PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tomas Rumiantsev (ranked 3083 p4p, 4675 weight class) and Billy Graham (ranked 194 p4p, 252 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rumiantsev
vs
Graham

170 cm
21
140
3 - 1 - 0

160 cm
21
140
4 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

NARCOS
Silverback Sweatshop

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tomas Rumiantsev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Billy Graham !
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rumiantsev drives through with a takedown into guard.

Graham looking for a guillotine here but Rumiantsev defends easily.
Graham looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Graham is looking for a triangle but Rumiantsev pushes his legs off easily.
We've been hearing that Rumiantsev has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Rumiantsev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Graham working for a triangle but Rumiantsev defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rumiantsev slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Graham looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rumiantsev passes into half guard.
Rumiantsev sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Graham trying to hold on to Rumiantsev's head to control him but Rumiantsev postures up.

Graham looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Graham wants to improve his position but Rumiantsev is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Graham wants to control but Rumiantsev is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Graham is concentrating on defense, preventing Rumiantsev from advancing position.
Rumiantsev seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rumiantsev controlling the pace.
Graham has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Graham trying to hold on to Rumiantsev's head to control him but Rumiantsev postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Graham shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rumiantsev as he avoids it easily.
Rumiantsev lands a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rumiantsev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rumiantsev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Graham ducks under a wild hook from Rumiantsev.
Graham looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rumiantsev is fending him off so far but Graham persists. Nope, Rumiantsev circles away and we're back to standing.

Graham darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Graham is looking for a kimura but Rumiantsev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Graham to get the leverage.
Rumiantsev wants to improve his position but Graham is controlling well.
Graham moves nicely into side control.
Rumiantsev is trying to control Graham 's posture but Graham avoids it.
Rumiantsev gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham is thwarting Rumiantsev's attempts to control the position.
Graham tries to stand but can't do so whilst Rumiantsev controls his leg.
Rumiantsev is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Graham 's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Graham 's back!
Graham can't escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rumiantsev is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rumiantsev has the hooks in. Graham is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tomas Rumiantsev dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Graham blocks a jab.
Graham shoots in looking for a takedown but Rumiantsev manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Graham 's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
No luck for Graham with that takedown attempt.
Graham is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rumiantsev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rumiantsev tries to counter with a takedown but Graham is quick to defend against it.
Tomas Rumiantsev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Graham .
Rumiantsev scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Good standup being displayed there by Rumiantsev as he connects with a hook.
Billy Graham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Graham looks for a takedown but Rumiantsev sprawls well.
Rumiantsev drops down looking for a counter takedown but Graham sprawls and moves away.

Graham gets the takedown into side control.
Rumiantsev wants to control but Graham postures up.
Rumiantsev gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Graham looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rumiantsev is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Graham 's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Graham 's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
I would not like to be Graham right now.
Rumiantsev is trying to stick to Graham 's back but Graham is turning into Rumiantsev. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rumiantsev's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Graham .
Graham stopping the sweep attempt from Rumiantsev.
Rumiantsev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rumiantsev controlling the pace.
Nice strikes from Rumiantsev there.
Rumiantsev working over Graham with some ground and pound. Graham looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rumiantsev content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rumiantsev lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Graham tries to roll over but Rumiantsev keeps him under control.
Graham flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Rumiantsev is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Graham is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rumiantsev pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rumiantsev is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Graham manages to get to full guard.
Rumiantsev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Graham can do to turn this around?
Graham is trying to hold Rumiantsev in close to prevent damage but Rumiantsev has managed to pass into half guard.

Graham kicks off Rumiantsev and gets to his feet.
Graham shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Graham shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rumiantsev pinned against the cage. Rumiantsev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Rumiantsev misses.

Rumiantsev scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Rumiantsev moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Graham is not content to let Rumiantsev control the position.
Graham is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rumiantsev has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tomas Rumiantsev dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Graham .
Rumiantsev attempts a counter takedown but Graham avoids it well and moves away.
Rumiantsev cracks Graham with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Rumiantsev closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Graham is looking to improve his position.
Rumiantsev keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Graham trying to hold on to Rumiantsev's head to control him but Rumiantsev postures up.
Rumiantsev passes the guard and advances to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graham wants to hold on but Rumiantsev pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Graham tries to roll over but Rumiantsev keeps him under control.
Rumiantsev is controlling the pace.
Rumiantsev is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tomas Rumiantsev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Graham trying to hold on to Rumiantsev's head to control him but Rumiantsev postures up.
Tomas Rumiantsev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rumiantsev keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Graham tries to kick Rumiantsev off but Rumiantsev keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rumiantsev looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rumiantsev prevents Graham from standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rumiantsev is controlling the pace.

Graham actively working from the bottom here.
Rumiantsev controlling the action here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rumiantsev works the jab nicely.
Rumiantsev is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Graham will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rumiantsev tries to counter with a takedown but Graham is quick to defend against it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rumiantsev. Graham does a little dance to reset his feet.
Billy Graham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rumiantsev with a jab.
Rumiantsev connects with a jab.
Rumiantsev bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Graham shoots for a takedown but Rumiantsev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rumiantsev feinted with a counter takedown.
Tomas Rumiantsev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Graham .

Rumiantsev closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Graham did well to prevent Rumiantsev getting side control.
Still in half guard, Rumiantsev seems content to control.

Graham actively working from the bottom here.
Billy Graham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rumiantsev performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Graham is looking to control Rumiantsev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Graham avoid being mounted?

Graham is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rumiantsev pulls his head out easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Graham is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rumiantsev pulls his head out easily.
Graham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rumiantsev looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomas Rumiantsev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rumiantsev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomas Rumiantsev!