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Durant, right into the meat.
Durant swings for the body but Graves moves out of range.
Graves half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Durant thows a left - swing and a miss!
Graves has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Durant throws a shot from downtown. Graves moves away and avoids it.
Durant throws a leg kick but Graves moved away.
A big right from Durant misses.
Graves attempts a counter takedown but Durant avoids it well and moves away.
Durant lands a jab to the nose.
Durant connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Graves is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durant stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Durant lands with a good body shot.
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!
Durant scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Graves doesn't seem bothered though.
Durant jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Durant throws a head kick that misses.
Graves feinted with a counter takedown.
Graves uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Durant.
Graves drops down looking for a counter takedown but Durant sprawls and moves away.
Graves slips under a jab from Durant.
Graves avoids the head kick by Durant.
Durant lands a leg kick that knocks Graves off balance momentarily.
Durant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Graves manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Graves 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Durant tries to bum rush Graves with a series of wild strikes but Graves uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Durant lands with a hook. Graves tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Durant tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Graves has a takedown stuffed.
Alex Graves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kevin Durant is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A jab from Durant does it's job there.
Durant throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Graves fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graves shoots in looking for a takedown but Durant manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Graves's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Graves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durant scoring well with a low kick there.
Durant uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Graves has time to react.
Kevin Durant is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Durant lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nice straight punches there by Durant. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Durant.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Durant scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Durant is looking to slow Graves down with leg kicks.
Durant ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Graves moves away.
Durant has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Graves misses with a few strikes there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Durant comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Durant winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Durant!
A very excited looking Kevin Durant rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.
Alex Graves was interviewed post fight and said 'This isn't over. That was luck and we will be back to breaking arms and spirits very soon!'.