PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phred Nguyen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Apaga mas não bate. Ryan Gracie has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Gracie
vs
Nguyen

180 cm
21
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

Hell's Balls Recovery

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryan Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Phred Nguyen!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Nguyen pushes him off.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nguyen as he avoids it easily.
Gracie fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nguyen avoids it really well and circles away.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nguyen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Nguyen as Gracie shoots in.
Gracie shoots in and drives through. Nguyen sprawls well.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ryan Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nguyen clinches with his opponent.
Nguyen stops a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Nguyen lands a knee to the head.
Nguyen unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gracie goes for a takedown attempt but Nguyen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gracie throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Nguyen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nguyen tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Nguyen landing knees to the head.
Nguyen misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gracie just misses with a elbow thrown towards Nguyen's brow.
Nguyen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nguyen lands a knee to the body.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Nguyen won't allow it.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gracie can't get the takedown.
Gracie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nguyen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nguyen swivels and escapes.

Nguyen closes the distance and pushes Gracie back into the cage.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen with a knee to the head.
Nguyen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie working aggressively here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gracie throws an elbow but misses.
Nguyen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nguyen connects with a knee to the head.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nguyen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gracie is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nguyen pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four 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.
Nguyen looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Nguyen tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Nguyen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nguyen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nguyen scores a nice knee to the body.
Nguyen crunches a lovely knee into Gracie's ribcage.
Nguyen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Nguyen.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nguyen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nguyen blocks the elbow strike.
Nguyen tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phred Nguyen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nguyen leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Nguyen sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Nguyen pushes Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
Gracie goes for a takedown attempt but Nguyen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Nguyen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nguyen's waist but Nguyen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.
Gracie looks to clinch

and Nguyen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nguyen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nguyen tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Nguyen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nguyen misses with a knee to the head.
Gracie has Nguyen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nguyen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nguyen scores with a knee to the head.

Gracie turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Gracie manages to end up in side control.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nguyen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nguyen has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nguyen wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nguyen is looking to improve his position.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Nguyen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie prevents Nguyen from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie shoots and misses

and Nguyen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nguyen.
Nguyen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nguyen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gracie.
Gracie tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nguyen is pressed up against the cage. Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nguyen down to the mat. Nguyen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gracie with a poor takedown

and Nguyen counters by clinching up.
Gracie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nguyen gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nguyen prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Nguyen manages to get underhooks.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gracie is working for takedown but Nguyen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nguyen tries a knee to the head but Gracie blocks it.
Nguyen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gracie blocks it with crossed arms.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nguyen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nguyen is pressed up against the cage. Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nguyen down to the mat. Nguyen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nguyen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nguyen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phred Nguyen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gracie misses with a takedown attempt
and Nguyen counters with a nice kick to the body.
Some wild striking there from Gracie.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Nguyen finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Nguyen clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.
Nguyen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nguyen misses with a knee to the head.
Nguyen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gracie is working for takedown but Nguyen is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie can't get the takedown.
Nguyen looking to throw knees to the head but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Nguyen prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looking for a takedown.
Nguyen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gracie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nguyen prevents it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nguyen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Knees to the body from Nguyen.
Nguyen tries to land a knee to the head but Gracie blocks with his arms.
Nguyen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Nguyen scores a nice knee to the body.
Nguyen connects with a knee to the head.
Nguyen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen landing knees to the head.
Nguyen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.
Nguyen with a knee to the head.
Nguyen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Nguyen connects with a knee to the head.
Nguyen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie can't get the takedown.
Nguyen misses with a knee to the head.
Gracie is working for takedown but Nguyen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gracie is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nguyen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Nguyen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nguyen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Nguyen misses with a knee to the head.
Nguyen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gracie takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gracie drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nguyen smiles and moves away.

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.

Nguyen clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.
Gracie drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nguyen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Nguyen circles away easily
and Nguyen makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gracie with a poor takedown

and Nguyen moves into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nguyen prevents Gracie from breaking the clinch.
Nguyen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ryan Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Phred Nguyen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Phred Nguyen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Nguyen prevents the takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phred Nguyen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nguyen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phred Nguyen!