PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rolger Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Zero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zero comes into a darkened arena with his song building. José the Bronx Rican - Spittin' Narcicism kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Max Zero has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Gracie
vs
Zero

195 cm
27
250 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

190 cm
28
221 lbs
8 - 13 - 0

Good takedowns
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rolger Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Max Zero!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Winston Howard and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zero fails with the takedown

and Gracie counters with a series of strikes that sends Zero to the canvas! Gracie follows down into guard, looking to finish the fight!

Zero is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Zero is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gracie working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zero's head.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zero works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gracie chips away with some ground and pound.

Zero working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gracie content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gracie postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zero preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie connects with a couple of short punches.
Zero is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Zero has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zero's head.
Zero avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zero on the ground.
Gracie landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zero looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Zero looks gassed!
Gracie postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.

Zero 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.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zero is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.

Zero is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie chips away with some ground and pound.

Zero has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Zero is keeping the position.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Gracie working some strikes from top position.
Gracie landing with the ground and pound.
Gracie lands a couple of elbows.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Zero is keeping the position.
Gracie stands up over Zero, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie scoring with punches to the head and body.
Zero preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie works over Zero with some ground and pound from guard.
Gracie cracks Zero with a solid left hand.
Gracie lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gracie connects with a couple of short punches.
Gracie scoring with some ground and pound.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Zero is retaining full guard.

Zero is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.

Zero is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie works over Zero with some ground and pound from guard.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zero has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Zero's legs - danger averted.
Gracie lands a couple of digs.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zero swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie landing with the ground and pound.
Zero keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie works over Zero with some ground and pound from guard.

Zero working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolger Gracie dominated that round.
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.

Zero shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gracie drops an elbow to the side of Zero's head.
Zero is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gracie scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Zero dodges it nicely.
Zero moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Zero has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gracie postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Zero is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zero throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Zero is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie distracts Zero with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Zero working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
Zero controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Gracie scoring with punches to the head and body.
Zero has momentary wrist control but Gracie slips an elbow through the middle.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Zero is retaining full guard.
Zero utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gracie postures up and lands a big shot to Zero's brow.

Zero 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.
Gracie connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands a couple of elbows.
Zero looking to control.
Gracie is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie lands a couple of digs.
Gracie scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Zero has momentary wrist control but Gracie slips an elbow through the middle.
Gracie postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Zero had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie landing with the ground and pound.
Gracie is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Zero looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Zero keeps moving.
Gracie chips away with some ground and pound.
Gracie landing some decent shots from guard.
Gracie cracks Zero with a solid left hand.

Zero throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gracie cracks Zero with a solid left hand.
Gracie distracts Zero with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gracie's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Zero is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gracie lands a couple of elbows.
Gracie keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zero's head.
Gracie working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zero's head.
Gracie stands up over Zero, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gracie is working Zero over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Zero 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Zero looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rolger Gracie dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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 pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Zero dives in and scores a takedown into Gracie's guard.
Gracie wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Zero isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Zero with a nice head shot there.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Zero controlling him for the moment.
Zero trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie controls Zero momentarily but Zero frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zero trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zero stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick
and Zero counters with a head kick.
Zero shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gracie sprawls well. Gracie wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zero gets slowly back to his feet.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zero moves away.
Gracie throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zero.

Gracie gets caught flat footed, as Zero shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Zero drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Zero off! Zero jumps back into Gracie's guard.
Zero scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zero wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

Zero 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.
Zero wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Zero looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gracie lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Zero working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zero looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie connects with a couple of short punches.
Gracie with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gracie content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gracie lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Zero looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
Gracie makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gracie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gracie lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gracie makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gracie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zero wants to stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zero swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gracie is working Zero over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gracie keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zero's head.
Gracie distracts Zero with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rolger Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gracie's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gracie thows a big elbow that misses.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Max Zero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Zero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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 Rolger Gracie.
Well Gracie has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rolger Gracie!