PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Finnish Tax Payer (ranked 54 p4p, 50 weight class) and Renoa Gracie (ranked 10 p4p, 8 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Tax Payer might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Konala Cartelli - Mäkikotka. Gracie has chosen Apaga Mas Não Bate 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.

Tax Payer
vs
Gracie

176 cm
33
149
26 - 10 - 1

166 cm
29
145
15 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

HELLBENT
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Finnish Tax Payer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Renoa Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Phil Schofield and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie darts in looking for a takedown but Tax Payer gets double underhooks and turns Gracie into the cage.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Tax Payer.
Gracie connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tax Payer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.
Gracie moves away from the strike by Tax Payer.
Tax Payer throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Tax Payer shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Tax Payer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tax Payer scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gracie doesn't seem bothered though.
Tax Payer tests Gracie's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tax Payer misses with a left hand

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tax Payer is trying to escape back to his feet but Gracie uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tax Payer wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is dominant here and he's now got Tax Payer's back!
Will Gracie go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Tax Payer covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Tax Payer.
Well, with Gracie on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Tax Payer is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Tax Payer is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Gracie keeps control of the position easily here as Tax Payer tries to buck him off.
Tax Payer wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Tax Payer is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Gracie working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Tax Payer is trying to stand back up.

Gracie looking to break Tax Payer's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Tax Payer remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gracie will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

Gracie is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Tax Payer has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Gracie really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Tax Payer.

Gracie tightening his grip on Tax Payer, looking for the choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Tax Payer is defending well though. Gracie let's go of the attempt for now.
A lull in the action here.

Gracie working for the choke.
Tax Payer is trying to get back to his feet but Gracie has full control of the position and if anything, Tax Payer has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tax Payer prevents Gracie from getting a body triangle.

Tax Payer is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Gracie off. It looks like it's working - Gracie slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Tax Payer displaying calm under pressure there.
Tax Payer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tax Payer lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Tax Payer throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.
Tax Payer swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
A left lands for Tax Payer.
Tax Payer misses with a looping right.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Tax Payer.
Tax Payer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
An inside leg kick from Tax Payer misses.
Gracie drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Tax Payer defends it well.
Gracie checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie rushes Tax Payer and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gracie misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tax Payer misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gracie.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gracie.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie has a couple of punches blocked by Tax Payer.
Gracie throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Gracie lands with a short shot to the head.

Tax Payer breaks the clinch.
Finnish Tax Payer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie throws a jab but it's blocked by Tax Payer.
Tax Payer throws a solid leg kick but Gracie takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tax Payer.
Gracie blocks a jab.
Gracie moves away from the strike by Tax Payer.
Gracie stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tax Payer.
Tax Payer just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tax Payer darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Tax Payer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Renoa Gracie will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gracie's corner calls for a 1-2. Gracie obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Tax Payer throws a leg kick which misses Gracie's front leg but catches the back leg as Gracie tries to avoid it.
Finnish Tax Payer is winning the standup battle so far.
Tax Payer thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tax Payer looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
A good leg kick by Tax Payer.
A jab from Tax Payer misses.
Tax Payer pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gracie is out of range and Tax Payer settles back down.
Gracie tries to counter with a clinch but Tax Payer shakes him off and moves away.
Gracie tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tax Payer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tax Payer throws a one two combo.
Tax Payer misses with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tax Payer throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A swing and a miss from Tax Payer.
Tax Payer misses the jab.
Tax Payer misses with a leg kick.
Gracie takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie cracks Tax Payer with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Tax Payer throws a shot from downtown. Gracie moves away and avoids it.
Nice body punch from Gracie.
Tax Payer throws a hook but Gracie avoids it easily.
Gracie tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tax Payer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by Gracie.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Tax Payer.
Gracie walks into a stiff left hand from Tax Payer.
Tax Payer ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Tax Payer fires out a quick counter leg kick but Gracie just manages to avoid it.
Gracie walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Tax Payer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tax Payer 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 Gracie has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gracie and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Gracie steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Tax Payer.
Tax Payer tries to work over Gracie's front leg with a kick but Gracie checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Tax Payer shows good takedown defense.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Gracie fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Tax Payer scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Tax Payer fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tax Payer tried to score with a low kick but Gracie checks it.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Tax Payer.
Tax Payer darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Tax Payer looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
Gracie misses with a straight right.
Tax Payer is looking to slow Gracie down with leg kicks.
Gracie lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Finnish Tax Payer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to clinch up
and Tax Payer counters with a nice uppercut.
Tax Payer with the inside leg kick.
Tax Payer tries to work over Gracie's front leg with a kick but Gracie checks it.
Gracie steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Tax Payer.
Some bone on bone action there as Gracie checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Gracie tries to counter by closing the distance.
Tax Payer misses with a double jab
and Gracie counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Gracie scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tax Payer.
Tax Payer swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tax Payer throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tax Payer bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Gracie's head backwards.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tax Payer swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Gracie checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tax Payer moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Gracie might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Gracie staying out of range there.
Tax Payer throws a jab but it's blocked by Gracie.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tax Payer blocks a jab.
Tax Payer appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Gracie misses the shot to the body.
Gracie cracks Tax Payer with a good jab.
Tax Payer thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tax Payer.
Tax Payer throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tax Payer throws a good cross that connects.
Gracie tries to clinch but Tax Payer is having none of it.
Good standup being displayed there by Tax Payer as he connects with a hook.
Tax Payer just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie feints the counter takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Finnish Tax Payer dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracie's corner calls for a 1-2. Gracie obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Tax Payer circles away.
Gracie scores with a shot to the body.
Tax Payer misses with a straight left.
Gracie feints the counter takedown.
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.
Gracie checks a leg kick nicely.
Tax Payer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gracie.
Tax Payer swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
It seemed like Gracie was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Gracie slips under a jab from Tax Payer.
Gracie has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tax Payer finds it's way round the side to connect with Gracie's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tax Payer throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Tax Payer misses the shot to the body.
A low kick lands for Tax Payer.
Tax Payer with a nice calf kick.
A low kick from Tax Payer is predictable there

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Tax Payer didn't expect that.

Tax Payer manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tax Payer tries to sprawl but Gracie drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Gracie maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Tax Payer could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Gracie has cracked it and Tax Payer is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Gracie!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Renoa Gracie!
An out of breath Renoa Gracie thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.