PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bala Bala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bala comes to the cage accompanied by Tough at the top. Gracie comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Hydraulix 13.5 - D.A.V.E. the Drummer & Alex Calver kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Aaron Gracie has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Bala Bala's chin.

Bala
vs
Gracie

185 cm
26
191 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

183 cm
25
195 lbs
20 - 15 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Springfield HW Nutrition
Springfield HW Nutrition

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bala Bala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bala ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Bala slips under a jab from Gracie.
A right-left combo lands from Gracie.
A left and a right from Gracie both land. Nice combination.
Gracie loads up on a big right hand but Bala slips the punch.

Bala scores with a takedown into Gracie's guard.
Bala trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Bala controlling him for the moment.
Bala has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gracie controls Bala momentarily but Bala frees himself.
Bala wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bala sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie's guard.
Gracie is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Bala jumps into side control!
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Bala tries to advance to mount but Gracie denies him.
Gracie manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bala's best efforts.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Bala is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Bala eventually gives up the hold.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Bala throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Bala is pressing down on Gracie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gracie is holding on for now.
Bala is working hard here to advance position.
Bala throwing shots but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bala looking to pass the guard.
Bala is looking to work some ground and pound but Gracie has wrist control.
Bala trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Bala preventing the sweep.

That's three 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 Bala's guard.
Gracie passes Bala's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Bala looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie is keen to just control but Bala is a slippery customer.

Bala is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.
Gracie not doing much here.
Bala is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.
Gracie controlling the action here.
Bala makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bala.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.
Gracie engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Bala has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Gracie is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Bala.
Bala tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.
Gracie trying to control the position but Bala is working away.
Bala struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aaron Gracie will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gracie throws a hook but Bala blocks it.
Gracie throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bala stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gracie lands a really nice looking cross but Bala seems unphased.
Bala takes one on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie throws a right hand that misses

and Bala counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gracie!
Gracie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bala.
Gracie is staying active underneath Bala, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie gets full guard.
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bala's guard.
Bala keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Bala is looking for a triangle here but Gracie uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Gracie controls the position from side control.
Gracie trying to control the position but Bala is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie takes a little break here. Bala wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Bala is not content to let Gracie control the position.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Bala is defending well.
Bala tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bala Bala overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Bala is defending well.
Bala is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie taking a breather here.
Bala struggling a bit here.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Bala is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gracie working away.
Gracie lands some shots froms side control.
A lull in the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bala is looking to reverse the position.
Gracie taking a break here but Bala is having none of it and regains half guard.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Bala won't allow it.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bala does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bala moves out of range of the strikes.

Gracie shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bala's guard.
Bala trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.

Bala escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Bala is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
Gracie engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bala has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Bala's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bala 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.

Bala has his foot on Gracie's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gracie works his way back into a safe position though.

Bala looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Gracie passes into half guard.

Bala looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bala wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Bala is holding on for dear life with his legs.

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.
Gracie seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Aaron Gracie wasn't active enough on the ground.

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

Bala throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gracie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Bala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bala keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Gracie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gracie passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gracie working away.
Gracie wants to control but Bala is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bala is looking for a sweep.
Bala is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gracie controlling the action here.
Gracie prevents Bala from improving his position.
Gracie controlling the pace.
Bala trying to control from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gracie 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Aaron Gracie!
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Aaron Gracie!
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Aaron Gracie!

Aaron Gracie wins by unanimous decision!