PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Adam Rabago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Sick Puppies - You're Going Down. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Rabago
vs
Gracie

175 cm
23
187 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

191 cm
30
196 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Damnfield clothing

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Adam Rabago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Xavier Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rabago looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rabago might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gracie wants to control but Rabago is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is pressing down on Rabago's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rabago is holding on for now.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Rabago is having none of it.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rabago has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rabago looks like he's trying to stand up.
Well, if Gracie 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.
Rabago wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Rabago is having none of it.
Gracie frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rabago is trying to stand up.
Gracie controlling from mount.
Rabago wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.
Rabago knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabago is squirming around, avoiding Gracie's attempts to control the action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Xavier Gracie wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rabago leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Gracie fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rabago to the ground. Gracie is now in Rabago's guard.
Rabago wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Rabago is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Rabago is looking to stand up but Gracie isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabago wants to get back to his feet but Gracie passes into half guard.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rabago is trying to stand.
Gracie passes to full mount!
Rabago is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rabago is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Rabago is squirming around nicely.
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rabago really wants to buck Gracie off and get back to his feet.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rabago is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Gracie looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Gracie landing punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rabago is trying to stand but he's just given Gracie his back.
Rabago is trying to get back to his feet but Gracie has full control of the position and if anything, Rabago has just worked his way into a worse spot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Gracie dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gracie digs a good body shot into Rabago's ribs.
Gracie throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Rabago.
Adam Rabago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Rabago sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rabago throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Rabago waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gracie.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rabago lands a head kick!

It looks like Xavier Gracie has been cut.
Adam Rabago is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rabago stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Rabago pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rabago misses with a double jab

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gracie passes Rabago's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabago tries to kick Gracie off but Gracie keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gracie trying to control the pace.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Well, if Gracie 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rabago is trying to stand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Adam Rabago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavier Gracie.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rabago defends it nicely.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Rabago swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Gracie gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gracie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rabago gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rabago tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rabago is trying to keep an underhook but Gracie manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Rabago is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gracie lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rabago is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.
Gracie not doing much here.
Gracie's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Xavier Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rabago keeps working.
Gracie content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up. Xavier Gracie was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Gracie's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rabago connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Gracie scrambles back to his feet.
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!
Gracie tries to clinch but Rabago is having none of it.
Gracie blocks a jab.
Rabago misses with a double jab.

Gracie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie lands in his opponent's guard.
Gracie controlling from the top position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie won't allow Rabago to get back to his feet.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Rabago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Xavier Gracie's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gracie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Rabago is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rabago wants to get back to his feet but Gracie drags him back down.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rabago is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rabago is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Rabago tries to escape but Gracie is in control.
Rabago trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Rabago is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rabago some visible discomfort.
Rabago wants to get back to his feet but Gracie drags him back down.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Rabago is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie in side control lands a decent elbow.
Rabago is being controlled here.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gracie takes a little break here. Rabago wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabago is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Gracie has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Rabago is defending well.
Rabago is being controlled here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie wants to control but Rabago is keeping him busy.
Rabago is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Gracie has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rabago is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Rabago is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the action but Rabago is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rabago wants to get back to his feet but Gracie drags him back down.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

Gracie tries for a kimura but Rabago is defending well.
Gracie controls the position from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Rabago is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Xavier Gracie is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Adam Rabago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rabago, who protects the arm well.
Gracie trying to control the action but Rabago is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gracie winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavier Gracie!
After the big win, Xavier Gracie made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Damnfield clothing and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.