PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Thompson (ranked 4780 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Graham (ranked 5005 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Metallica: Enter Sandman. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Thompson
vs
Graham

178 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sam Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexander Graham !
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson has a takedown stuffed.
Sam Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson doesn't manage to clinch there - Graham circles away.
Graham unleashes a big counter combination but Thompson bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Thompson gets tackled into the cage by Graham . Graham maintains the clinch.
Thompson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Graham is defending well.
Thompson is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Thompson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Graham is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Thompson to keep the fight standing.
Graham drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thompson pulls his leg out and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Graham avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Graham stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thompson.
Both fighters circling a little - Thompson finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Graham manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Thompson on his heels. He'll look to pass Thompson's guard now, I'm sure.

Thompson scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thompson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thompson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Graham avoids it really well and circles away.
Graham throws a head kick but Thompson moves out of range.

Graham feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Graham with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thompson is trying to keep Graham in close.
Graham must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Graham wants to control from the top but Thompson keeps moving.
Graham looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Graham thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Graham controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Thompson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Graham is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Graham decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Graham clinches.
Graham keeps control of Thompson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Thompson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Graham shoots for a double leg takedown but Thompson sprawls well. He's pushed Graham 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Graham shoots in and gets a takedown into Thompson's guard.
Graham in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson working a defensive guard here.
Graham missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Graham lands a couple of elbows.
Thompson working a defensive guard but Graham manages to pass into side control anyway.
Thompson sneaks back into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Graham wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thompson keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Graham dominated that round.
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.

Graham has closed the distance and engaged Thompson in a clinch.
Thompson throws an elbow that misses.

Graham jumps guard and drags Thompson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Graham wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.
Graham being controlled here, momentarily.
Thompson wants to pass the guard but Graham is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Graham has his feet on Thompson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Thompson throws a body punch but Graham moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Graham darts in looking for a takedown but Thompson gets double underhooks and turns Graham into the cage.
A head kick misses from Thompson.

Graham moves into range and clinches up with Thompson.
Graham jumps guard but Thompson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Thompson breaks from the clinch.

Graham manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Thompson on his heels. He'll look to pass Thompson's guard now, I'm sure.
Thompson is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Graham dives into side control.

Graham wants to control but Thompson is keeping him busy.

Thompson explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Graham dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thompson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Alexander Graham has been cut.
Thompson misses with a two punch combination.

Graham shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Thompson kicks off Graham and gets to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thompson has a takedown stuffed.

Graham closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Thompson's guard.
Graham stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thompson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham passes into half guard.
Graham trying to mount his opponent but Thompson defends it.
Thompson manages to get to full guard.
Thompson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Thompson uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Thompson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Graham kicks off Thompson and gets to his feet.
Thompson wants to clinch up but Graham keeps it at a distance.
Thompson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Graham fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sam Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Graham .
Graham fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sam Thompson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexander Graham 's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Graham changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thompson tries to avoid it but Graham manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thompson to the ground. Thompson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thompson tries to clinch but Graham moves out of range.

Graham rushes Thompson and presses him up against the cage.
Graham has Thompson pushed against the cage.
Thompson being controlled against the cage.
Graham fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson tries to pull guard but Graham forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Graham tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sam Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Graham .
Graham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thompson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Thompson can't find room to land a body shot as Graham controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thompson manages to pull guard.
Thompson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Graham trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson is trying to keep Graham in close.
Thompson looking for a sweep. Not yet Thompson, not yet.
Thompson has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Graham has passed into side control.
Thompson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Graham advances nicely into full mount.
Graham is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Graham controlling the position easily from mount.
Graham dominating with strikes here.
Alexander Graham has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Graham controlling the position easily from mount.
Graham connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Graham is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Thompson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
A nice elbow there by Graham .
Graham unloading with bombs!
Thompson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Thompson is refusing to be controlled, as Graham sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Graham throwing shots but Thompson is blocking nicely.
Graham wants to pass to mount but Thompson is defending the position.
Thompson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Thompson.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Graham trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Graham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Graham has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Graham !
In his post fight interview, Alexander Graham started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
Sam Thompson was interviewed post fight and said 'I want to thank my opponent for the fight and i just have to train harder and come back strong.'.