PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mateus Gracie (ranked 881 p4p, 1027 weight class) and Ameri Can (ranked 91 p4p, 110 weight class). Can has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gracie
vs
Can

163 cm
31
153
11 - 6 - 0

173 cm
39
151
22 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mateus Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ameri Can!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Can lands a front kick.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Can ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Can connects with a body shot.
Can throws a body shot but no joy.
We've been told by Gracie's head coaches at 3Band MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Gracie lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Can has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Can and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Jab by Can.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A head kick from Can lands but Gracie takes it in his stride.
Can tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Can.
Can lands a jab to the head.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Can.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Can throws the kick towards the body but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie throws a hook but Can avoids it easily.
Can looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Can misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Can chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Can scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Gracie gets a takedown into half guard.
Gracie keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Gracie working over Can with some ground and pound. Can looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Can is defending well.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Can keeps working.
Can is controlling Gracie's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Can trying to control from the bottom.
Gracie is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Can makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Can.
Can is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Can has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Gracie has passed into side control.
Can struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie swings around for an armbar but Can sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Gracie's guard.
Can advances to half guard.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Can is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie wants to control but Can is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Can is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Can looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gracie keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Gracie wants to control but Can is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Can passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Gracie!
Gracie tries to lock up and control but Can gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Can trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracie wants to control but Can is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ameri Can dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
Can throws out a counter right but Gracie avoids it with no problem.
Ameri Can seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A swing and a miss from Gracie.
Good standup being displayed there by Can as he connects with a hook.
Can misses with a body punch
and Gracie counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Can gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Can misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Gracie misses the jab.
Gracie moves out of range of the body kick.
Can misses the body punch
and Gracie counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Can.
Can throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.
Can scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Can swings away with a body shot that misses
and Gracie counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Can scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Can lands a jab to the nose.
Gracie pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gracie checks the leg kick.
Can misses with a hook.
Gracie avoids a kick to the body.
Gracie feinted with a counter takedown.
A lazy body kick from Can
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Can misses the jab.
Can fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
Can misses with a leg kick
and Gracie counters with a big head kick but Can shrugs it off.
Can misses the shot to the body.
Can misses with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown but Can manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gracie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Can.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ameri Can is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Can throws a leg kick that misses.
Can is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gracie rather than just go for the knockout.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Can, as that shot connected.
Gracie takes one to the chin there.
Gracie scores with a nice right hand.
Can cracks Gracie with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Can has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Can throws a shot from downtown. Gracie moves away and avoids it.
Can jabs Gracie to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Gracie is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Can looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Gracie misses its target.
Can throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gracie counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Can misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Can misses with a body shot.
Gracie throws a jab but it's blocked by Can.
The fighters circling - Gracie throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Can! But no joy.
Can closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Can looks to land a body kick but Gracie moved away.
Can lunges at Gracie with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gracie's hand.
Can throws a lazy uppercut
and Gracie counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Can misses with a body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Gracie misses the target.
Can throws a leg kick that misses.
Can is looking to score with low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Can uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gracie.
A little jabbing left from Can on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Can just misses with a punch to the body.
Can digs a good body shot into Gracie's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Can momentarily.
Gracie lands with a hook. Can tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A cross from Can lands.
Can uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gracie.
It seemed like Can was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Can swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gracie pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gracie on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Can sprawls well. Can wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Can doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ameri Can will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Can keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Gracie scores with a nice right hand.
Can throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gracie counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Can has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Can swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Gracie counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gracie takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Can jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Can throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gracie takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Can throws a push kick but Gracie slaps the foot to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Can scores with a punch to the head.
Gracie connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Can connects with an inside leg kick.
Can darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Can swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Can takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Some bone on bone action there as Gracie checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Gracie lands with a hook. Can tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gracie checks a leg kick nicely.
Gracie throws a leg kick which misses Can's front leg but catches the back leg as Can tries to avoid it.
Can connects with a solid leg kick.
Gracie staying out of range there.
A jab from Gracie misses.
Mateus Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Can swings and misses with a hook to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Gracie misses the target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Can throws a lazy body kick
and Gracie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gracie darts in looking for a takedown but Can gets double underhooks and turns Gracie into the cage.
Can looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Can tries to break free but Gracie pushes him back against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Gracie.
Can goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gracie misses with a short punch on the inside.
Can tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gracie just leaning against Can, taking a breather.
Can lands a nice shot to the body.
Gracie swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Can is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands with a left to the head.
Can is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gracie is keeping busy.
Can tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Can blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Can on the inside.
Gracie is struggling to control the position.
Can misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gracie stalling the fight.
Can lands with a left to the head.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Can just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mateus Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie is looking to control Can's arms but Can gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gracie has his back to the cage.
Ameri Can is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Can's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Can bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gracie's head.
Can jabs Gracie right on the nose. Gracie blinks but takes it well.
Ameri Can seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Gracie scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Can keeps working.
Can slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Can is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie throws a strike but Can rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ameri Can.
Well Can has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ameri Can!
Ameri Can decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.