PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ralapeno Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cory Groves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cory Groves has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Groves

192 cm
22
142 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
130 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ralapeno Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cory Groves!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Groves circles away.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Groves napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Groves tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Groves tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
You can see the frustration on Groves's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gracie blocks the strikes from Groves.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gracie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Groves throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Groves, who protects the arm well.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Groves tries to strike but it doesn't land.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Groves knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Groves is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Groves misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Groves throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Groves wants to control but Gracie postures up.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Groves is defending well.
Groves struggling a bit here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Groves shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Groves was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gracie taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Groves is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gracie can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Groves cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Groves is going olschool here, as he tries to force Gracie to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Gracie shrugs it off.

Groves is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gracie can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Groves working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Groves throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Groves dominating with strikes here.
Groves is landing with some decent strikes but Gracie is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Groves drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Groves jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groves thows a big elbow that misses.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Groves!

Gracie looking to secure an arm triangle but Groves defends it well.
Groves flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Gracie trying to control but Groves is having none of it.
Groves really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Gracie has hold of Groves's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Groves manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Groves throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Groves tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.
Groves throwing hammer fists to the chest of Gracie. What's that going to do exactly?

Gracie has control of Groves's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Groves regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Gracie jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Groves is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Groves and Gracie has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Groves manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gracie's best efforts.
Groves connecting with a few gentle strikes.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Groves goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Groves shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Groves showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Groves thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gracie's head.
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Groves is working away from the top position though.
Gracie keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Groves slips a nice elbow through Gracie's hands, connecting with Gracie's forehead.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Groves.
Cory Groves has got the better of the ground game so far.
Groves missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gracie is pressing down on Groves's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Groves controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Groves has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Groves is proving a slippery customer.
Groves postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Groves postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Groves tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.

Groves drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Groves trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Groves doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Groves manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

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

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Groves postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Groves passes into half guard.
Groves missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Groves thows a huge punch but Gracie dodges it nicely.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Groves.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Groves drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Groves.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Groves.
Groves landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groves postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Groves's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Groves lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Groves throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Groves must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Groves throws a good cross that connects.
Gracie tries to bum rush Groves with a series of wild strikes but Groves uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Groves bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gracie wants to control but Groves postures up.
Gracie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Groves wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Groves working the body and head with strikes.
Groves lands some shots froms side control.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Gracie trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Groves shoots in and bounces Gracie off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Gracie escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Groves gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Groves really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gracie looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cory Groves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Groves will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Groves misses with a double jab.
Groves fails with the takedown

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Groves fights it but they end up in guard.
Groves keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Groves will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Groves looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Gracie has picked Groves up and slammed him! Groves can't keep hold of the triangle and Gracie manages to pass to side control!

Gracie in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Groves is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ralapeno Gracie!