PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Bale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helio Gracie Jnr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Bale
vs
Gracie Jnr

199 cm
20
210 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

185 cm
23
208 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Bale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Helio Gracie Jnr!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Steven Brown and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie Jnr closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bale circles away.
Bale looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bale misses with a jab, cross combination.
A clash of legs there as Gracie Jnr blocks the low kick.
Bale looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Gracie Jnr shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gracie Jnr showed some decent athleticism there.
Gracie Jnr thows a huge punch but Bale dodges it nicely.

Gracie Jnr is looking for a kimura here.
Bale manages to get to full guard.
Bale will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bale looking for a sweep. Not yet Bale, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie Jnr prevents Bale from getting back to his feet.
Bale on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bale tries to get out of the position.
Gracie Jnr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bale swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie Jnr keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bale's head.
Gracie Jnr wants to control from the top but Bale keeps moving.
Gracie Jnr looking to pass the guard.
Bale looking to control.
Gracie Jnr throws and elbow that misses. Bale uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie Jnr's guard. Nice move by Bale!
Bale stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie Jnr.

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 Jnr escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bale gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie Jnr looks gassed!
Bale slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Bale stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie Jnr.
Bale wanted to stand there but Gracie Jnr had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bale looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie Jnr gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bale avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie Jnr looking to pass the guard.
Bale 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.
Bale is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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

Gracie Jnr looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bale wants to stand up but Gracie Jnr is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bale knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie Jnr on the ground.
Bale is looking to advance position but Gracie Jnr won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Gracie Jnr dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bale does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Joe Bale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice combination there by Bale.
Bale throws a head kick that misses.
Bale lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie Jnr circles away quickly and effectively.
Bale tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie Jnr paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bale throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie Jnr.
Bale misses with an uppercut. Gracie Jnr saw that one coming.
Bale wants to land a leg kick but Gracie Jnr is out of range.
Bale throws a right and a left that Gracie Jnr avoids nicely.

Gracie Jnr shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bale is trying to defend but Gracie Jnr finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Gracie Jnr trying to control from half guard but Bale is working away.

Gracie Jnr is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bale sees it coming and defends easily.
Gracie Jnr is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie Jnr thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bale wants to improve his position but Gracie Jnr is controlling well.
Bale is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie Jnr sits in half guard.
Gracie Jnr misses with a head shot. Bale uses the momentum to regain guard.
Gracie Jnr stops Bale from standing up.
Gracie Jnr looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bale throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie Jnr's shoulder, as Gracie Jnr tries to avoid the shot.
Bale throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Bale is looking to clinch but Gracie Jnr is avoiding it.
Bale fails to land with a series of punches.
Bale throws a chopping leg kick but Gracie Jnr manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie Jnr.
Gracie Jnr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bale.
Gracie Jnr shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bale defends it nicely.
A nice combination there by Bale.
Bale pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie Jnr misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Joe Bale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio Gracie Jnr.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Bale.
Gracie Jnr checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Bale uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gracie Jnr.
Bale tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gracie Jnr paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gracie Jnr shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bale scores with a nice head shot.
Bale moves in looking to clinch but Gracie Jnr pushes him off.
Nice uppercut there from Bale.
Bale throws a leg kick but Gracie Jnr checks it.
Bale lands a head kick. Gracie Jnr smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Bale connects with a high kick.
Gracie Jnr slips a straight right by Bale.
Bale ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gracie Jnr slips a jab and a cross from Bale.
Bale throws a leg kick but Gracie Jnr checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Bale.
Bale lunges at Gracie Jnr with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gracie Jnr's hand.
Gracie Jnr checks a low kick from Bale.
Bale pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bale.
Gracie Jnr blocks a head kick by Bale.
Gracie Jnr avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gracie Jnr takes a kick to the side of the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bale scoring well with a low kick there.
Bale tries to clinch but Gracie Jnr moves out of range.
Gracie Jnr gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie Jnr avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bale is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Bale scores with a three punch combo!
Joe Bale is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bale shoots in for a double leg but Gracie Jnr sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Bale dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bale misses with a low kick.
No joy there for Bale, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gracie Jnr takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Joe Bale is winning the standup battle so far.
Gracie Jnr uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bale.
Bale tries to clinch but Gracie Jnr is having none of it.
Bale tries to clinch but Gracie Jnr is having none of it.
Joe Bale is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bale tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie Jnr swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gracie Jnr keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bale throws a nice looking combination but Gracie Jnr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bale looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Bale 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 Jnr has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gracie Jnr and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bale throws a nice looking combination but Gracie Jnr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A jab from Gracie Jnr misses.
Bale looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gracie Jnr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie Jnr with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bale to score with a decent uppercut.
Bale's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Bale duly obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bale throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie Jnr.
Gracie Jnr fails with the takedown
and Gracie Jnr takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gracie Jnr is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bale.
Nice sprawl there from Gracie Jnr as Bale shoots in.
Bale misses with a few strikes there.
Bale misses with a series of wild punches.
Bale fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bale tries to bum rush Gracie Jnr with a series of wild strikes but Gracie Jnr uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A head kick from Bale lands but Gracie Jnr takes it in his stride.
A combination from Bale does no damage.
Bale throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gracie Jnr shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bale as he avoids it easily.
Bale finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Bale throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie Jnr.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bale will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bale is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Bale lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie Jnr circles away quickly and effectively.
Gracie Jnr doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bale counters with a nice low kick that buckles Gracie Jnr's knee momentarily.
Joe Bale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio Gracie Jnr.
Bale looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gracie Jnr keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Bale throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice body punch from Bale.
Some wild striking there from Bale.
Bale looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bale fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bale misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bale tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie Jnr swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bale motions for Gracie Jnr to come forward. Bale throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice sprawl there from Bale as Gracie Jnr shoots in.
Bale feints and then cracks Gracie Jnr's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gracie Jnr down.
Bale moves in looking to clinch but Gracie Jnr pushes him off.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bale can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie Jnr controls the action.

Bale manages to break the clinch.
Bale closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Gracie Jnr is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Bale.
Bale throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Bale motions for Gracie Jnr to come forward. Bale throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Bale moves in looking to clinch but Gracie Jnr pushes him off.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bale.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bale decides to stand up, so the ref orders Gracie Jnr to his feet.
Bale throws a leg kick but Gracie Jnr sees it coming and moves out of range.
Bale looks to land a left hand but Gracie Jnr moved out of range nicely.
Bale throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Bale pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bale tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie Jnr swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bale throws a right hand that Gracie Jnr ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie Jnr also avoids with ease.
Bale tries to clinch there but Gracie Jnr circles away.
Bale misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gracie Jnr tries to clinch up but Bale circles away and keeps his distance.
Bale swings and misses with a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Bale showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bale 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Bale!