PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Pablo Joaquin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Pablo Joaquin

175 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

171 cm
24
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Project Mayhem
Steel Penn's All 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Pablo Joaquin!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Joaquin.
Joaquin misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Joaquin shows good takedown defense.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Joaquin circles away easily
and Joaquin counters with a nice uppercut.
Joaquin misses with a body shot.
Joaquin throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Gracie moves out of range as Joaquin strikes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Joaquin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Joaquin chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Joaquin lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown but Joaquin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gracie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Gracie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Joaquin is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gracie slows the pace down in half guard.
Gracie is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Gracie wants to control but instead Joaquin manages to regain half guard.
Joaquin trying to control here.

Gracie decides to stand and escape the position.
Jose Pablo Joaquin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie staying out of range there.

Gracie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Joaquin sprawls well initially but Gracie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Joaquin looks winded!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joaquin tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gracie connects with a nice short shot to Joaquin's temple.
Gracie tries to stand but can't do so whilst Joaquin controls his leg.
Gracie sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gracie working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gracie looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Joaquin tries to lock up and control but Gracie gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gracie tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gracie seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Joaquin for as long as he can get away with.
Joaquin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.
Joaquin tries to lock up and control but Gracie gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Joaquin takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Joaquin taking shots to the head.
Gracie content just to control the position here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
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.

Gracie looking to secure an arm triangle but Joaquin defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gracie takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Gracie tries to clinch but Joaquin is having none of it.
Joaquin connects with a looping right hand.
Nice shot lands for Joaquin.
Joaquin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Joaquin checks a leg kick nicely.
Joaquin dips to his left and cracks Gracie with an uppercut!

Gracie throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Joaquin tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gracie is in Joaquin's guard.
Antonio Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Joaquin looking to control.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Joaquin is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gracie passes to full mount!
Joaquin felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Joaquin is trying to escape the mount.
Gracie controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie looking to control but Joaquin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gracie scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Joaquin?
Gracie putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands a big elbow.
Joaquin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Joaquin is bucking up trying to escape but Gracie cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Gracie content just to control the position here.
Joaquin is in a horrible position here. Gracie smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Gracie wants to finish this one by submission but Joaquin is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gracie.
Gracie takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gracie putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Joaquin is squirming around, avoiding Gracie's attempts to control the action.
Gracie scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Joaquin?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joaquin is squirming around, avoiding Gracie's attempts to control the action.
Gracie dominating with strikes here.
Gracie controlling his opponent.
Joaquin is squirming around, avoiding Gracie's attempts to control the action.
Joaquin taking shots to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.
Joaquin wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Gracie dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gracie throws a shot from downtown. Joaquin moves away and avoids it.
Jose Pablo Joaquin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good standup being displayed there by Joaquin as he connects with a hook.
Joaquin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Joaquin moves into range and connects with a jab.
Gracie dives in for a single leg takedown but Joaquin sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Joaquin is trying to stall.

Gracie jumps guard and drags Joaquin to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Joaquin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie wants to stand and escape but Joaquin is having none of it.
Joaquin wants to stand and escape but instead Gracie has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Joaquin can do to turn this around?
Gracie pushing down on Joaquin's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie passes to full mount!
Gracie lands a couple of good shots and Joaquin has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Gracie controlling the positon.
Joaquin prevents Gracie from getting a body triangle.
Gracie landing with strikes.
Gracie trying to control momentarily.
Joaquin holding both Gracie 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie punishes Joaquin with strikes from the back mount.
Gracie scores with strikes from the back.
Joaquin is trapped and Gracie is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie tries to keep control of the position but Joaquin is staying busy.
Gracie biding his time, looking for the opening.
Will Gracie go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Gracie keeps control of the position easily here as Joaquin tries to buck him off.
Gracie scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking to break Joaquin's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Joaquin remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gracie will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Joaquin staying busy and making it hard for Gracie to control.
Gracie has the hooks in. Joaquin is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Gracie wants to control but Joaquin is keeping busy.
Gracie lands with a hammerfist to the side of Joaquin's head.
Gracie keeps control of the position easily here as Joaquin tries to buck him off.
Gracie trying to control momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

Gracie has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Joaquin is in real trouble here. Gracie gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Joaquin is tapping out! Gracie wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Antonio Gracie!