PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jrock Mandela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie has chosen Mojo - Peeping Tom as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mandela
vs
Gracie

180 cm
23
195 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

183 cm
18
195 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Bushido Clothing
MMA's Best Nutrition

Crippler's Corner
Team S.W.A.T.

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jrock Mandela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mandela moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mandela looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie misses with a double jab.
Aaron Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mandela throws a low kick, looking for Gracie's leg but Gracie calmly moves out of range.

Mandela has taken the fight to the clinch.

Mandela pulls guard successfully.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Mandela is retaining full guard.
Mandela has his hands on Gracie's head, controlling the position.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mandela is keeping the position for now.
Mandela keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mandela controlling Gracie's posture.

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

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Mandela from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mandela advances position into side control!
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Mandela keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie is not content to let Mandela control the position.
Mandela tries to score with some ground and pound. Gracie controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

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.

Mandela stands up.
Mandela shoots for a double leg takedown but Gracie sprawls well. He's pushed Mandela's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mandela shoots in for a double leg but Gracie sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mandela lands a head shot.
Mandela looks for a takedown but Gracie sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jrock Mandela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Danga de danga de dang - Gracie scores with a four punch combination!
Gracie takes a swing at Mandela's ribcage but misses.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mandela moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Mandela avoids them all with ease.
Mandela moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.
Gracie throws a combination. Mandela tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A head kick misses from Gracie.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Mandela.
Mandela checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gracie showed some decent athleticism there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is keen to just control but Mandela is a slippery customer.
Mandela trying to control from the bottom.
Well, if Gracie is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Gracie 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 is trying to work for a kimura but Mandela is defending well.
Gracie looks gassed!
Mandela trying to control from the bottom.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Mandela is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mandela keeps working.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mandela wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Mandela moves into the clinch successfully.
Mandela using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Mandela manages to break the clinch.

Mandela has closed the distance and engaged Gracie in a clinch.

Mandela pulls Gracie into guard.
Gracie won't allow Mandela to sweep him here.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Mandela keeps moving.
Mandela keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jrock Mandela will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mandela lands a two punch combo.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mandela is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gracie.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gracie goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Mandela tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gracie looks to land a combination. Mandela sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Gracie throws a combination that misses

and Mandela counters by moving into the clinch.

Mandela breaks the clinch.
Mandela moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.
Gracie lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Gracie.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.

Mandela shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Mandela was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gracie is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mandela wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Mandela.
It looks like Mandela is going to stand back up.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Mandela is nestled in close to Gracie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Mandela is trying to work for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.
Mandela takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mandela wants to stand but Gracie has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses.

Gracie bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mandela is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Mandela tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gracie wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mandela gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mandela working to try and regain half guard.
Gracie avoids the attempt from Mandela to control.

Gracie is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Mandela has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Mandela prevents Gracie from taking his back.
Mandela is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mandela tries to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Gracie tries to control but Mandela wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandela manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Mandela scores with a few weak punches.

Gracie 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 is trying to control the action in half guard but Mandela is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mandela tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Mandela is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gracie wants to control but Mandela is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Mandela has managed to free his arm - good work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Mandela looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Gracie!
Mandela landing strikes, looking to finish!
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Mandela has taken his back.
Jrock Mandela overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Mandela doesn't have the hooks in and Gracie manages to turn into his guard.
Mandela is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Mandela is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jrock Mandela will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gracie stalks Mandela and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mandela's face. Mandela staggers backwards, shaken.
Nice body punch from Gracie.
Gracie takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mandela moves away.
Mandela tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Mandela counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mandela's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mandela's back!

Gracie is persistently looking for the submission but Mandela is defending it well.
Mandela trying to control but not successfully.
Mandela looking very determined here, making life difficult for Gracie.

Mandela defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
I really don't envy Mandela right now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Gracie's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Mandela is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Gracie gets his way!

Gracie is cranking Mandela's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Mandela! He's tightened the choke and Mandela is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Aaron Gracie!