PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ren Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bader Cier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Summer Madness (Extended Version) Remix . The crowd seem to be enjoying Cier's choice of entrance music: Elephant Man - Haters (feat Hunt & Jim Jones) . Ren Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Cier

181 cm
25
138 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

225 cm
22
155 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ren Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bader Cier!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Gracie throws a predictable looking body shot

and Cier counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.
Cier controls the position.

Cier decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Cier avoids the body shot from Gracie.
Gracie takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Cier closes the distance and pushes Gracie back into the cage.
Cier lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right from Cier on the inside.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cier just stands there and leans against the cage.
A short uppercut from Cier.
Cier lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Cier with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cier lands an elbow that stopped Gracie in his tracks for a moment.
Nice elbow from Cier.
Cier misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cier comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Gracie blocks an elbow strike.

Cier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cier swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cier slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cier manages to avoid it.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cier manages to avoid it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cier.

Cier rushes Gracie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cier is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Cier slowing the pace effectively.
Gracie avoids the elbow strike from Cier, against the cage.
Cier lands with a light punch inside.
Cier lands an elbow that stopped Gracie in his tracks for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cier swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Cier has Gracie pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Cier pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Gracie tumbling to the mat - Cier dives into Gracie's guard.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Cier controlling him for the moment.
Cier stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Cier is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cier preventing the sweep.
Cier's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cier passes into half guard.
Cier wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cier is taking a breather. Gracie says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Cier content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.

Bader Cier has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Cier catches Gracie with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Gracie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cier lands a leg kick that knocks Gracie off balance momentarily.
Gracie has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cier.

Cier has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cier stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Cier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Cier forces Gracie back against the cage and clinches.

Cier breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Left hook, right uppercut from Cier.
Bader Cier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circling - Cier throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gracie moves out of range as Cier strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bader Cier dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gracie tries to bum rush Cier with a series of wild strikes but Cier uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Cier closes the distance and clinches.
Cier connects with a knee to the head.

Cier has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Gracie regains guard immediately.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cier sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cier tries to stand but Gracie is controlling from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Cier 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.
Cier really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Bader Cier.
Cier motions for Gracie to come forward. Cier throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Gracie gets tackled into the cage by Cier. Cier maintains the clinch.
Cier using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cier tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gracie avoids it.
Gracie gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cier.
Cier pushes off an throws an elbow but Gracie leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Cier has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Gracie is trying to keep an underhook but Cier manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cier trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cier's guard.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Cier is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.

Cier stands and steps away. Gracie gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cier keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cier misses with an uppercut.
Good exchange - Cier coming out on top.
A clash of legs there as Gracie blocks the low kick.
A swing and a miss from Gracie.

Cier has Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
Gracie blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Gracie manages to pull guard.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Cier defends easily.
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cier's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cier wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cier wants to get back to his feet but Gracie passes into half guard.
Cier is trying to stand back up but Gracie is controlling him
Gracie prevents Cier from improving his position.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Cier makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bader Cier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gracie scores with a jab to the body.
Cier misses the shot to the body.
Cier lands a head shot.
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cier sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cier.

Cier has Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
Cier lands an elbow inside.
Cier scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cier softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Gracie ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gracie no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Cier advances to half guard.
Cier is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cier performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cier wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Cier landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Cier looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Cier is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bader Cier has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Bader Cier.

Cier darts in and clinches Gracie up against the cage.
Cier with a knee to the head.

Cier lands a takedown into guard.
Cier must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gracie being controlled here, momentarily.
Cier wants to get up but he can't break Gracie's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cier!

Gracie is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Cier can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cier tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
You get the feeling that Cier really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Gracie prevents Cier from getting the reversal.

Gracie swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Cier is now in Gracie's guard. A big mistake from Gracie there, giving up the dominant position!

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Cier pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie being controlled here, momentarily.
Cier wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Ren Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Bader Cier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cier has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bader Cier!