PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Renoa Gracie (ranked 175 p4p, 368 weight class) and Gholam Estili (ranked 18 p4p, 43 weight class). Estili has chosen Ready For War (Instrumental) as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Gracie
vs
Estili

166 cm
26
145
7 - 2 - 0

174 cm
25
156
11 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Carnage Clothing
New Standard

SynCity Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Renoa Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gholam Estili!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Felipe Paraventi and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Estili tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Estili drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Gracie takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Estili throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gracie was covering up waiting for the punch and Estili finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Estili keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gracie's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Estili is working Gracie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Gracie has his foot on Estili's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Estili works his way back into a safe position though.
Estili stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Estili throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Estili trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Estili pushing down on Gracie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estili prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Estili.
Estili not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Estili looks to land a strike but Gracie avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Estili from controlling successfully.
Gracie is trying to keep Estili in close.
Estili trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Estili trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Estili got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Estili has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.

That's two 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.
Estili loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Estili keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gracie's head.
Estili trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Estili accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Estili throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Estili missing with a left hand there. Gracie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gholam Estili seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gracie clinches with his opponent.

Gracie has picked Estili up - he's going for a ride! Gracie dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Estili trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Estili won't allow it.
Gracie controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estili desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Estili wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
Estili trying to control from the bottom.
Estili is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but Estili defending well.
Estili desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Estili is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Gracie jumps into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gracie works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
We've been hearing that Gracie has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Gracie works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Estili keeps working.
Estili wants to control but Gracie postures up.
Estili is trying to improve his position.
Estili sneaks back into half guard.
Estili is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Estili is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Estili looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Estili is pulling down on Gracie's head. It's preventing any offense from Gracie, at least for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gholam Estili will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Estili fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Estili throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Estili loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
Estili shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gracie pinned against the cage. Gracie gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Estili dives in and grabs Gracie's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes down on Estili's head and hops out.
Renoa Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gholam Estili.
Gracie throws the left hand but Estili avoids the punch easily.
Estili ducks right into an uppercut from Gracie.
Gracie slips a jab from Estili.
Gracie drops down looking for a counter takedown but Estili sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Estili misses the target.
Gracie feinted with a counter takedown.

Gracie gets a double leg takedown into Estili's guard.
Gracie passes into half guard.
Estili trying to control but Gracie postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control. Estili wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Estili tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Estili won't allow Gracie to pass to mount.
Gracie not doing much here.
Estili keeping hold of Gracie's head, controlling as best he can.
Estili is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Estili avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Estili is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Estili is trying to control but can't.
Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. Estili knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Gracie content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Estili wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
Estili has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Estili cracks Gracie with an open hand slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estili takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gracie blocks a jab.
Gracie tries to clinch but Estili is having none of it.

Gracie gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Gracie gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Estili keeps moving.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Estili.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Estili is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Estili looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Estili looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Gracie is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Estili is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Estili not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gracie has hold of Estili's hands but Estili slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Estili seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Estili has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Estili working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie blocking the ground and pound attempt from Estili.
Gracie is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Estili scores with a couple of nice shots.
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!
Estili throwing shots but Gracie is blocking nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Renoa Gracie will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gracie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Estili closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gholam Estili has got the better of the ground game so far.
Estili is trying to ground and pound but Gracie uses the momentary lack of control by Estili to regain half guard.
Estili scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gracie wants to control but Estili is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Estili perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gracie controlling the position well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estili not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Estili is thwarting Gracie's attempts to control the position.
Estili landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Estili missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gracie moves into full guard.
Estili throws a big elbow that misses.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Estili manages to get himself to full guard.

Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Estili.
Estili is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estili pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Estili is trying to control but can't.
Estili tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Estili trying to control but Gracie postures up.
Estili is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Estili is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Gracie not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estili keeping hold of Gracie's head, controlling as best he can.
Estili wants to get back to full guard but Gracie has passed into side control.
Gracie trying to control the position but Estili is working away.
Estili tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Estili tries to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Estili is looking to get to half guard.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estili is wriggling around trying to escape.
Estili is still trying to improve position.
Estili tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
Estili is trying to escape the mount.
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gracie cracks Estili with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Estili bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Estili cracks Gracie with a solid left hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Gholam Estili just about did enough to take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

The crowd cheers as Estili lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gracie doesn't seem phased though.
Gracie throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Despite the aggression on Estili's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Gracie takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Gracie takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gracie showed some decent athleticism there.
Estili is looking to get back to is feet but Gracie passes into side control.
Estili being controlled for a moment.
Estili manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Estili's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Estili's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to stick to Estili's back but Estili is turning into Gracie. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Gracie's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Estili.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Estili is proving a slippery customer.
Estili throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Estili throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gracie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Estili scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gracie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie controls Estili momentarily but Estili frees himself.
My spies in Doc Dannis Death Squad inform me that Estili has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Estili from controlling successfully.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Estili postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estili connects with a couple of short punches.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Estili working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Estili lands a couple of digs.
Estili keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gracie's head.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Estili throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.

Gracie instigates a clinch.
Gracie doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Estili has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Gracie clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estili not allowing Gracie to control his hands.
Estili misses with an elbow to the head.
Estili lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Gracie.
Estili throwing sloppy strikes.
Estili lands a shot to the head.
Estili is hanging on to Gracie's back as he tries to escape.
Estili lands a shot to the body.
Gracie covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Estili is not going to allow Gracie to sit and survive in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Estili somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Gracie is taking damage to the body and head.
Estili has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Gracie.
Estili scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Estili lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Estili doesn't have the hooks in and Gracie manages to turn into his guard.
Estili looking for a sweep. Not yet Estili, not yet.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Estili is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Estili tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Estili pulls Gracie in to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gholam Estili dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gracie wants to clinch up but Estili keeps it at a distance.

Gracie drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gracie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Estili is controlling Gracie's posture.
Estili wants to hit a sweep here but Gracie passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Estili there!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Estili really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gracie controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Estili is working to get back to half guard.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Estili is squirming around nicely.
Estili is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Estili is looking to escape.
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Estili is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Estili is trying to escape the mount.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Estili is looking to escape.
Gracie lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Gracie prevents Estili from getting the reversal.
Estili is squirming around, avoiding Gracie's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Estili tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
Estili tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Estili is looking to escape.
Gracie controlling from the full mount.
Estili tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie with the ground and pound from mount.
Estili sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Estili manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gracie controls from within his opponent's guard.
Estili controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Gracie being controlled here momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Renoa Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Estili 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Renoa Gracie!
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Gholam Estili!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!
Renoa Gracie retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!