PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Wladimir Reis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reis kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Racionais MCs - A Vida é Desafio. Wladimir Reis had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Reis
vs
Gracie

159 cm
25
158 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

191 cm
22
169 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wladimir Reis!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reis throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.
Reis throws the kick towards the body but Gracie avoids it.
A big right from Reis misses.
Wladimir Reis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Reis throws a hook but Gracie blocks it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.
Reis misses with a series of wild punches.
Reis throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Reis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Reis.
Reis 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.
Gracie wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Reis fails to land with a series of punches.
Reis throws a push kick but Gracie slaps the foot to one side.
Reis fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Reis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Reis really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Gracie tries to clinch up.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Reis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wladimir Reis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Gracie.
Gracie moves away from the strike by Reis.
Reis throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Reis is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
Nice straight punches there by Reis. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Reis.
Reis stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
A swing and a miss from Reis.
Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Reis.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Reis throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Reis pushes him off.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gracie darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Reis thows a left - swing and a miss!

Gracie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Reis was covering up waiting for the punch and Gracie finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Reis is keeping the position for now.
Gracie stops Reis from standing up.
Reis trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Reis wants to stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Reis keeps moving.
Gracie won't allow Reis to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie advances to half guard.

Reis manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Reis throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Reis looks to land a left hand but Gracie moved out of range nicely.
Reis misses with an uppercut. Gracie saw that one coming.
Reis throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
The fighters circling - Reis throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gracie tries to clinch up.
Reis is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Gracie's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Gracie wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Reis slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Reis leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Reis misses the shot to the body.
Reis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Reis loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
Gracie fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Reis avoids it really well and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reis throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Wladimir Reis will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Reis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracie tries to clinch but Reis moves out of range.
Reis slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Reis scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Reis.
Reis rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Reis misses the shot to the body.

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!
Reis is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Reis is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Gracie with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Gracie jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Reis manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Reis, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Reis gets back to half guard.
Gracie is trying to control. Reis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Reis is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Reis is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Reis is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Reis is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Reis pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.
Reis wants to get back to full guard.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gracie trying to control from half guard but Reis is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Reis kicks Gracie off and gets back to his feet.
Reis stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reis pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Reis throws a right hand that Gracie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie also avoids with ease.

Gracie gets the takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice takedown defense from Reis. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Reis sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wladimir Reis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Gracie.
Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Reis.
Reis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Reis misses with a body shot.
Reis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Reis.
Gracie is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reis is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Reis circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie moves out of range of the body kick.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Gracie closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Reis to the mat! Reis manages to get full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reis controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Reis looking to control.
Reis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Reis has control of Gracie's left arm, preventing Gracie from doing any damage.
Reis wants to get back to his feet but Gracie passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Reis defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Reis is trying to stand back up but Gracie is controlling him

Gracie maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Reis could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Gracie has cracked it and Reis is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Gracie!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ryan Gracie! Ryan Gracie retains his lightweight title!