PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Malat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rock Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malat's entrance music is Put the Lime in the Coconut. A fine choice. Gracie has chosen Rammstein - Feuer Frei as his entrance music. John Malat has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Malat
vs
Gracie

188 cm
21
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

192 cm
22
220 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

The Fire Inside
Prime Time Fighting Clothing

Blitzkrieg Supplements
Combat Pro Finesse

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Malat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rock Gracie!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malat keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Malat avoids them all with ease.
Gracie jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gracie darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Malat tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Malat to the ground. Malat escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gracie throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie throws a shot from downtown. Malat moves away and avoids it.
Malat on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Gracie scores with a jab to the head.

Malat scores with a takedown into Gracie's guard.
Gracie doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Malat thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Malat stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malat keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Malat regains half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Malat is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Malat doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Malat is looking to improve his position.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Malat landing rabbit punches to the side of Gracie's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Malat wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Malat's head.
Malat avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Malat takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Gracie throws out a powerful jab.
Gracie misses with an uppercut. Malat saw that one coming.
Malat avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Some wild striking there from Gracie.
Malat moves away from the strike by Gracie.
Gracie shoots and misses

and Malat counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gracie won't be happy with that.
John Malat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rock Gracie.
Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Malat tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malat is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Malat pulls his head out easily.
Gracie looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malat missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Malat is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.
Gracie throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
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.
Malat passes Gracie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Malat is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Gracie has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Malat scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Malat tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Malat is pushing down on Gracie's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gracie is fighting to maintain full guard but Malat has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Malat pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gracie throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malat thows a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Malat accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Malat stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Malat tries to stand but Gracie is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rock Gracie dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gracie throws out a loose jab but Malat uses good head movement to avoid it.
A big right from Gracie misses.
Gracie might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Malat counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gracie's guard now.

Malat stands up and waves to Gracie to follow him.
Malat fails to land the takedown.
Gracie connects with a nice looking jab.
Gracie misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looks to land a combination but Malat avoids it well.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt

and Malat counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gracie!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Malat works his way to his opponent's back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Malat doesn't have the hooks in and Gracie manages to turn into his guard.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Malat.
Gracie is looking to work some ground and pound but Malat has wrist control.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Malat had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gracie is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Malat Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gracie's back instead.
Even with his hooks in, Malat manages to miss with strikes from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie covering up well and avoiding damage.

Gracie defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Malat's arms.
Gracie rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gracie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Malat pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Malat makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malat is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
John Malat overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Malat preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie pushes down on Malat's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Malat is looking to improve his position.
Malat trying to control here.

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

Malat kicks off Gracie and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stalks Malat and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Malat's face. Malat staggers backwards, shaken.
Malat uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gracie.
Gracie throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Malat sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Malat has a takedown stuffed.
Gracie misses with a combination

and Malat counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Malat.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Gracie has an active guard here but Malat has managed to pass into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gracie looking for a kimura from the bottom but Malat passes into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Malat dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Malat missing with a left hand there. Gracie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Malat tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gracie swivels and escapes.
A decent looking cross lands there for Gracie.
Malat looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gracie catches Malat with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt

and Malat counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Malat.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Malat tries to pass.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Malat doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Malat manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Malat controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malat makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Malat wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Malat tries to pass.
Malat stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
Gracie advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Malat has escaped the position, nice work there.
Malat sneaks back into half guard.
Malat is looking to improve his position.
Gracie is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Gracie throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Malat bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gracie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Malat's guard.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Malat swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malat has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Malat is retaining full guard.
Gracie stands and throws Malat's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Gracie swings around for an armbar but Malat sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Gracie's guard.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gracie has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Malat is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Gracie.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
Malat advances to mount.
Malat wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.
Malat has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gracie's face.
Gracie bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Gracie forces his way into half guard.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Gracie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are battling for position here. Malat manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
Malat tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rock Gracie.
I think Gracie has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rock Gracie!