PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Katasonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heston Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Katasonov comes to the cage accompanied by In Extremo - Wind. Gracie has chosen Animal I Have Become as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Katasonov
vs
Gracie

175 cm
32
166 lbs
24 - 10 - 1

175 cm
25
164 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

[CBK] The Smashwear Corporation
Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pavel Katasonov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Heston Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in but Katasonov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Katasonov pinned against the cage. Katasonov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Gracie gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Katasonov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Katasonov trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Katasonov defends it easily.
Katasonov is pushing down on Gracie's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gracie is fighting to maintain full guard but Katasonov has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control but Katasonov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Katasonov trying to pass the guard but Gracie defending well.

Katasonov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gracie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Katasonov.

Katasonov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Katasonov is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Gracie reverses the position - he's now on top in Katasonov's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Katasonov 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 lands a couple of elbows.
Gracie postures up and lands a big shot to Katasonov's brow.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie is looking to work some ground and pound but Katasonov has wrist control.

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

Katasonov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Katasonov keeps moving.
Katasonov can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gracie trying to control the action but Katasonov is working from the bottom.
Gracie trying to control the pace.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gracie connects with a nice short shot to Katasonov's temple.
Katasonov wants to get back to full guard.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Katasonov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Gracie looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Heston Gracie will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A clash of legs there as Gracie blocks the low kick.
Gracie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Katasonov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Katasonov misses with a body shot.
Heston Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Katasonov slips a straight right by Gracie.
Gracie misses with a looping left.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Katasonov sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A shot to the liver by Gracie. Beautiful body shot.
Katasonov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gracie counters with a low kick, right behind Katasonov 's knee.
Gracie tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie tries to land a front kick but Katasonov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Katasonov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Gracie lands an overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie won't let Katasonov get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Katasonov is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.
Gracie dominating with strikes here.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Gracie working for a submission but Katasonov is keeping him at bay.
Gracie looking to control but Katasonov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie landing shots from mount.
Gracie breaks from Katasonov's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gracie goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Katasonov turns into him and now he's in Gracie's guard.
Gracie controls Katasonov momentarily but Katasonov frees himself.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie 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.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Katasonov is in close to Gracie's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Katasonov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Katasonov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Katasonov from controlling successfully.
Heston Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Katasonov passes into side control.

Katasonov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heston 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Katasonov just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie connects with a body shot that sends Katasonov's belly button to the back.
Katasonov connects with a jab.
Katasonov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.
Gracie cracks Katasonov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Gracie scores with a jab to the head.
Katasonov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Katasonov as he avoids it easily.
Katasonov misses with a straight left.
Katasonov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gracie lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katasonov misses with a low kick.
Katasonov throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.
A slow jab from Gracie misses its intended target.
Katasonov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gracie throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie sizes up Katasonov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Katasonov throws the kick towards the body but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie misses with a body kick.
A low kick from Gracie misses
and Katasonov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Pavel Katasonov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katasonov throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Gracie tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Katasonov is able to avoid easily.

Katasonov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Katasonov wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.

Katasonov 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 wants to improve his position but Katasonov is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Katasonov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gracie manages to get to full guard.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Katasonov is aware though and is defending well.
Katasonov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to control.
Katasonov wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Katasonov defends easily.
Katasonov scoring with some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Katasonov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gracie is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gracie has escaped and now he's on top!
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Katasonov's guard.

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 Pavel Katasonov.
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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Heston Gracie!
After the big win, Heston Gracie made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Hellbent and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.