PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicolas Refn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Gracie
vs
Refn

170 cm
23
178 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

178 cm
29
174 lbs
19 - 17 - 1

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bruce Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Nicolas Refn!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Steve Smith and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie misses with a takedown

and Refn counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gracie's guard now.
Refn scoring with punches to the head and body.
Refn passes Gracie's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gracie trying to hold on to Refn's head to control him but Refn postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Refn drops an elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Refn prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Gracie wants to control but Refn is keeping busy.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Refn is nestled in close to Gracie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Refn is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Refn working over Gracie with some ground and pound. Gracie looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Refn not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Refn takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gracie taking some punishment here, with Refn in his half guard.
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Refn is working away from the top position though.
Gracie tries to roll over but Refn keeps him under control.
Refn performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Refn trying to control from half guard but Gracie is working away.
Refn thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gracie's head.
Gracie manages to get to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Refn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Refn postures up.
Refn throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Refn keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gracie's head.

Refn decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gracie gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Refn trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Refn engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Refn from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nicolas Refn wasn't active enough on the ground.

Refn drives through with a takedown into guard.
Refn postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Refn avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Refn working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Refn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Refn.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Refn's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Refn lands a couple of digs.
Refn works over Gracie with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Refn wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Refn postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.
Refn postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.

Refn decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!
Gracie misses with a left hand

so Refn counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Refn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Refn manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gracie 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.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Refn throws a big right hand that misses.
Refn lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie is working an open guard so Refn takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Refn dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gracie tries to sprawl but Refn drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Refn is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gracie has managed to free his arm - good work.
Refn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Refn connects with a nice short shot to Gracie's temple.
Refn missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Refn moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Gracie.
Gracie is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Gracie gets back to half guard.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Refn pulls his head out easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Refn working Gracie over with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Refn is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is staying active underneath Refn, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie gets full guard.
Refn working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gracie's head.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Gracie throws his legs up looking for a submission but Refn uses it to pass to side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Refn working the ground and pound.
Refn grinds an elbow into Gracie's temple.
Refn scores with a couple of short elbows.
Gracie is not content to let Refn control the position.
Gracie is working to avoid the ground and pound but Refn connects with a decent elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Refn is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gracie knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.
Nicolas Refn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Refn looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Refn wants to get back to his feet.

Refn is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Refn tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Refn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Refn working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Refn lands strikes from half guard.
Refn slips a nice elbow through Gracie's hands, connecting with Gracie's forehead.
Refn is keen to just control but Gracie is a slippery customer.
Refn is controlling the pace.
Refn takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gracie is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Refn scores with a couple of nice shots.
Refn lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Refn trying to control from half guard but Gracie is working away.
Refn content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Refn looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie is not content to let Refn control the position.
Refn is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Refn is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gracie can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gracie can't escape the position.
Refn landing strikes from the mount and Gracie is in trouble!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Refn's attempts to control the action.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Refn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Refn shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gracie is trying to defend but Refn finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Refn is trying to work for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.
Refn landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Refn lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Well, if Refn 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.
Refn lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Refn prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Refn winds up and cracks Gracie with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Refn is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Refn working the head and body with strikes.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Refn sits in half guard.

Gracie has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Refn. Oh but Gracie has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Refn goes limp - he's gone! Gracie jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Bruce Gracie!