PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Graves (ranked 5471 p4p, 5282 weight class) and Miroslav Nurmagomedov (ranked 549 p4p, 533 weight class). Nurmagomedov has chosen Russia National Anthem as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Graves
vs
Nurmagomedov

179 cm
21
158
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

ALPHAwear

SynCity Fightwear
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joseph Graves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Miroslav Nurmagomedov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Gwen Towbar and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nurmagomedov.
Graves tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nurmagomedov was well out of range. Poor timing from Graves.
Nurmagomedov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Graves tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nurmagomedov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nurmagomedov steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Graves.

Nurmagomedov has managed to clinch.
Nurmagomedov is trying to drag Graves to the mat but Graves just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nurmagomedov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Graves is defending well.
Joseph Graves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miroslav Nurmagomedov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov has Graves pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Graves manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Graves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Joseph Graves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graves swinging wildly here.
Nurmagomedov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A head kick misses from Graves.
Nurmagomedov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nurmagomedov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nurmagomedov shoots in and drives through. Graves sprawls well.
Nurmagomedov looks to score with a jab to the body but Graves is just out of range.
Graves went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Graves goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves looks to land a combination but Nurmagomedov avoids it well.
Nurmagomedov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Graves looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Graves throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Nurmagomedov moves into the clinch.
Graves looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nurmagomedov tries to score a body lock takedown but Graves shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Graves is trying to break free.

Graves is fighting off a takedown attempt but Nurmagomedov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Graves to the mat. Graves regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Nurmagomedov stays in close to Graves's body and controls the position.
Nurmagomedov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov won't allow Graves to get back to his feet.
Nurmagomedov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Graves throws a head kick that misses

and Nurmagomedov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nurmagomedov is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Graves dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Graves connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Graves throws a quick inside leg kick.
Graves takes a swing at Nurmagomedov's ribcage but misses.

Graves forces Nurmagomedov back against the cage and clinches.
Graves prevents the takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Graves pulls his leg out and moves away.
Graves misses with a series of wild punches.
Nurmagomedov slips a jab and a cross from Graves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Nurmagomedov eats them both and turns towards Graves to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nurmagomedov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Graves moves away.
Graves lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Graves throws a combination that misses

and Nurmagomedov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Graves swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nurmagomedov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nurmagomedov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Graves swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nurmagomedov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Nurmagomedov staying calm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
More stalling from Nurmagomedov.
Check out the look on Nurmagomedov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Miroslav Nurmagomedov has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nurmagomedov content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Nurmagomedov cracks Graves with a big right hand but Graves just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Nurmagomedov landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Graves is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Nurmagomedov asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nurmagomedov is trying to get an arm triangle but Graves is defending well.
Nurmagomedov controlling the position.
Nurmagomedov prevents Graves from escaping the position.
Check out the look on Nurmagomedov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Nurmagomedov advances to mount.
BOOM! Nurmagomedov connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Nurmagomedov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Nurmagomedov connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Nurmagomedov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Graves wants to try and get back to his feet.
Nurmagomedov controlling from the full mount.
Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of good head shots there.
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!
Nurmagomedov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Nurmagomedov is in the full mount, landing strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Miroslav Nurmagomedov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Graves tries to clinch up but Nurmagomedov circles away and keeps his distance.
Graves avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Graves scores with a jab.
Graves bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Graves throws a sloppy head kick

and Nurmagomedov counters by moving into the clinch.
Nurmagomedov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Graves pulls his leg out and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nurmagomedov instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graves breaks the clinch.
Graves lands a high kick!
Nurmagomedov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Joseph Graves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Graves buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Graves rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nurmagomedov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Graves cracks Nurmagomedov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nurmagomedov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Graves misses with a double jab.
It seemed like Nurmagomedov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graves swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Nurmagomedov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nurmagomedov slows the pace down in half guard.
Nurmagomedov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Graves tries to kick Nurmagomedov off but Nurmagomedov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nurmagomedov trying to control the pace.
Nurmagomedov with more of the same as he continues to hold on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Nurmagomedov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Nurmagomedov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Graves with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nurmagomedov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Graves is trying to stand.
Nurmagomedov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nurmagomedov misses with a takedown attempt
and Graves counters with a series of strikes. Nurmagomedov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Graves lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Nurmagomedov backs up against the cage.
Joseph Graves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Nurmagomedov moves into the clinch.
Graves wants to break free but Nurmagomedov has control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Graves working hard to break the clinch.
Graves is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Joseph Graves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miroslav Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov goes for a takedown attempt but Graves pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Graves showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Graves 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Graves!
Joseph Graves gave a mention to ALPHAwear in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).
Miroslav Nurmagomedov spoke after the fight, saying 'All I want to say, is that I will come back stronger, faster, smarter and hungrier than ever before. Rossiya, my budem chempionami, nesmotrya ni na chto!'.