PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rio Soreas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Grace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tim Grace will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Soreas
vs
Grace

191 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rio Soreas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tim Grace!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soreas throws a head kick that half lands.
Nice sprawl there from Grace as Soreas shoots in.
Soreas takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Grace has taken the fight to the clinch.
Soreas prevents Grace from breaking the clinch.
Grace is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Soreas stalling the fight.
Grace has had enough of the clinch but Soreas keeps him there for the moment.
Soreas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Grace pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Grace prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rio Soreas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grace wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Grace misses with a punch to the body.
Soreas has Grace pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Grace manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grace wants to get back to striking at distance but Soreas won't allow it.

Grace manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Soreas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Soreas looks for a takedown but Grace sprawls well.
Grace jabs at Soreas's body.
Soreas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Soreas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Grace pinned against the cage. Grace gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Grace will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Grace looks to land a combination but Soreas avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Grace, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Grace looks to land a combination. Soreas sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Grace lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Soreas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Soreas is breathing heavily.
Grace thuds a left hand into Soreas's body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grace misses with a series of wild punches.
Soreas misses with an attempted mid kick.
Grace scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Rio Soreas has been cut.
Grace misses with a jab, cross combination.
Grace throws a right hand that Soreas ducks under and follows up with a left that Soreas also avoids with ease.
Grace wants to clinch up but Soreas keeps it at a distance.
Grace fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grace with a hook.
Grace cracks a nice hook into Soreas's ribs.
Soreas takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Grace lands with a nice combination. Soreas backs away looking to recover.
Grace shoots in for a takedown but Soreas shows good takedown defense.
Grace scores with a punch to the head.
Grace lands with a good body shot.
Grace throws a right hand that Soreas ducks under and follows up with a left that Soreas also avoids with ease.
Grace misses with a double jab.
Grace scores with a three punch combo!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grace lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Soreas backs up against the cage.
Grace is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Soreas rather than just go for the knockout.
Grace fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grace throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Grace scores with a hook.
Grace scores with a nice head shot.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Soreas. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
A nice combination there by Grace.
Grace with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Grace shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Soreas eats them both and turns towards Grace to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Grace jabs at Soreas's body.
Danga de danga de dang - Grace scores with a four punch combination!
Soreas has a takedown stuffed.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Grace swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Grace doesn't manage to clinch there - Soreas circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Grace dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rio Soreas's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Soreas tries to close the distance and clinch but Grace swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Grace misses with a wild combination.
Grace fails to land with a series of punches.
Soreas tries for a takedown but Grace sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Grace stuffs the takedown.
Grace throws a series of punches but Soreas moves out of range.
Grace throws a right and a left that Soreas avoids nicely.
Soreas shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Grace sprawls well. Grace wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Soreas gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rio Soreas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grace tries to clinch up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Soreas swats away the attempt to clinch by Grace.
Soreas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Grace circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grace lands a two punch combo.
Grace fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Grace throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Grace tries to clinch there but Soreas circles away.
Grace stalks Soreas and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Soreas's face. Soreas staggers backwards, shaken.
Grace shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Soreas pinned against the cage. Soreas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Soreas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Soreas shoots in for a takedown but Grace shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grace scores with a one two! Soreas had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Grace thuds a left hand into Soreas's body.
Grace misses with a few strikes there.
Rio Soreas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Soreas has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Grace finds it's way round the side to connect with Soreas's head.
Grace lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Soreas backs up against the cage.
Grace scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Grace punishes Soreas's body with a nice straight punch.
Grace tries to clinch there but Soreas circles away.
Tim Grace seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grace keeps the fight on the outside.
Soreas doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Grace works over Soreas's head and body with a nice combination.
Soreas looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Grace lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grace scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Grace throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Soreas fails with the takedown.
Soreas throws a solid leg kick but Grace takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Soreas.

Grace clinches up against the cage.
Soreas keeps control of Grace as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Grace's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Soreas manages to break the clinch.
A shot to the liver by Grace. Beautiful body shot.
Grace tries to score a power double leg takedown but Soreas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Grace somewhat.
Grace fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grace lands a body shot.
Grace fails to land with a series of punches.
Grace misses with a two punch combination.
Grace throws a right and a left that both miss.
Soreas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Grace has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sloppy strikes from Grace. Those never looked like landing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grace slaps away a takedown attempt from Soreas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Grace throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Soreas stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Grace showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rio Soreas's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Grace scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Soreas has a takedown stuffed.
Grace ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Soreas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Grace sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Soreas somewhat.
Grace lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Grace tries to bum rush Soreas with a series of wild strikes but Soreas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Grace fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Grace comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Grace fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Soreas takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grace throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Grace!
Grace throws a nice looking combination but Soreas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Grace is working the combinations to good effect here.
Grace connects with a body shot that sends Soreas's belly button to the back.

Soreas forces Grace back against the cage and clinches.

Grace gets control of Soreas's arms and successfully pulls guard. Grace will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Grace keeping moving, preventing Soreas from controlling successfully.
Grace trying to keep a closed guard but Soreas is proving a slippery customer.
Soreas throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Grace throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Grace is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Grace can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Soreas controls the pace.

Soreas gets to his feet. Grace looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Tim Grace seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grace stuffs the takedown attempt from Soreas. Soreas gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rio Soreas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grace throws a series of strikes that have Soreas backpedaling.
Grace's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Grace duly obliges.
Grace fails in his attempt to clinch.
Grace dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Grace swinging wildly here.
Grace lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Grace.
Soreas wants to clinch up but Grace keeps it at a distance.
Grace throws a series of punches but Soreas avoids them all with ease.
Soreas fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grace lands a nice shot to the body.
A big left from Soreas misses.
Soreas has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Soreas gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Grace throws a nice looking combination but Soreas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Soreas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Soreas.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A right-left combo lands from Grace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A good leg kick by Soreas.
Rio Soreas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tim Grace is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Grace smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Grace comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Grace winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tim Grace!