PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marko Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor McLoughlin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Green. McLoughlin comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Blood of Cu Chulainn kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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
McLoughlin

192 cm
20
222 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

178 cm
22
200 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marko Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Connor McLoughlin!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paul Aken and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McLoughlin throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
McLoughlin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gracie looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gracie throws a series of punches but McLoughlin avoids them all with ease.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gracie was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
McLoughlin is bucking up trying to escape but Gracie cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Gracie looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Gracie looking to finish with strikes here!

Gracie is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, McLoughlin has managed to escape the submission attempt.
McLoughlin 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.
McLoughlin is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throws some wild stikes that McLoughlin manages to avoid easily.

Gracie goes for an armbar but he's not got it… McLoughlin turns into him and now he's in Gracie's guard.

McLoughlin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McLoughlin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
McLoughlin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but McLoughlin is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McLoughlin wants to stand but Gracie is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but McLoughlin pushes his legs off easily.
McLoughlin wants to stand but Gracie has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McLoughlin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McLoughlin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead McLoughlin passes into side control.
Gracie regains half guard.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLoughlin tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McLoughlin's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and McLoughlin duly obliges.
Gracie moves out of range as McLoughlin strikes.
McLoughlin throws a combination that misses

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. McLoughlin won't be happy with that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McLoughlin prevents Gracie from moving into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Gracie dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

McLoughlin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

McLoughlin lands a left and a right that send Gracie crashing to the mat, dazed. McLoughlin thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Gracie is rocked!

It looks like Marko Gracie has been cut.
Marko Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fighters circling - McLoughlin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Oh Gracie is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McLoughlin.

Gracie bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
McLoughlin pushes Gracie away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gracie gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Gracie seems to have got his legs back now.
Gracie moves into full mount!
McLoughlin is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
McLoughlin blocking the ground and pound.

Gracie working for a submission but McLoughlin is keeping him at bay.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Gracie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLoughlin is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Poor strikes thrown by Gracie there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Gracie looking to finish with strikes here!
McLoughlin's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
McLoughlin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gracie tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Gracie sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
McLoughlin is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie working the ground and pound effectively.
McLoughlin wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Gracie.
Gracie punching from mount but McLoughlin doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The referee warns McLoughlin that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
McLoughlin really wants to buck Gracie off and get back to his feet.
Gracie misses with a head shot.

Gracie is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. McLoughlin can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
McLoughlin wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throwing strikes but McLoughlin bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McLoughlin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gracie thows a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie throws a strike but McLoughlin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Marko Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

McLoughlin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McLoughlin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McLoughlin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gracie is proving hard to escape from.
Gracie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Connor McLoughlin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Marko Gracie's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown. McLoughlin tries to sprawl out of it but Gracie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McLoughlin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie walks into a left hand.
Gracie moves out of range as McLoughlin strikes.
Gracie misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McLoughlin swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.

Gracie looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for McLoughlin!
McLoughlin wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Gracie throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for McLoughlin because Gracie loaded up on that one.
Gracie punching from mount but McLoughlin doing a good job of avoiding damage.
McLoughlin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gracie tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for McLoughlin because Gracie loaded up on that one.
Gracie throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Gracie is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But McLoughlin has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from McLoughlin!
McLoughlin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two 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 tries to free his leg and advance position but McLoughlin is retaining full guard.
Gracie prevents McLoughlin from getting back to his feet.
Gracie passes McLoughlin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
McLoughlin wants to get back to his feet.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McLoughlin is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.
McLoughlin is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie with the ground and pound but McLoughlin uses the opportunity to regain guard.
McLoughlin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
McLoughlin keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie misses with a straight left.
McLoughlin misses with a double jab

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McLoughlin's guard.
McLoughlin wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
Gracie prevents McLoughlin from standing back up.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. McLoughlin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. McLoughlin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marko Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marko Gracie!