PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tito Ortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ortiz has chosen Break Stuff as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rickson Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Ortiz

160 cm
26
200 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

189 cm
26
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

Good takedowns
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Al's Supplements - 160 Q for $150

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rickson Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tito Ortiz!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Chris Saunders and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ortiz gets a double leg takedown into Gracie's guard.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ortiz looking to pass the guard.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ortiz defends it easily.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ortiz drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gracie manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ortiz has Gracie in his guard.
Ortiz keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Ortiz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.
Gracie trying to control but Ortiz is working from the bottom.

Ortiz working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.

Ortiz looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ortiz's guard.

Ortiz looking for submissions off his back.
Ortiz is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ortiz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ortiz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Ortiz looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the action but Ortiz is working from the bottom.
Gracie not doing much here.
Gracie works his foot free and advances to mount.
Gracie tries to control but Ortiz wriggling away.
Gracie moves to the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ortiz staying busy and making it hard for Gracie to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling well, preventing Ortiz from escaping the position.
Gracie biding his time, controlling Ortiz.
Ortiz tries to escape but Gracie has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Ortiz is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Gracie off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
I would not like to be Ortiz right now.
Ortiz is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
What can Ortiz do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Gracie trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Ortiz is defending well though. Gracie let's go of the attempt for now.
Ortiz tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ortiz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ortiz has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Ortiz is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Gracie.
Ortiz tries to break free.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ortiz looks winded!
Gracie is riding his opponent, not letting Ortiz buck him off.

Gracie is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ortiz knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ortiz for a finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ortiz with a poor takedown
and Gracie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ortiz shoots in looking for a takedown but Gracie manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ortiz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ortiz fails with the takedown

and Gracie counters with a left hand that sends Ortiz to the canvas!

Ortiz is rocked!

It looks like Tito Ortiz has been cut.
Rickson Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tito Ortiz.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ortiz is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.
Ortiz regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Ortiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ortiz can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gracie with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ortiz is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the action but Ortiz is working from the bottom.
Gracie tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ortiz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ortiz is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.

Ortiz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.

Ortiz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Ortiz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie passes the guard and advances to mount!
Ortiz wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling the position well here. Ortiz rolled but Gracie kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Ortiz looking very determined here, making life difficult for Gracie.
Gracie controlling the position well here. Ortiz rolled but Gracie kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Ortiz tries to escape the position.

Gracie working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Ortiz is doing well to defend. Gracie seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Ortiz is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rickson Gracie!
Rickson Gracie retains his light heavyweight title!
Rickson Gracie thanked the fans post fight for their support.