PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between mateo valaquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronald Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

valaquez
vs
Gracie

225 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, mateo valaquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ronald Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Paulo Santos and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

valaquez gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but valaquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie stays in close to valaquez's body and controls the position.

Gracie has gone for a leg lock! valaquez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gracie's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing valaquez from controlling successfully.
Gracie keeping full guard, as valaquez tries to pass.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but valaquez pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gracie looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but valaquez puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
valaquez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie trying to control but valaquez postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is not content to let valaquez control the position.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but valaquez pulls his head out easily.
valaquez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gracie looks gassed!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

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.

valaquez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

valaquez seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. valaquez is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that mateo valaquez will probably get the nod.
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.

valaquez misses with a takedown

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
valaquez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from valaquez.
valaquez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
valaquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but valaquez blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! valaquez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! valaquez has escaped and now he's on top!
valaquez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gracie wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and valaquez is now in half guard.
valaquez passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom here.
valaquez trying to control the position but Gracie is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is trying to work for a sweep but valaquez has mounted him!
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
valaquez trying to control but Gracie is having none of it.
valaquez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gracie stops valaquez from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but valaquez has a good base and remains in mount.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding valaquez's attempts to control the action.
valaquez throws some wild stikes that Gracie manages to avoid easily.
valaquez landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie is trying to reverse the position but instead valaquez has taken his back - oops!
Gracie looking very determined here, making life difficult for valaquez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ronald Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Gracie as valaquez shoots in.

Gracie shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in valaquez's guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but valaquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and valaquez dives on top into guard.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. valaquez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
valaquez forces his way into half guard.

Gracie looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and valaquez pushes past his half guard into mount!
valaquez manages to capitalize on a mistake by Gracie to take his back!
Gracie trying to control the position but valaquez manages to sink in the hooks.

That's two 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 tries to escape the position.
valaquez struggling to keep hold of the position.

valaquez working for a choke but Gracie is defending well.
Gracie is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gracie is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Ronald Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie just trying to survive but valaquez is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
valaquez keeps control of the position as Gracie tries to break free.

That's four 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.
Gracie prevents valaquez from getting a body triangle.

valaquez has the hooks in. Gracie is starting to panic. He's trying to push off one of the legs but he's left his neck open to attack. valaquez passes his arm under Gracie's neck and tightens up a rear naked choke! This one is surely all over! Yes, Gracie taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). mateo valaquez!