PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aleoh Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sten Carlssen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Gracie
vs
Carlssen

165 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

160 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Very quick

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleoh Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sten Carlssen!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

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

Gracie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie lands in his opponent's guard.
Gracie controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Carlssen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie controlling from the top position.
Gracie slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Gracie stalls from top position.
Gracie in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Carlssen wants to sweep but no luck.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Carlssen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Carlssen looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to stand but Carlssen is controlling from the bottom.
Carlssen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gracie controls the pace.
Gracie lands a couple of digs.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carlssen is keeping the position for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Carlssen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gracie is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Carlssen!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Carlssen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling from the full mount.
Carlssen looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Gracie is looking to control Carlssen but Carlssen is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Gracie doesn't have the hooks in and Carlssen manages to turn into his guard.
Gracie trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carlssen looking to pass the guard.

Carlssen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gracie looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gracie looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gracie!

That's four 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 decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Gracie scores a takedown into full mount!
Carlssen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Gracie postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Carlssen looks a forlorn figure.
Gracie content just to control the position here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleoh 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.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gracie trying to control the pace.
Gracie winds up and cracks Carlssen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Carlssen has a hand on Gracie's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Gracie takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Carlssen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.
The referee warns Carlssen that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Gracie is landing with some decent strikes but Carlssen is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Aleoh Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Carlssen is breathing heavily.
Gracie controlling his opponent.
A nice elbow there by Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlssen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Gracie is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Carlssen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gracie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gracie dominating with strikes here.
Gracie controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Carlssen wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Gracie just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Aleoh Gracie just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Carlssen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gracie makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Carlssen really felt that one!
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Aleoh Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Carlssen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Carlssen keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Carlssen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Carlssen is looking to reverse the position.
Gracie trying to control the action but Carlssen is working from the bottom.
Carlssen is looking for a sweep.
Gracie creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gracie working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A slapping body kick lands there for Gracie.
Carlssen tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily

and Gracie counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Carlssen is fighting off a takedown attempt but Gracie is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Carlssen to the mat. Carlssen regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Carlssen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Gracie chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.
Carlssen gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Gracie controlling the pace for now.
Gracie scores with a couple of good head shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleoh Gracie dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Carlssen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Carlssen.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches.
Carlssen goes for a takedown attempt but Gracie pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Gracie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie lands in his opponent's guard.
Gracie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Carlssen is keeping the position.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Carlssen's guard.
Gracie trying to control the pace.
Carlssen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie slips a nice elbow through Carlssen's hands, connecting with Carlssen's forehead.

Gracie stands up out of the half guard.
Carlssen tries for a takedown but Gracie circles away easily
and Gracie finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Carlssen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlssen shoots and misses

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Carlssen fights it but they end up in guard.
Aleoh Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sten Carlssen.

Carlssen 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 working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Carlssen's head.
Gracie slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Gracie gets to his feet. Carlssen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gracie throws a shot from downtown. Carlssen moves away and avoids it.

Gracie gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie wants to control but Carlssen is keeping him busy.
Carlssen is looking for a sweep.

Gracie decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carlssen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Gracie!

Carlssen has hold of Gracie's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gracie manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Gracie is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gracie wants to control but Carlssen is having none of it.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracie wants to hold on but Carlssen pushes him away.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Carlssen avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to improve his position but Carlssen isn't that keen on the idea.
Carlssen avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.
Gracie is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Gracie on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gracie tries to get out of the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sten Carlssen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Gracie makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleoh Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:26
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:26

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