PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gregor Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Avon Barksdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Avon Barksdale will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gracie
vs
Barksdale

180 cm
20
195 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

200 cm
27
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gregor Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Avon Barksdale!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barksdale sends Gracie crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Barksdale is motioning to the referee to let Gracie up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

It looks like Gregor Gracie has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barksdale wants to clinch.

Gracie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barksdale defending well though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barksdale is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barksdale tries to kick Gracie off in order to stand up. Gracie Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gracie creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Barksdale sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Barksdale is defending well.
Barksdale is looking for a sweep.
Gracie throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Barksdale regains half guard.
Barksdale wants to get back to full guard.
Barksdale is in trouble now - Gracie has advanced to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale working to try and regain half guard.
Barksdale wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Gracie is hanging on to Barksdale's back as he tries to escape.

Gracie has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Barksdale has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gracie is looking for the choke from the back position but Barksdale is controlling his hands well.
Barksdale rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Barksdale regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Barksdale has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Gracie has passed into side control.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gracie prevents Barksdale from escaping the position.
Barksdale manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gracie's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie works his foot free and advances to mount.
Gracie lands a big shot there that rocks Barksdale but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Barksdale tries to improve his position but instead Gracie has taken his back!
Gracie misses with a punch to the head.

Gracie has got his arm under Barksdale's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Barksdale has spun round into Gracie's guard beautifully! Well done that man!

Gracie kicks Barksdale off and gets to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barksdale misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
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 Gregor Gracie will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gregor Gracie's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gracie shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Barksdale's guard.
Gracie is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barksdale has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Barksdale's legs - danger averted.
Gracie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Barksdale looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gracie passes into side control.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gracie has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Barksdale!
Barksdale is trying to reverse the position but instead Gracie has taken his back - oops!

Barksdale defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Gracie's arms.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie is trying to stick to Barksdale's back but Barksdale is turning into Gracie. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Gracie's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Barksdale.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barksdale's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barksdale is on top in guard.
Gracie pulls Barksdale in close to prevent any damage.
Barksdale tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Barksdale trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barksdale has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Gracie to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Barksdale is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Gracie pulls down on the head and he's put Barksdale to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Gregor Gracie!