PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Verneri Ahma (ranked 396 p4p, 401 weight class) and Ernest Graves (ranked 53 p4p, 54 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Verneri Ahma has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Verneri Ahma seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Ahma
vs
Graves

172 cm
36
156
28 - 20 - 0

172 cm
35
160
29 - 25 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
Voodoo Nutrition

KOMBAT KLOTHING

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 28 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Verneri Ahma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 25 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Ernest Graves!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahma connects with a crisp jab.

It looks like Ernest Graves has been cut.
Ahma is looking to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Graves's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Graves lands with a cross.
Ahma with a nice cross.

Graves closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Graves throws a strike but Ahma avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Graves makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ahma avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Graves tries to free his leg and advance position but Ahma is retaining full guard.
Ahma keeping moving, preventing Graves from controlling successfully.
Graves is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Graves has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graves trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Ahma manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Graves keeping full guard, as Ahma tries to pass.
Graves is looking to sweep but instead, Ahma has passed into half guard.
Graves works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ahma trying to control the position from guard on top but Graves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ahma pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Graves is keeping the position for now.
Graves wants to sweep here but Ahma controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahma's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ahma stopping the sweep attempt from Graves.

Graves has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ahma can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Graves wants to sweep but no luck.
Ahma has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ahma controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ahma stopping the sweep attempt from Graves.
Graves keeping full guard, as Ahma tries to pass.
Ahma sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Ahma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ahma is looking to clinch but Graves is avoiding it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Graves! But no joy.

Ahma closes the distance and clinches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ahma's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Graves changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ahma fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ahma is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Graves looks to land a left hand but Ahma moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ahma clinches.

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

Graves gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ahma to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Graves looking for a sweep. Not yet Graves, not yet.
Graves being controlled here, momentarily.
Ahma stopping the sweep attempt from Graves.
Graves controls Ahma momentarily but Ahma frees himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Graves has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ahma can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Graves keeping moving, preventing Ahma from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Verneri Ahma dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ernest Graves's cut.
That's time! Ahma's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ahma throws a good cross that connects.
Graves takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Graves unleashes a big counter combination but Ahma bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Graves takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Jab, jab by Graves - just one landing.
Ahma scores with a spinning back kick!
Ahma throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Graves.
Nice shot by Ahma.

Graves is rocked!
Verneri Ahma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ahma misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Graves is still on wobbly legs! Can Ahma finish him?
Graves looks up at the clock. Bad move! Ahma lands a right hand from hell, dropping Graves. Ahma pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Verneri Ahma!
An out of breath Verneri Ahma thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.