PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Bickle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Gracie
vs
Bickle

175 cm
30
178 lbs
21 - 4 - 1

176 cm
31
184 lbs
23 - 8 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent
KAISER

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Ricardo Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Travis Bickle !
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good leg kick by Bickle there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Bickle uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gracie has time to react.
Bickle tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bickle is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
Gracie lands a nice looking body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gracie.
Bickle takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Gracie swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Bickle tries to clinch up.
Bickle jabs at Gracie's body.
Bickle scores with a punch to the head.
Travis Bickle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie throws a poor cross that misses

and Bickle counters by moving into the clinch.

Gracie breaks the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bickle lands with an overhand left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bickle throws a leg kick which misses Gracie's front leg but catches the back leg as Gracie tries to avoid it.
Bickle cracks Gracie with an open hand slap.
Gracie with a hook.
A low kick from Bickle misses

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Gracie seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Gracie scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gracie is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bickle has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Gracie working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie landing punches.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bickle sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Bickle tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bickle slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bickle is trying to keep Gracie in close.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.
Bickle keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Bickle is trying to keep Gracie in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Bickle .
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Bickle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bickle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bickle 's head.
Bickle wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo 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.

Bickle misses with a combination

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bickle knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bickle tries to improve position but can't.
Gracie controlling the position from side mount.
Bickle tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie lands some shots froms side control.
Gracie wants to control but Bickle is keeping him busy.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bickle knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gracie working away.
We've been hearing that Gracie has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Gracie working the head and body with strikes.
Bickle tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Bickle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bickle is trying to improve his position.
Gracie cracks Bickle with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Gracie throwing strikes but Bickle manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
The referee asks Bickle politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Bickle prefers to stall for the moment though.
Bickle wants to stand but Gracie is controlling his arm.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bickle slows the pace down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bickle stands up.
Bickle moves out of range as Gracie throws a body kick.
Gracie lands a jab to the nose.
Bickle misses with a looping right.
Travis Bickle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A thudding body kick lands there by Gracie!
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gracie, as that shot connected.
Bickle tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bickle lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ricardo Gracie is winning the standup battle so far.
Bickle throws a lazy uppercut

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie stays in close to Bickle 's body and controls the position.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Bickle avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bickle wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Gracie dominated that second 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 just misses with a punch to the body.
Gracie swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Bickle moves into the clinch successfully.
Bickle lands with a short shot to the head.
Bickle lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Gracie is trying to drag Bickle to the mat but Bickle just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gracie working aggressively here.
Gracie tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bickle lands a body punch.
Gracie has a couple of punches blocked by Bickle .
Bickle prevents Gracie from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to break the clinch but Bickle has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Gracie's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bickle tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.
Gracie misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bickle tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gracie misses with a short punch on the inside.

Gracie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bickle avoids a kick to the body.
Bickle lands with a shot to the body.
Gracie swings for the body but Bickle moves out of range.
Bickle swinging wildly here.

Bickle moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to stall but Bickle uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bickle tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.
Bickle misses with some punches.
Bickle working Gracie over with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bickle obliges.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bickle has Gracie pressed against the cage, preventing Gracie from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bickle throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Bickle is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
Bickle is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gracie is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bickle misses with some punches.
Gracie swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bickle lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gracie is looking to take this one to the mat.
Bickle swings wildly with an uppercut but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bickle misses with some punches.
Bickle lands an elbow just above Gracie 's eye.
Bickle is pressed up against the cage. Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bickle down to the mat. Bickle avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bickle misses with an uppercut.
Jab by Bickle .
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bickle manages to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Bickle .
Bickle looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
Bickle connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gracie's hands.
Bickle fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gracie has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bickle dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gracie. That did some damage!
Gracie buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gracie just misses with a punch to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gracie.
A jab from Gracie misses.
Bickle throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Bickle rushes Gracie and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bickle blocks a body shot from Gracie.
Bickle has Gracie pressed against the cage, preventing Gracie from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gracie misses with some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Bickle really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gracie takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Bickle walks forward, straight into a front kick from Gracie.
Gracie looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bickle swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Bickle tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gracie darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Bickle uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gracie.
A jab from Bickle misses.
Bickle misses with a body shot.
Bickle loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bickle tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gracie manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie misses with a head kick.
Bickle scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Bickle jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Gracie takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Bickle connects with a jab.
Bickle moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.
Gracie misses with an uppercut.
Gracie changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gracie tests Bickle 's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bickle paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Gracie moves forwards but Bickle connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Gracie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bickle is not content to let Gracie control the position.
Gracie working the head and body with strikes.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gracie in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bickle is controlling Gracie's trapped leg to prevent Gracie from advancing to side control.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Bickle defends it.
Bickle controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Bickle is trying to get back to full guard.
Bickle moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bickle is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
Gracie trying to control but Bickle is working from the bottom.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Bickle .

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Bickle .
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bickle throws a sloppy body shot

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bickle won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Ricardo Gracie will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bickle lands a right hook to the body.
Gracie catches Bickle with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bickle throws a hook but Gracie avoids it easily.
Bickle on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gracie. Gracie obviously looking to wear him down.
Bickle scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Bickle sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bickle moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.
Gracie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bickle lands a nice looking body shot.
Bickle throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gracie misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Bickle .
Gracie looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Bickle swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Gracie.
Gracie lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Gracie throws out a leg kick but Bickle moves out of range and Gracie only half commits.
Bickle stuns Gracie with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bickle connects with a looping right hand.
Bickle lands with an overhand left.
Bickle uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bickle wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Bickle scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gracie doesn't seem bothered though.
Gracie takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bickle misses with a kick to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gracie closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bickle did well to prevent Gracie getting side control.
Gracie has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Gracie jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Bickle is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Bickle and Gracie has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Travis Bickle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bickle looks to move to half guard but instead Gracie has passed into mount! Damn!
Gracie thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The referee warns Bickle that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Gracie looking to control but Bickle is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gracie is landing with some decent strikes but Bickle is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bickle sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Gracie is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Bickle reverses the position - he's now on top in Gracie's guard.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Bickle pushes his legs off easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bickle throws a big elbow that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bickle throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ricardo Gracie.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 49:46
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 49:46
Judge William Gold scores the fight 48:48

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ricardo Gracie!
Ricardo Gracie retains his welterweight title!
Ricardo Gracie seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.