PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roger Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Fatts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes into the arena with Dread Zepellin - Stairway to Heaven blaring out of the sound system. Fatts has chosen Hit Em Up by Tupac as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Gracie
vs
Fatts

185 cm
21
190 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

183 cm
27
190 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roger Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jay Fatts!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fatts closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Fatts off and has taken his back!

Gracie looking for the choke but no joy.

Gracie looking for the RNC.

Gracie is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Fatts defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Fatts hold on?!
Gracie doesn't have the hooks in and Fatts manages to turn into his guard.
Fatts trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fatts gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Fatts bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Gracie's head backwards.
Fatts wants to clinch.
Gracie throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gracie looks to land a combination but Fatts avoids it well.
Gracie looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Horrible takedown by Fatts or perhaps it was just good defense by Gracie which made him look bad.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.

Fatts scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Fatts is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Fatts is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fatts is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Fatts has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is staying active underneath Fatts, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Fatts has control of the leg.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fatts moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fatts.
Gracie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gracie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Roger Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fatts tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gracie swivels and escapes.
Roger Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Fatts.

Fatts closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Fatts works his way into full mount!
Gracie can't escape the position.
Fatts landing punches.
Gracie wants to hold on but Fatts pushes him away.
Fatts tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is wriggling around trying to escape.

Fatts is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Gracie has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Fatts scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Gracie?
Fatts sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Fatts wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
Gracie is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Fatts lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Fatts controlling from mount.
Gracie can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fatts 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.
Gracie keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Fatts can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gracie is looking to escape.
Fatts lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Fatts scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Fatts trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Fatts sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Fatts is looking to clinch.
Gracie misses with a double jab.
Fatts tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gracie will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Fatts tries to clinch up.
Gracie keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Roger Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gracie misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gracie moves away from the strike by Fatts.
Donk. Fatts catches Gracie right on the button with a cross.
Gracie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fatts.
Fatts shoots in but no luck this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fatts shoots in but Gracie avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Roger Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Fatts.

Fatts moves into the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Gracie.

Gracie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fatts darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Fatts is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gracie defends it well.
Fatts is breathing heavily.
Gracie is pressing down on Fatts's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fatts throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Fatts would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie trying to control the position.
Fatts stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fatts wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fatts's guard.
Fatts is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ground and pound from Fatts.
Fatts is keen to just control but Gracie is a slippery customer.
Nice strikes from Fatts there.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Fatts has control of the leg.
Fatts scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gracie has hold of Fatts's hands but Fatts slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Fatts is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie taking some punishment here, with Fatts in his half guard.
Fatts wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie tries to roll over but Fatts keeps him under control.
Fatts throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Fatts is going to stand back up.
Fatts passes to side control.
Jay Fatts has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.
Fatts works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Gracie is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Fatts off and has taken his back!
Gracie loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Fatts hold on?
Gracie misses with punches from the back.
Gracie is trying to stick to Fatts's back but Fatts is turning into Gracie. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Gracie's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Fatts.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Fatts stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Fatts trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Fatts defends easily.
Fatts has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fatts slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Fatts throwing strikes but missing.
Fatts postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Fatts is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Fatts lands a couple of elbows.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Fatts 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!

Fatts wants to clinch.
Fatts doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fatts moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Fatts fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gracie sprawls well initially but Fatts persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Gracie manages to get to full guard.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fatts is aware though and is defending well.

Gracie has his foot on Fatts's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fatts works his way back into a safe position though.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Fatts from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fatts lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fatts wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gracie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fatts.
Roger Gracie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fatts looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.
Gracie throws a right hand that Fatts ducks under and follows up with a left that Fatts also avoids with ease.
Gracie moves forwards but Fatts connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gracie misses with a two punch combination.
Fatts fails with a takedown attempt.
Fatts is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gracie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fatts shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Roger Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Fatts.
Gracie misses with a few strikes there.

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.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gracie!
Fatts doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Gracie slips under a jab from Fatts.
Fatts tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gracie swivels and escapes.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
Fatts fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fatts.
Gracie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fatts wants to clinch.
The fighters circling - Fatts throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fatts scores with a sloppy right hand. Gracie should have avoided that one.
Fatts shoots in looking for a takedown. Gracie tries to sprawl out of it but Fatts keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gracie manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fatts throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gracie steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fatts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Fatts rushes Gracie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gracie throws a head punch that misses.
Gracie misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fatts goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gracie prevents it.

Fatts breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie misses with a double jab.
Fatts dodges the punch combination from Gracie.
Fatts misses with a straight left.
Gracie takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Fatts shoots in but Gracie avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Fatts is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gracie's half guard.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Fatts's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Fatts's back!
Gracie cracks Fatts with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Fatts from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Roger Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fatts manages to reverse the position and now he's in Gracie's guard. Nice work there by Fatts.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fatts is one step ahead there.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Fatts from controlling successfully.
Jay Fatts is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
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 throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.

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 Roger Gracie.
I think Fatts has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Franklin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Fatts!