PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ruben Flijers (ranked 2962 p4p, 3583 weight class) and Robert Gracie (ranked 387 p4p, 454 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Flijers
vs
Gracie

188 cm
25
200
3 - 5 - 0

185 cm
20
197
3 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

High Peak Fightwear

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ruben Flijers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Robert Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Glass and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Flijers lands with a nice body punch.
Flijers ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gracie takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Gracie moves into the clinch.
Flijers holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Gracie tries for a takedown. No joy.
Flijers trying to land knees to the body.
Flijers tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Flijers misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Gracie gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Flijers regains guard.
Flijers wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
Gracie sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flijers tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie stays in close to Flijers's body and controls the position.
Flijers working a defensive guard here.
Gracie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Flijers looking for a sweep. Not yet Flijers, not yet.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Flijers swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Flijers is pulling down on Gracie's head. It's preventing any offense from Gracie, at least for the moment.
Gracie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Flijers has his hands on Gracie's head, controlling the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Flijers is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown but Flijers manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gracie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ruben Flijers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Gracie.
Flijers fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
Flijers defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
Flijers leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
It looked like Flijers wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A hook to the body from Flijers.
Flijers misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gracie on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flijers stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Flijers pulls Gracie into guard.
My spies in Puncher's Chance Collective inform me that Gracie has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie trying to control but Flijers is working from the bottom.
Flijers controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Flijers looking for a sweep. Not yet Flijers, not yet.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Flijers's guard.
Flijers is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. Flijers knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Flijers is controlling Gracie's trapped leg to prevent Gracie from advancing to side control.
Flijers is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Flijers defends the submission attempt.
Gracie prevents Flijers from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Flijers manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Flijers controlling the position.
Flijers 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.
Flijers keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Flijers takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Flijers swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Flijers stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Flijers connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gracie momentarily.
We've been told by Flijers's head coaches at Hotrod Express MMA Training that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Flijers lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gracie at a distance.
Flijers lands a body shot.
Flijers slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Flijers defends it nicely.
Ruben Flijers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Gracie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie takes a jab right on the kisser.
Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Flijers lunges at Gracie with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gracie's hand.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Flijers, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Flijers against the cage but Flijers circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flijers comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Flijers with a nice calf kick.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Flijers lands a jab to the nose.
Flijers uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Flijers connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Flijers fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Flijers. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Flijers napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie trying to control the action but Flijers is working from the bottom.
Flijers struggling a bit here.
Flijers is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.
Flijers gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Flijers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Flijers does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flijers is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Flijers does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gracie prevents Flijers from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flijers keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Flijers trying to control from the bottom.
Flijers knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Flijers tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Gracie is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Gracie looking to secure an arm triangle but Flijers defends it well.
Flijers keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Flijers is looking to escape.
Flijers is trying desperately to improve position.
Flijers tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
Flijers on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Flijers tries to get out of the position.
Gracie throws some wild stikes that Flijers manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flijers is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.

Gracie looking for a guillotine from mount but Flijers is having none of it.
Flijers really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gracie controlling the pace for now.
Flijers tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
Gracie controlling his opponent.
Flijers really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gracie controlling his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ruben Flijers dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Flijers just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt
and Flijers counters with a right hand to the body.
Flijers's corner calls for a 1-2. Flijers obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Flijers as he avoids it easily.
Ruben Flijers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Gracie.
Flijers fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
Flijers connects with a body shot that sends Gracie's belly button to the back.
Flijers lands a head shot.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Flijers.
And Gracie tries to counter it with a takedown but Flijers pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Flijers misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Flijers cracks Gracie with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Gracie staying out of range there.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Flijers as he jumps to the side.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Flijers sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Gracie drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
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!
Flijers working a defensive guard here.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Flijers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Robert Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flijers pulls Gracie in to control the position.
Flijers lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Flijers slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Flijers wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Flijers looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Flijers looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Flijers keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Gracie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Flijers tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Flijers keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Flijers pulls Gracie in to control the position.
Gracie preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Flijers is retaining full guard.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
Well, if Gracie is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Flijers controlling the position well.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Flijers trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Flijers misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gracie checks the leg kick.
Flijers throws a body shot but no joy.
Ruben Flijers is winning the standup battle so far.
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Flijers pushes him off.
Flijers will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Flijers as he avoids it easily.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Flijers circles away.
Flijers scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Flijers sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Flijers was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Flijers fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
Flijers lands a glancing blow to the side of Gracie's head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Flijers. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Flijers throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gracie stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
Flijers fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed
and Flijers counters with a head kick. That will keep Gracie thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Robert Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Flijers lands a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruben Flijers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Flijers, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruben Flijers!
An out of breath Ruben Flijers thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.