PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rico Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes into the arena with Pokój z widokiem na wojnę - Droga Wojownika blaring out of the sound system. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Gracie
vs
Da Silva

195 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

193 cm
22
211 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rico Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marco Da Silva!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie dives in and grabs Da Silva's left leg, looking for a takedown. Da Silva pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.

Da Silva scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Da Silva content to control rather than advance.
Da Silva tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.
Da Silva is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Da Silva pulls his head out easily.
Gracie gets back to full guard.
Gracie wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Da Silva is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Da Silva avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gracie working for a triangle but Da Silva defends it easily.
Da Silva content to stall in guard here.
Da Silva wanted to stand there but Gracie had control of the position.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Da Silva looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Marco Da Silva.
Da Silva slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Da Silva throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Da Silva rushes Gracie and presses him up against the cage.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Da Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rico Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie wants a takedown.

Da Silva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Da Silva lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Rico Gracie has been cut.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Da Silva smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Marco Da Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Da Silva swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Gracie counters with a single leg into guard. Da Silva didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gracie!

Da Silva gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Da Silva has Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.

Da Silva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Da Silva throws a right hand that Gracie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie also avoids with ease.
Da Silva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Da Silva, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Da Silva against the cage but Da Silva circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Da Silva misses with a two punch combination.
Da Silva throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Da Silva lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie takes one to the side of the head.

Gracie is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Oh Gracie is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Da Silva lands a jab to the head.
Da Silva lands a nice looking body shot.
Gracie seems to have got his legs back now.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.

Da Silva drops Gracie with a left and a right! Oh, Gracie is hurt - Da Silva dives into side control looking to finish!
Da Silva just content to control the position.

Da Silva decides to take the fight back to the feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Da Silva closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gracie did well to prevent Da Silva getting side control.
Da Silva passes the guard and advances to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Da Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rico Gracie's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Da Silva throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Da Silva drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Da Silva controls the position from side control.
Da Silva's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Da Silva working away.

Da Silva is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gracie has escaped the position, nice work there.
Da Silva working away.
Marco Da Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to bench press Da Silva off him but Da Silva keeps the position.
Da Silva working the ground and pound.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.
Da Silva throwing shots but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Gracie trying to control here.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Da Silva has control of the leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie controlling the position for now.
Da Silva keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva is pressing down on Gracie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gracie is holding on for now.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.
Da Silva throws a big elbow that misses.

Gracie is working an open guard so Da Silva takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Da Silva throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gracie stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Da Silva shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Da Silva not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Well, if Da Silva 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.
Da Silva wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to hold on to Da Silva's head to control him but Da Silva postures up.
Da Silva tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.
Da Silva has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Da Silva's attempts to control the action.
Gracie taking shots to the head.
Da Silva tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Da Silva looking to control but Gracie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Da Silva looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gracie regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Da Silva trying to control the pace.

Marco Da Silva has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Da Silva tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Da Silva to the ground. Da Silva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Da Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rico Gracie's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie looks for a takedown but Da Silva sprawls well.
Da Silva uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Da Silva lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.

Da Silva closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gracie blocking the ground and pound attempt from Da Silva.
Gracie gets full guard.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Da Silva is proving a slippery customer.
Da Silva is stalling in the full guard.
Gracie controls Da Silva momentarily but Da Silva frees himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Da Silva stands and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Da Silva decides to stand back up. Da Silva steps back and let's Gracie get back to his feet.

Da Silva moves into the clinch successfully.

Da Silva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Da Silva has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Da Silva misses with a double jab.
Da Silva lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Gracie fails with the takedown

and Da Silva counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie tries to buck Da Silva off but Da Silva is having none of it.
Gracie being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Gracie wants to control but Da Silva postures up.

Da Silva looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Da Silva is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gracie is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Da Silva working away.
Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Da Silva is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Da Silva moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Gracie.
Da Silva working away.
Da Silva staying calm.
Da Silva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gracie gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Marco Da Silva wasn't active enough on the ground.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Da Silva makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rico Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No joy there for Da Silva, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Da Silva misses with a few strikes there.

Da Silva shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Da Silva not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Da Silva wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rico Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marco Da Silva is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Da Silva defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Da Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Da Silva 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Da Silva!
In his post fight interview, Marco Da Silva started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.