PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between JJ Staples (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Royce Gracie enters the cage!

Staples
vs
Gracie

179 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
176 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, JJ Staples!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royce Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Luis Engracia and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Staples trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gracie's guard.
Staples trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Staples stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Staples thows a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Staples accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Staples working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Staples is looking to work some ground and pound but Gracie has wrist control.
Staples throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gracie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Staples trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staples missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Staples postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Staples stops Gracie from standing up.
Staples looking to sit in guard and control but Gracie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Staples working for submissions but it's allowed Gracie to get to half guard.
Staples manages to get to full guard.
Gracie advances position into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Staples's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Staples manages to get back to half guard.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Staples won't allow it.
Staples tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Staples makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Staples.
Staples scores with a nice shot.

Staples working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Staples keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
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.
Staples tries to strike from the bottom.
Gracie passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Staples manages to get back to half guard.

Staples looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Staples has managed to free his arm - good work.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Staples wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working the head and body with strikes.
Gracie landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Staples is defending well.
Staples wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Staples on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Staples tries to get out of the position.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Gracie has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Royce Gracie will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gracie misses with a takedown

and Staples counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Staples.
Staples pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Staples has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Staples drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gracie dives on top into guard.
Staples wants to sweep but no luck.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Staples is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Staples manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Staples's guard.

Staples looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gracie passes into half guard.
Staples trying to hold on to Gracie's head to control him but Gracie postures up.
Staples knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staples tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Staples works his way to full guard. Good work.

Gracie gets to his feet - Staples follows without any prompting.
Staples swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Staples circles away easily

and Staples counters with a shoot takedown. Gracie fights it but they end up in guard.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Staples controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Staples accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Staples is looking to work some ground and pound but Gracie has wrist control.
JJ Staples overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Staples throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gracie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Staples pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Staples scoring with punches to the head and body.
Staples thows a big elbow that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Staples shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Staples with a nice head shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Staples looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staples lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Staples tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Staples trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Staples missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Staples chips away with some ground and pound.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Staples can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Staples pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to stand up but Staples is controlling him.
Staples tries to stand but Gracie is controlling from the bottom.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Staples accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Staples pushes his legs off easily.

Staples drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gracie looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gracie looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gracie!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Staples manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gracie's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Staples dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Staples shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
Staples keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie passes Staples's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Staples regains full guard. Nicely done.
Staples manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gracie is working to get back to half guard.
Gracie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gracie regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staples working Gracie over with strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Staples wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Royce Gracie!