PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between William Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gregor Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thomas
vs
Gracie

180 cm
25
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
195 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Lionwear (94% laundry)
5th Round Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, William Thomas!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gregor Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas moves into the clinch successfully.
Gracie wants to take the fight to the mat but Thomas manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gracie tries to break free but Thomas pushes him back against the cage.
Gracie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Thomas tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Thomas has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thomas pulls him back up using the underhooks.
William Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gregor Gracie.
Thomas has Gracie pressed against the cage, preventing Gracie from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gracie is looking to take this one to the mat.
Gracie is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Thomas pulls Gracie into guard.
Thomas tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Thomas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Thomas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Thomas looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gracie passes into half guard.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Thomas is defending it quite comfortably.
Gracie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thomas defending well though.
Thomas tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but Thomas defending well.
Thomas is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Thomas sees it coming and defends easily.
Thomas wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas actively working from the bottom here.
Thomas has a hand on Gracie's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Gracie takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Thomas tries to reverse the position but Gracie maintains control.
Thomas holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gracie tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Thomas is looking to get to half guard.
Thomas tries to improve his position but instead Gracie has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas turns into Gracie and is now in his guard.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie is pulling down on Thomas's head to control his posture.
Thomas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up because William Thomas just wasn't active enough.
Thomas keeps the fight on the outside.
Thomas dives in and grabs Gracie's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes down on Thomas's head and hops out.
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 William Thomas will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Thomas slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Thomas as Gracie shoots in.
Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Thomas which made him look bad.
William Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gregor Gracie.

Thomas dives in and scores a takedown into Gracie's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thomas manages to get himself to full guard.
Thomas wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie throws a strike but Thomas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gracie trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Thomas isn't so interested in that idea.
Thomas sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie's guard.
Thomas is pressing down on Gracie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gracie is holding on for now.
Thomas passes the guard and advances to mount!
Thomas is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gracie can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gracie hang on?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas controlling his opponent.
William Thomas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Thomas working for a submission but Gracie is keeping him at bay.
Gracie can't escape the position.
Gracie bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gracie throws an elbow that misses. Thomas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Thomas!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looking to pass the guard.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thomas!
Thomas is bucking up trying to escape but Gracie cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Gracie swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Gregor Gracie!
Gregor Gracie is the new middleweight champion!