PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andy Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Hoffman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Josh Hoffman was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Gracie
vs
Hoffman

186 cm
22
170 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

183 cm
24
172 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

BioPharm Nutrition

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andy Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Josh Hoffman!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Summer Carpenter and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hoffman tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hoffman to the ground. Hoffman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Hoffman shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Hoffman 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.
Hoffman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hoffman wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Hoffman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hoffman wants to get up but he can't break Gracie's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Hoffman wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Hoffman trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Josh Hoffman has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hoffman throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Hoffman.
Hoffman tries to clinch up.
Gracie takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hoffman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hoffman avoids the body shot from Gracie.
Gracie takes a swing at Hoffman's ribcage but misses.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
Gracie misses with the combination.
Gracie stuffs the takedown.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hoffman trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control but Hoffman is working from the bottom.
Hoffman trying to strike off his back.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hoffman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Hoffman trying to control the position.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Hoffman keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Hoffman closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gracie to the mat! Gracie manages to get full guard.
Hoffman postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hoffman gets to his feet. Gracie looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Hoffman looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Gracie!
Hoffman looks gassed!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hoffman lands a nice shot to the head.
Hoffman raining down shots from the mount!
Gracie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Hoffman's attempts to control the action.
Gracie is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Hoffman dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hoffman gets caught napping as Gracie dives in and scores a takedown. Hoffman manages to retain guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Hoffman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hoffman manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Hoffman in his guard.
Gracie has a closed guard, preventing Hoffman from standing up.
Hoffman postures up.
Hoffman wants to get up but he can't break Gracie's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Hoffman gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hoffman manages to avoid it.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.

Gracie closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hoffman to the mat! Hoffman manages to get full guard.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Hoffman has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Hoffman landing strikes, looking to finish!
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hoffman tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Hoffman might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gracie kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to improve his position but Hoffman isn't that keen on the idea.
Josh Hoffman has got the better of the ground game so far.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hoffman is landing with some decent strikes but Gracie is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Gracie wants to control but Hoffman is having none of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hoffman is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Gracie has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Gracie!
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Hoffman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie pushes down on Hoffman's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is keen to just control but Hoffman is a slippery customer.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hoffman is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Hoffman is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.
Hoffman keeping control of the position.
Hoffman is looking to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie trying to control the action but Hoffman is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Gracie dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Hoffman.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Gracie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hoffman manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Hoffman defends the submission attempt.
Gracie working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Hoffman's thigh. Hoffman counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Gracie slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoffman is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.
Hoffman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Hoffman won't allow it.
Hoffman is trying to get back to full guard.

Hoffman manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Gracie moves in looking to clinch but Hoffman pushes him off.
Gracie tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hoffman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Andy Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman tries to land a front kick but Gracie steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hoffman dives in and grabs Gracie's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes down on Hoffman's head and hops out.
Hoffman misses with a wild combination.
Hoffman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hoffman throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gracie was covering up waiting for the punch and Hoffman finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hoffman content to stall in guard here.
Gracie working a defensive guard but Hoffman passes into half guard.
Gracie is looking to control Hoffman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hoffman is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Hoffman is thwarting Gracie's attempts to control the position.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hoffman is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hoffman has escaped and now he's on top!
Hoffman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hoffman postures up.

Hoffman gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hoffman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gracie is fending him off so far but Hoffman persists. Nope, Gracie circles away and we're back to standing.
Andy Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Hoffman.
Gracie tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hoffman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hoffman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hoffman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gracie sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hoffman somewhat.
Gracie is looking to wear down Hoffman with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gracie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

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 Andy Gracie.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Gracie!
Andy Gracie took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, (MFS) Macto Fight System for their support in the buildup to the fight.