PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zeus Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Sanchez

175 cm
21
180 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

185 cm
36
184 lbs
17 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Merciless Gladiators

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Zeus Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 19 - 0, fighting out of London, Thiago Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Sanchez stuffs the takedown.

Sanchez moves into range and clinches up with Gracie.
Sanchez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Sanchez is struggling to control the position.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gracie fails with the takedown

and Sanchez counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zeus Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez is looking to break free of the clinch but Gracie has double underhooks.
Gracie jumps guard but Sanchez stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Sanchez breaks from the clinch.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sanchez counters with a two punch combo.
Gracie dives in for a single leg takedown but Sanchez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sanchez trying to land knees to the body.
Sanchez with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Sanchez breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a front kick aimed at Gracie's knee but Gracie avoids it well.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt
and Sanchez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gracie has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sanchez slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Gracie gets a double leg takedown into Sanchez'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.
Sanchez wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanchez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanchez wants to stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie passes Sanchez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez looks winded!
Gracie frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gracie wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Sanchez told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gracie is looking to take Sanchez's back but instead Sanchez gets back to half guard. Nice work.
Gracie wants to pass to mount but Sanchez is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gracie wants to take Sanchez's back here but Sanchez is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Sanchez's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie is looking to work his way around to Sanchez's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Gracie moves to the back.
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 Zeus Gracie will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie gets a double leg takedown into Sanchez's guard.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Sanchez is keeping the position.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanchez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie pushing down on Sanchez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sanchez scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Gracie manages to mount him!
Gracie wants to take his opponent's back but instead Sanchez manages to regain half guard.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Sanchez is defending well.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Sanchez is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to advance position but Sanchez won't allow it.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Gracie prevents Sanchez from standing back up.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Sanchez defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Sanchez is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Sanchez defends the submission attempt.
Sanchez tries to kick Gracie off but Gracie keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gracie stops Sanchez from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Sanchez defends it.
Gracie stops Sanchez from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeus Gracie dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sanchez pushes Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.

Sanchez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez lands a two punch combo.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sanchez.

Sanchez drives through and clinches with Gracie against the cage.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sanchez smiles and moves away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zeus Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sanchez tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sanchez to the ground. Sanchez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie with a poor takedown
and Sanchez counters with a nice body shot.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sanchez counters by moving into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sanchez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sanchez looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sanchez circles away.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Sanchez, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Sanchez against the cage but Sanchez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanchez tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.

Sanchez moves into the clinch.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sanchez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gracie drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sanchez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gracie shoots in but Sanchez avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Thiago Sanchez seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Sanchez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sanchez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Gracie will be more careful next time no doubt.

Sanchez has managed to clinch.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Sanchez pushes Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Sanchez won't allow it.
Sanchez stalling the fight.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sanchez tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sanchez to the ground. Sanchez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown. Sanchez tries to sprawl out of it but Gracie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sanchez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie shoots and misses
letting Sanchez counter with a right hand.

Sanchez gets a clinch.
Sanchez missing with knees to the body.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Sanchez.

Gracie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Sanchez wants to try and get back to his feet.
Gracie wants to take Sanchez's back here but Sanchez is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanchez has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.

Gracie tightening his grip on Sanchez, looking for the choke.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet.

Gracie has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Sanchez has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Gracie is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Sanchez defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Thiago Sanchez.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight for Zeus Gracie!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Zeus Gracie!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Zeus Gracie!

Zeus Gracie wins by unanimous decision!