PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Hydraulix 13.5 - D.A.V.E. the Drummer & Alex Calver. Aaron Gracie is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Gracie
vs
Ivanov

183 cm
31
195 lbs
33 - 22 - 1

182 cm
29
199 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brute

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 33 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Aaron Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aleksander Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie throws a jab but it's blocked by Ivanov.
Gracie lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ivanov jabs Gracie right on the nose. Gracie blinks but takes it well.
Ivanov throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie misses the shot to the body.
Gracie lands a body shot.
A good leg kick by Ivanov.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ivanov manages to avoid it.
Gracie cracks a nice hook into Ivanov's ribs.
Gracie rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ivanov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gracie just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Gracie is looking to wear down Ivanov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ivanov lands with a shot to the body.
Gracie fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ivanov catches Gracie with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
Gracie misses with a body shot.
Ivanov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ivanov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Gracie waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ivanov.
Ivanov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ivanov wants it to stay on the feet.
Gracie sizes up Ivanov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ivanov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A slow jab from Ivanov misses its intended target.
Aleksander Ivanov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ivanov avoids the body shot from Gracie.
Ivanov tries a low kick but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie scores with a jab to the body.
Ivanov throws a leg kick but Gracie sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ivanov counters with a two punch combo.
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!
Ivanov looks for the body kick but Gracie saw that one coming.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Ivanov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ivanov slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ivanov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gracie.
Ivanov thows a body kick. Gracie tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Ivanov is just out of range.
Ivanov scores with a punch to the head.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ivanov moves away.
Gracie with a hook.
Gracie misses with a hook to the body

and Ivanov moves into the clinch.
Ivanov tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.
Ivanov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ivanov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gracie wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ivanov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ivanov scores with a push kick.
Gracie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gracie throws a jab when Ivanov was well out of range.
Gracie takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Gracie closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ivanov's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ivanov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Ivanov is keeping the position.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Ivanov keeps moving.
Ivanov wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Gracie is now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie passes to side control.
Gracie working the ground and pound.
Ivanov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ivanov is not content to let Gracie control the position.
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 Aaron Gracie will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gracie lands the left hand.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gracie throws a body punch but Ivanov moves out of range.
Ivanov looks for the body kick but Gracie saw that one coming.

Gracie tries to keep at a distance but Ivanov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gracie is trying to maintain a safe position but Ivanov gets an underhook and turns Gracie into the cage.
Ivanov misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A short left from Gracie.
Ivanov lands a nice uppercut.
Ivanov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gracie stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ivanov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gracie tries to work over Ivanov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gracie blocks a body shot from Ivanov.
Ivanov tries to throw a body punch but Gracie avoids it by throwing Ivanov back against the cage.
Gracie blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gracie tries to work over Ivanov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gracie takes a knee to the side of the body.
Gracie misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gracie stalling in the clinch but Ivanov improves position.
Gracie managing to block the knees to the body from Ivanov.
Ivanov struggles to land a body shot inside as Gracie controls his hands.
A right hook to the body lands for Ivanov.
Gracie scores with a shot to the side of Ivanov's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie wants a takedown but no success here.
Good body shot from Ivanov.
Gracie blocks a body shot from Ivanov.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Ivanov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stalling.
Ivanov with a knee to the head.

It looks like Aaron Gracie has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ivanov swings wildly with an uppercut but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie takes a knee to the side of the body.
Ivanov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Ivanov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gracie misses with a body punch.
Ivanov lands a knee to the body.
Ivanov prevents a body shot from Gracie.
A short uppercut from Ivanov.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Gracie.
Gracie blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gracie throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Gracie goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ivanov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gracie blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie scores with a shot to the side of Ivanov's head.
Ivanov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gracie has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ivanov pushes off an throws an elbow but Gracie leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ivanov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ivanov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.

Ivanov breaks from the clinch.
Gracie uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ivanov has time to react.
Ivanov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gracie has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gracie ducks right into an uppercut from Ivanov.
Gracie moves out of range of the body kick.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Ivanov is just out of range.
Gracie throws a body punch but Ivanov moves out of range.
Ivanov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ivanov clobbers Gracie with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ivanov lands a jab.
Aleksander Ivanov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.
Ivanov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gracie.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ivanov manages to avoid it.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.
Gracie throws a hook but Ivanov avoids it easily.
Ivanov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie moves out of range of the body kick.
Gracie tries to move into range but Ivanov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Ivanov.
Ivanov misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Ivanov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aaron Gracie's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A head kick from Ivanov lands but Gracie takes it in his stride.
That kick from Ivanov tenderised Gracie's leg. Gracie is trying to keep his angry face on.
A slapping body kick lands there for Ivanov.
Ivanov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gracie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ivanov.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ivanov manages to avoid it.
Aaron Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
An inside leg kick from Ivanov misses.
The fighters circling - Ivanov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gracie throws a lazy right hand but Ivanov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Ivanov is just out of range.
Ivanov throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ivanov counters with a nice body kick.
Gracie swings for the body but Ivanov moves out of range.
A shot to the body from Gracie misses
enabling Ivanov to counter with a crisp jab.
Ivanov lands a glancing blow to the side of Gracie's head.
Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ivanov.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ivanov misses with a low kick as Gracie jumps back.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie moves away from the strike by Ivanov.
Ivanov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ivanov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gracie thinking.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ivanov loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ivanov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ivanov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ivanov.
Ivanov throws a low kick but Gracie moves out of range easily.
Ivanov connects with a body shot.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ivanov doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Ivanov tries to land a front kick but Gracie steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie misses the body punch
and Ivanov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gracie misses the body punch
and Ivanov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Gracie's knee momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov with a jab.

Gracie fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ivanov to the ground. Gracie is now in Ivanov's guard.
Ivanov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ivanov keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Ivanov controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ivanov is controlling Gracie's posture.
Ivanov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gracie's guard.
Ivanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Aleksander Ivanov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ivanov was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Ivanov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ivanov tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie misses the shot to the body.
Gracie rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ivanov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ivanov throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Ivanov lands with a good body shot.
Gracie ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ivanov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ivanov throws the kick towards the body but Gracie avoids it.
Ivanov getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksander Ivanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ivanov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksander Ivanov!
After winning the bout, Aleksander Ivanov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.