PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Chong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Funku Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tommy Chong has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Chong
vs
Gracie

191 cm
25
220 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

186 cm
24
212 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Tommy Chong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Funku Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Daniel Blasius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A big left from Chong misses.

Chong is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gracie's half guard.
Chong 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.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Chong swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Chong keeps moving.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Chong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chong trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throws a strike but Chong rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Chong manages to get himself to full guard.
Chong working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.
Chong manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gracie manages to get himself to full guard.
Chong 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 Chong accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Chong!

Gracie moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Chong has worked his arm free - good work by Chong!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chong tries to improve position but can't.
Chong manages to get back to half guard.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Chong's head.
Chong wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.
Chong is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gracie takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Chong manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chong controlling the position.
Gracie trying to control but Chong is working from the bottom.
Gracie with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Chong pulls Gracie in close to his closed guard and prevents Gracie from doing any damage or advancing position.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Gracie controlling from the top position.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gracie postures up.

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.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Chong blocks nicely.
Chong looking for a sweep. Not yet Chong, not yet.
Chong working a defensive guard here.
Chong bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gracie's guard.
Chong throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gracie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Chong looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Chong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Chong dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gracie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gracie throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Chong ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Gracie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Chong.
Chong takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gracie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Chong.
Gracie just misses with a punch to the body.
Chong throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gracie makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gracie punishes Chong's body with a nice straight punch.
Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Chong counters with a straight right hand.
Chong shoots and misses
and Gracie counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie throws a good cross that connects.
Chong swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Chong as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gracie is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Chong rather than just go for the knockout.
A jab from Chong finds it's way through Gracie's defenses.
Chong walks into a stiff left hand from Gracie.

Gracie closes the distance and pushes Chong back into the cage.
Chong gets underhooks to prevent Gracie's takedown attempt.
Tommy Chong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Funku Gracie.
Chong looking for a takedown.

Chong has picked Gracie up - he's going for a ride! Chong dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Chong throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Chong stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Chong manages to get himself to full guard.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Chong keeps moving.
Chong has Gracie pulled in close to control his posture.
Chong wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie thows a big elbow that misses.
Chong wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Chong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Chong shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Chong landing some decent shots from guard.
Chong postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Chong wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

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

Chong avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to keep Chong in close.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Chong in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Chong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Chong does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie prevents Chong from improving his position.
Tommy Chong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chong is holding on to half guard well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Funku Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Gracie doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Gracie throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Chong counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Chong.
A telegraphed right hand from Chong misses the target.
Chong throws a hook but Gracie avoids it easily.
Chong lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Chong.

Chong shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Chong.
Chong is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chong missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Chong thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Chong is very close to passing his half guard.
Chong throwing shots but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Nice strikes from Chong there.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Chong.

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

Chong closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gracie to the mat! Gracie manages to get full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.
Chong keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chong pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.
Gracie trying to control but Chong is working from the bottom.
Chong controlling Gracie's posture.
Chong wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Chong.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Chong as he jumps to the side.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Chong.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Chong was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Chong misses with a takedown attempt

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Chong didn't expect that.
Gracie seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Chong has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Gracie has passed into side control.
Chong is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chong is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie trying to control the action but Chong is working from the bottom.
Chong manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gracie drops an elbow to the side of Chong's head.
Chong preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Gracie throwing shots but Chong is blocking nicely.
Chong is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Chong avoid being mounted?

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tommy Chong.
I think Chong 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Chong!